hypothesis confirmed

[incandescens]

It was the arch supports. The moment I got the new ones in and began walking around in them, I could feel the difference. And it wasn't just psychosomatic. My knees felt better, my posture felt better. Note to self: next time, remember to get new ones.

I do usually remember every few months. I think that I must have temporarily missed a usual "change point" and then gone on without remembering that I hadn't remembered to get new ones this time. (If that makes sense.)

Anyhow, my knees are now feeling generally better, as am I. Still the occasional twinge, but it's the twinge of "things getting back into proper working order" with the occasional "ow" rather than an ongoing "this knee is having issues" twinge.

York was in general good to visit, and as usual, I came back with a ginger cake from Betty's (I love their stem ginger cake), some yarn, and some fabric. If only there'd been a bit less rain involved at the Leeds end of things, it would have been a really good day. As it was, it was still a lot of fun. And I'm very glad that the orthotic hypothesis was correct.

---

Thirteen Ways of Looking at a Blackbird

[...]

VII

O thin men of Haddam,
Why do you imagine golden birds?
Do you not see how the blackbird
Walks around the feet
OF the women about you?

[...]

-- Wallace Stevens

Comments

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Good to have that solved. But how often do you replace your supports? Really every few months? I assume they aren't made to measure ones weighing in at $500 a set?

[incandescens]

Every three or four months, usually. They're not made-to-measure, they're just plain squashy ones which go from heel to under the ball of the foot, the "Gaitway" brand, and about thirty pounds a pair. After a few months wear they get so squashed down they lose their virtue.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Yikes, that's pricey. Over $150 CA a year. Had you thought of getting made-to-measures ever? They last five to six years minimum.

Then again, they can be madly uncomfortable at the start.

[incandescens]

I don't think they do those at Scholl, though I admit it's been a while since I checked. Probably I should check.

They used to have the sort with an upper layer of leather and a lower steel plate which had to be readjusted every few months in order to allow for pressure forcing it flat. Of course, the issue with that sort was that the steel plate would eventually cut into the shoes I was wearing it with.

I should check, though. I've just been automatically buying the readymade stuff for ages.

[flemmings.livejournal.com]

Steel plates are pretty bad for the feet too, I'd think. What I have is a leather upper and a rigid plastic under that can be pared to fit comfortably. If more height is needed in spots, it's done via a cushiony suede pad. I have full length ones (the ball to toe is just leather) and half ones (heel to arch) and switch them about as feet swell and deflate from summer to winter.

[incandescens]

I should probably look into it. I've just been jogging along (metaphorically) without thinking about it, really.

(makes note for next time visiting shop)

[liralen.livejournal.com]

Oh, very cool that the news ones make such a difference.

And that does sound like a very fine day indeed.

[incandescens]

They do, and thank you! (And I know you'd know about knee issues...)

It was a lovely day. It would have been even lovelier if it hadn't rained while I was walking to and from the station, but hey, such is life. :)

[helliongoddess.livejournal.com]

I suspect arch supports would do both my knees & my feet a world of good, both of which (knees & feet) have been getting steadily more painful the past year or so, & are truly beginning to hamper my mobility in intolerable ways (plus, they hurt like the dickens!) I'm long overdue for assessment & treatment visits with both a podiatrist & an orthopedic specialist, and probably more physical therapy than I want to think about - but it's all getting way past the "I'll just ignore all this while I deal with all these other issues" stage. Of course, arch supports will mean I'll have to wear actual shoes much more than is my habit - I'm home 90% of the time, and if I'm home I'm barefoot. Even in winter I'll only concede to a pair of ragg wool socks! But if the arch supports not only helped my knees & feet, bu also even slightly improved my abysmal posture, that might do my beleaguered back some good as well. Hmmmm..... This is beginning to seem inevitable....

That stem ginger cake sounds amazing. *drools* I've been back on my calorie/carb counting regimen again, mostly for the sake of my knees, heart, and to improve my chances of making it to 60, 70, or (do I dare hope?) even further. In the course of trying to make every carb as nutritious as possible, I have become hooked on these Scottish oat biscuits -- Nairn's-- that come in both unsweetened and a very ( ! ) lightly-sweet stem ginger flavor, which I adore. They both lend themselves to a nearly infinite variety of toppings - so far the winner by far has been the stem ginger ones topped with local chèvre & sweet potato butter which I picked up on the opening day of one of the local farmer's markets. (It was truly yummy, but I'd bet my sweet tooth that your stem ginger cake was even better!)

[incandescens]

I sympathise with the inconvenience of checking in with a specialist, but I really would suggest it as a good idea. And the benefits that arch supports do your feet will work their way all up your body - knees, hips, back.

The stem ginger cake is absolutely gorgeous. It's a heavy ginger loaf cake topped with ginger-flavoured buttercream and crystallised ginger. I hate to think what the calorie count is, and the label certainly doesn't say, but when I've got one, I don't care. :)

[mvrdrk.livejournal.com]

Oh good. I'm glad things are better!

[incandescens]

Definitely better, thank you! And I'm very relieved that this has been identified as the problem, and not anything worse.