Last year I found out I had a neuroma in my right foot and got a cortisone injection that killed the pain for awhile. The pain had long since returned, and I finally got enough money to go to a podiatrist here in Queens and get another cortisone shot. He wanted to do an x-ray to make sure nothing else was wrong with my feet, to which I agreed. Today, we got the results back and he told me that I have the beginnings of hammertoes.
According to the doc, my condition is far from severe, but will worsen over time without surgery. He thinks that, with care, I’ll be fine for several years before I need surgery. Since I don’t have health insurance, he suggested that I try orthotics for now until I somehow come into enough money for surgery. His estimated price for a custom orthotic is about $400, which is a hell of a lot for me (I’m a waitress). I already paid him $200 for two visits, one cortistone shot, and the x-rays, plus I just went to the endocrinologist (good news there: no hyperthyroidism) and paid $600 for a crown for a tooth. The thought of having crippled feet on top of a neuroma is overwhelming.
My questions: is $400 a normal amount for custom orthotics? Should I try over-the-counter orthotics first and then graduate to custom if needed? Is surgery really inevitable or is there any hope that orthotics will fix the problem? My friend told me to get a second opinion, but goddamn, I can’t afford to go to extra podiatry appointments.