I was just curious if anyone of the teeming millions has had surgery to correct a lack of arches in their feet.
I have flat, flat, flat, FLAT feet. There has never been an arch.
I have tried arch supports & pulverized them - literally turned them to powder. I did have some that did not turn to powder, but they destroyed my shoes.
As I have gotten older, I have had an every increasing amount of pain. Not so much in my feet, but my ankles, knees, and hips. I display the symptoms of “runner’s knee”, but I do not even get the exercise benefit of running that the normal person would get.
Lately, I have been wondering about surgical correction of the problem. I have inquired with doctors about this in the past and they seem to shy away from it - pointing me back to orthotics. I read that surgery of this nature is a “last resort” and I am thinking I am about as last resort as one could be on this side of not being able to walk at all.
So - I was just curious if anyone out there had actually done that kind of surgery to replace the arch (or add one where there never was). Not looking for medical advice, of course. More like consumer anecdotes while I await my appointment with the orthopedic guy again.
It hurts, I assume - but how long were you incapacitated? More importantly, did you feel like it really did any good in the end?
Pes Planus and its medical and surgical treatment are discussed here: Pes Planus (Flatfoot): Practice Essentials, Anatomy, Pathophysiology
NB: it is rather technical. You should be talking with a competent orthopedist about what stage your feet are in, and what the options are.
Hopefully someone who has had this done will weigh in soon.
Thanks for responding.
I am planning on going to an orthopedist that I have worked with for other things like shoulder bursitis, tennis elbow, and a broken wrist. All those worked out well, so I am hopeful he does as well with feet, ankles, knees, and hips.
The article you linked to was interesting. However, it speaks to the condition being acquired as an adult. I have never had an arch & remember as a kid having to do strange exercises like picking up marbles with my toes, etc. Although that makes for a neat stupid human trick, it never did any thing for my feet. As mentioned earlier, orthotics did nothing except either self-destruct or destroy my shoes. I spend a great deal of time walking through airports in my work & am just getting tired of being in pain all the time.
Anyone else care to weigh in? Surely, I can not be the only one with flat duck feet.
I too have flattish feet. Hie thee to a shoemaker for some properly fitted shoes.
And I wonder what kind of orthotics you’ve been using? If you’re talking about the kind you get at Wal-Mart by the Dr.Scholl’s foot powder, I’m not surprised they’re not up to the challenge. I too have knee problems, which were 100% miraculously solved by custom orthotics from (actually) a sports orthopedist (“The Sports Medicine Guy” here in Decatur). I went to him because he had fixed my son’s knees twice (wrestling). Anyway, my custom orthotics totally rock, and I strongly recommend you look into them. They cost me $275 a pair, of which my insurance paid zip, but they are worth every penny IMO.
They soften them in the microwave, you stand on them, they mold them to your foot. You can get different size and shape “cookies” that fit inside the sole of the mold; I had to upgrade after a couple of years to a bigger “cookie” because my feet changed. It usually takes them about a weekend to get them built once they’ve molded them to your feet.
And the first pair with the upgraded cookies didn’t really feel right, so I went back and we did it again with different cookies.
Really, they are neat-o. Try them.
Plus they remove instantly, so I can wear them in whichever shoes I’m currently wearing (although they won’t fit in my Sunday dress shoes [they tell you to bring to the fitting the shoes you’ll be most often wearing the orthotics in], but on Sunday mornings I don’t do much long-distance walking between the parking lot and the church anyway. 
)
I’m wondering if I’m strange. My feet have been as flat as pancakes since birth, but I never experienced pain such as you describe except when my mother tried to squeeze my feet into orthopedic shoes as a child. Apparently, flat feet were (are?) something you shouldn’t have. I screamed in those goddamn shoes and was told it was for my own good. No, my own good was when they came off and I (and my mother) was able to accept the fact that I had flat feet for life.
My feet were happiest when they were just left alone. I still have flat feet, and I’ve never had a problem running, jumping, or walking–in fact, I used to walk long distances (seven to 15 miles) just for the hell of it. Never had a problem, as long as I was wearing comfortable shoes, without any enforced arch support. My everyday shoes are Etonic walkers; my dress shoes have no arch support, and neither gives me any pain at all. I don’t doubt the pain you’ve experienced, but is it possible that you’ve got the idea that you MUST have an arch, and so any shoe without an arch is unacceptable? I can assure you that I’ve always found shoes without an arch to be perfect for me. And if I leave flat duck footprints on the deck of the pool, well, whoopie. I’m comfortable.
I can appreciate that idea that shoes without arches are just fine. I have been doing that for a while now since the last time I tried the custom orthotics (purchased at pretty hefty expense from an orthopedic supply as prescribed by an orthopedic surgeon - not from the Dr. Scholls stand). My problem is not with my feet. It is higher than that, actually. I have all the symptoms of “runner’s knee”, which apparently can happen from ankles tipping inward. Mine do, as do a lot of people without arches.
I guess we shall see what the ortho-doc says when I get there.
Thanks again, all.
With a complete lack of expertise on my part, bare foot proponents say that going without shoes helps develop the muscles and tendons in your feet that will naturally “rebuild” your arches over time.
Snerk. I misread your thread title as “surgery for flat fee?” and thought this might be a consideration of whether to choose the cut-rate (so to speak) doctor or the full-service, expensive one …
“My budget’s a little tight this month so I’ll have Dr. Thrifty remove that brain tumor for a flat fee of $500”
Sorry. It’s 3:30 am. I have no business being awake, much less posting on the Dope. I’ll leave now.
I do appreciate the idea, NajaNivea. Thanks for offering it.
I would add that that people who go barefoot all the time probably do not have feet like mine. I wear shoes for the impact absorption. Those times I go barefoot become painful quickly.
There was an article in NYMag about this: How We're Wrecking Our Feet With Every Step We Take -- New York Magazine - Nymag – basically about how it’s apparently better for you. But by that rationale, wouldn’t it be just as good to just wear shoes that have no support? Like ballet flats or whatnot?
Although it is not specifically mentioned, I believe that article assumes you have arches to start with. Therefore, the work your foot does strengthens the muscles, etc. and reinforces everything that is there.
As I pointed out above, without arches walking barefoot for me gets painful pretty quickly. Each impact is transferred straight up my legs to knees, hips, back, etc. It is not pleasant. 
Sure–they’d say it’s basically the same thing, though well-adapted soles will protect your feet better than a thin moccasin. Plus, it’s a sensory joy to be in the world barefoot. I have no arches, either. 
It definitely took some getting used to, and I found whole new sets of muscles in my feet and calves, but I like it more and more every day.
You’re normal Spoons. According to everything I’ve read, most adults with flat feet do just fine and don’t suffer any discomfort from it.
I’ve got some pretty painful plantar fasciitis, not specifically the same as the OP but my barefoot days are over, too.
Speaking of, have you even looked at the similarities of pes planus and plantar fascciitis ASAKMOTSD? Would any of the treatments for pf help you?
I have not looked at them until now, Queen Tonya. I do have the morning pain in the heel that I see listed as a symptom. I will discuss all of these things with the orthopedic doc when I get there. Thanks.
Try some of the therapies and see if you can’t start getting some relief even before your appointment.
You don’t have any orthotics to wear right now, but like you’ve discovered, at least wear something supportive. Walking, even standing around washing dishes, barefoot kills.
Night splints are similarly out, but I’ve learned to sort of tuck my feet between the mattress and footboard (umm, this only works if you’re a tummy sleeper) for something resembling a ninety degree angle. The plantar fascia shrinky-dinks up while you sleep, hence the pain upon wakening and hopping out of bed. If you can keep the foot flexed, less shrinky-dinking.
Motrin is my friend, definitely helps when I’m flared up. Do those exercises that didn’t seem to help you as a kid, they really do help if pf is indeed contributing to your problem.
The good news is that if this is the cause, it’s eminently manageable. I’ve dealt with it for years, and I work on my feet all day in a factory so managing foot pain is non-negotiable. Even if you need cortisone shots and expensive orthotics to get you started healing, once there the night splints and exercises will keep you healed.
ASAKMOTSD Have you had custom orthotics or just the store bought type?
My mom just spent around $300 on molded orthotics. She has a normal arch but her feet flatten out when she walks. The orthotics are quite stiff so it took a few days for her to get used to them (they recommend massaging the bottom of your feet with a golf ball). Her back pain has significantly improved already - it’s only been about two weeks.
My brother and my dad also have orthotics. I’m considering having my feet looked at.
I’d try anything and everything before surgery… but that’s me.
Mrs Johnson - They were custom. I have tried everything over the course of 40+ years. Hence, why I am thinking there may not be any alternatives left.
Man, that sucks. Few things seem as miserable as foot pain or back pain. I hope you find something that works!
Just remember:
An honest orthopedic surgeon will tell you that he may not be able to make you better, but he sure can make you different.