But there are times when your pair of orthotics will not fit as well as you would like and they could cause you some pain. There are several reasons why you may be experiencing pain after wearing orthotics.
Many patients will notice a bit of discomfort for the first week as they adjust to a new alignment and get used to wearing the orthotics for the first time. When the pain continues, it can be a sign that something is wrong.
Being able to figure out the main reason for the orthotics hurting your feet will make it easier to manage the pain and make the orthotics work for you.
Why are My Orthotics Painful?
The first thing that we need to look at is why your orthotics are causing you pain in the first place. Orthotics are supposed to alleviate some of the pain you have, not make it worse. Finding the reason that the orthotics are causing pain can be important to helping you find a way to heal the problem.
The most common reasons you experience pain after wearing orthotics and ways to stop the problem include:
The Orthotic is not Fitted Well or is Worn Out
When you have improperly designed orthotics that do not fit your feet correctly, it can result in some pain. Your foot is not getting the customized support that it needs, which can cause it to be in improper alignment and will make the problem worse.
It is also possible that the orthotics are wearing out and you need to replace them. The best way to ensure you get an orthotic that will fit with your feet is to get a comprehensive assessment and gait analysis done on the feet.
This will help determine the exact issues of your feet and will get you an orthotic designed specifically for you. This can make the orthotic feel good, rather than causing more pain.
A podiatrist or another specialist can conduct this analysis to make a custom orthotic. These are different than over-the-counter options as they are designed for your foot, rather than working as a one-size-fits-all solution.
You Wear the Wrong Shoes
Another reason your orthotics may be causing you some pain is wearing the wrong type of shoes with the orthotics. Shoes that are too cramped or do not provide enough support to the feet could result in a lot of different problems along the way.
Even if the shoes fit well at one point, if they wear out or you have them too long, the amount of support could decrease.
When you get a pair of new orthotics, you need to take the time to pay attention to the shoes you would like to wear with them. It is best to get the orthotics fitted not just for your foot, but for a specific pair of shoes you will wear the most.
Choosing the wrong kind of footwear can cause the orthotics not to work well, which will lead to discomfort and could potentially make the original problem with your foot much worse than before. You can talk to your doctor when you get the custom orthotic to ensure you pick out shoes that will support the orthotic well.
You Haven’t Broken the Orthotics In Properly
You need to take the time to break in your new pair of orthotics. This process will be a little different for each person who gets a pair though. There are a few precautions you can take when breaking in a new pair of orthotics to ensure you do not have too much discomfort and can feel amazing at the same time. Some of these include:
- On the first day, only wear the orthotics for about an hour. You can slowly increase the length of time you wear the orthotics until you wear them all day.
- If you notice that the orthotics start to hurt when you wear them, you can take some time off to give your feet a break.
- You do need to come back to wearing the orthotics after taking a break. If you forget about them and never put them back on, then you will have to restart the whole process again.
You should make it your goal to break in the custom orthotics so you can wear them full-time within a week or two. The average person finds that they can break into the orthotics in about two weeks. If you aren’t feeling comfortable with the orthotics after a few weeks, it is time to go back and see your doctor to see what is wrong.
Should Orthotics Hurt At First?
While you may have to get a pair of orthotics that will be firm and corrective to solve the problem of your foot, there are other options you can choose from. Some are soft to provide more comfort as you walk around as well.
While you may have some time to adjust to the new alignment and position the orthotics help with, it should not cause intense pain. You should not notice new problems in the knees or feet, an increase in your current level of pain, or even blisters on your feet when you wear the orthotics.
They should just have mild discomfort when breaking the orthotics in, similar to how your feet may feel when breaking in a new pair of shoes.
For most patients, your body will adjust to the new position relatively quickly, especially if you take it slowly. Within two weeks you should adjust and be able to wear the orthotics all the time to get the full benefits of this treatment.
Choosing the Right Orthotics for Your Feet
There are a ton of benefits to picking out a pair of custom orthotics, but you need to be careful about how you wear them and ensure they fit well. You should not notice any pain when you put the orthotics on your feet; these medical devices should help to alleviate some of the pain you feel instead.
To ensure you get a pair of custom orthotics that will fit your feet well and feel as comfortable as possible, you need to work with one of our professionals. We can ensure that the custom orthotic will fit your feet and feel amazing, giving you some of the relief and comfort you deserve.
Feel free to take our free online quiz to find out which custom orthotics type will be best for your feet.