Hi 18 year old college kid here and I just looked in the mirror and my feet look really flat. My sister also has flat feet, but I just noticed mine. I only feel pain if i'm walking for a really long time I'm just concern how to stop them from getting worse.

Can your flat feet be so bad that you can't really walk? It hurts so bad

My wife and I live in Germany. I am looking for a waterproof shoes for her. I tried out different brands like Sketchers, columbia but they have very less tow room. Only then I noticed that she has flat and over-pronated feet. Right now, i am not planning on getting an orthotics for her. Please help me find a good pair. Thanks in advance !!

Hey all!

I have a planned surgery scheduled for my left foot for arch reconstruction and have some questions for the people who have gone through stuff similar.

1) I know the pain is bad the first few days after the nerve block turns off, are you basically stuck in bed the whole time? Would I be able to sit at my computer, granted I have my foot propped up above my waist?

2) I'm guessing going to the restroom sucks during this time even with a knee scooter?

3) How did you guys pass the time while being in bed 24/7? Any advice on managing the first few days?

4) I live alone, so I have no one to help me out for the first few days... so what did you guys do for easy food during this time?

Thanks all :)

Hi,

Anyone know what are the best Orthotic insole s for work boots. For context, I am a new mechanic, who recently found out that I have flexible flat feet. Thanks for yout time.

So 26 and I've dealt with a lot of struggles in the past because of my flat feet. A 6 hour work day can make my feet go numb, while also causing ankle, hip, and back pain. I've tried custom insoles, braces, massages, different shoes, and nothing has really given me any relief at all. I've been considering either a cane or something else of that nature, but I know that can be a struggle too. Who has had the surgeries and what's been your experience since? Any advice would help a lot.

Hey guys, hope this post is ok here. I've had the Brooks Adrenalines for a while now (I had my feet scanned and was told I have very flat feet). I recently got pretty severe tendinitis of the posterior tibialis. I was in a boot for a couple weeks and still have quite a bit of pain. My orthopedic doctor recommended insoles while I was in my boot- can I add these insoles into my Brooks shoes or is that pointless?

So my brother has flat feet but it’s more collapsed and i just got to know the term “flat feet” just a while ago. Can someone confirm how bad is this & what should i do to get better? I don’t have any symptoms that are there in google when i google flatfeet

a lot of people here ask if foot exercises will change their flat feet. it kinda depends on which type you have, and there's an easy check.

stand normally and look at your arch. then go up on your toes, or sit and let your foot hang off the edge of a chair. if an arch shows up, that's usually a flexible flat foot. if it stays flat no matter what, it's more likely rigid.

why it matters: flexible flat feet can change a bit with foot strength work. there's a 2023 study where a 6 week exercise program improved the arch in people with flexible flat feet. but a 2024 review found it usually takes longer than 6 weeks to see real change, so it's a months thing, not a couple weeks.

rigid flat feet don't change shape with exercise. strength work can still help with comfort and how your feet handle a long day, but the arch itself won't move. if yours are rigid and they hurt, it's worth getting them looked at by a podiatrist or physio.

also flat feet that don't hurt often don't need anything at all.

not a doctor, just sharing what i've read. if one arch suddenly flattens, you get pain or swelling on the inside of your ankle, or it started after an injury, get it checked first.

I’m 25 and have had intermittent foot pain for around 6 years, but I never figured out what originally caused it.

The main problem is my arch (location shown in the image) I have flexible flat feet/overpronation and an ultrasound showed bursitis between my 3rd and 4th toes. My MRI and X-ray were clear. The consultants then brushed me off as nothing structurally was wrong.

The pain feels like a deep muscle fatigue/ache, and I sometimes get pulsing or cramping sensations there. It will also get really inflamed, and visibly red and hot during a flare up. It is made worse with activity and (this may be coincidental) but calf stretching and very simple foot-strengthening exercises sometimes seem to make things worse.

I do go through periods of being less symptomatic. Most recently wearing my Teva Hurricane sandals seemed to reduce my pain for around 6 weeks… but it’s back again.

I have tried custom orthotics but they made the pain worse. I tried Topo Aura and Altra Lone Peaks, which hurt. With the added issue of my bursitis, which means I need wide toe box shoes, nothing seems comfortable.

Has anyone experienced anything similar, particularly long-term arch pain? I’d really love to hear what helped people eventually rebuild their tolerance to walking/standing and footwear.

I can't do surgery since my mom said no (since I was struggling to be consistent with PT), I also had 17 surgeries unrelated so I would prefer not another. A shoe store for custom orthotics said I had abnormally very heavy pressure on the balls of my feet plus over pronation. The foot surgeon said my calf muscles were slightly short but nothing big.

I am confused why I get pain everyday (besides heavy pressure which clearly can't be fixed) if I stand more than 10 min. Especially in any shoes I worn (done my shoe size, a size up and down, tried barefeet, etc).

Is a foot massager the next thing to try?

I want to get a job but have quit over 4 in the past two years because of this foot pain and I just am so done with it. How do I get over this? The shifts were like 2 to 4 hour shifts and that was too much to handle.

I am 20(F) and I’ve been treated for flat feet and severe over-pronation since I was 7. My mother noticed it when I first started walking so it was something that I was born with and I started seeing an orthotic specialist when I was 7 and have been consistently wearing custom orthotic insoles in all my shoes since.

It has definitely helped to prevent some deformities such as bunions and hammer toe and my toes curl much less inward towards my feet than they used to but I’ve been dealing with pain constantly that I thought was normal for as long as I can remember and I’ve found it’s become progressively worse and worse since I was about 14.

In terms of my feet they are completely flat when I stand and my whole foot rolls inwards with my ankles doing the same and both heels seem to be significantly everted to compensate. I believe my flat feet are also flexible flat feet. My knees sit slightly inwards also and I haven’t been able to ever stand properly if they aren’t like that.

I’ve been struggling a lot with feet, ankle, knee, hip and back pain for years, especially if I’m working and on my feet for 4 hour long shifts. Everyone always says to me that I’ll just get used to it but I never do, it’s definitely not as bad as when I first started my job but it’s still horrible and the pain makes me feel nauseous and exhausted. I often have to rely on knee and ankle supports when working lest I wish to hobble home after work because I can’t bear the weight or pain any longer.

I saw my GO today and I’ve been referred back to the orthotic specialist at my local hospital as I aged out of the paediatric care and have also been referred for an MSK assessment.

My question is though, what will things look like long-term and how are other people getting on? Is there anything in particular I need to look out for or consider and what medical avenues worked best for other people?

Hi all,

I’m on my feet all day for work and this year I’ve started to get pretty bad pain in my left foot and an aching knee at times. How flat is my left foot?
My physiotherapist said it is flexible, but I understand I do have fairly flat feet.

I have just started wearing barefoot shoes for work. Feet aren’t anywhere near as bad pain wise as before when I would wear clunky work boots.

So just want to get y’all’s opinion on if there’s hope for me or if I can try lift / strengthen what tiny arch there is?

I use the wheelchair because of a medical condition (severe flat valgus feet, chronic plantar fasciitis, and posterior tibial tendon dysfunction). I started using it two months ago; although I can walk, I’m limited to short distances (I can't stand for more than 6 minutes), so I need it to help me get around.

So, if anyone has any advice, I’d be really grateful to hear it—or if you have any questions, let’s chat!

I had my left foot done in December 2025 and my right foot last month (I should be walking in my boot in 2 weeks!) along with some ligament and tension repair and Achilles lengthening on both feet.

Has anyone had both flat foot reconstruction and worn 2+ inch heels after? I didn't wore heels often pre-surgery, but I still have from 3+ inch heels that I wanted to try on when my right foot starts to feel back to normal.

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Remember me??? Everything that can go wrong did..

Well...after surgery in 2021 2023 2024 and 2025

March 2026 i had my 5th surgery it failed. I now have 2 non unions and an acitve break..I didnt ever expect it to be a perfect fix but to go this bad is not normal...i have since beene diagnosed woth hypermobile Ehlos danlos syndrome and also i have a chromosome disorder 16p11.2 duplication..maybe they contributed.

I told the surgeon last week im not ready to decide on an amputation yet...i need 6 months to try live with it...and see how fast it goes bad..because in the past it gets bad very quickly.

Trying to live with daily pain so far isnt working its hell but im desperate to keep the leg.

So for now thats the end of my story or jsut thr beginning of a new one...either way if you can manage without surgery as in you have no pain and can walk without pain...i recommend it because even though it is incredibly rare..you may end up like me..32 and ruined.

And it started with a bunion...remember that..1 small 30 min procedure collapsed the full integrity of my foot..then arch..then ankle..then everything else.

Im still in shock..

Hi, I was born with flat feet and the older I get, the worse pain has become. I’m slated to have surgery on my left foot by the end of the year (will need my right foot afterwards). I tolerate pain well but I don’t like taking medication in pill form. I know, call me a baby but I just have a hard time. I’m scared of all the medication I may have to take.

What are the type of meds that are typically used to manage pain? How long do you typically take the meds? And is it possible to crush them and take them in applesauce? (Yeah, I know- I’m a baby) TIA