Docotor's Profits? (orthotics)

[Miranda]

Do you think if the podiatrists has to send back orthotics to the lab they get them from for a re-make they lose their profit? :confused:
(...or get charged twice? hmm...)

I'm frustrated. There is part of my orthotics that clearly did not fit from delivery. All the doc wants to do is (in HIS words) "try and salvage them" in his office with adjustment.

The plastic itself is still somewhat thick (even with a thin topcoat) to wear in cycling shoes. My hope was to use the same cast and send to get cycling specifics made. But I can see no point if the mold they made them from doesn't fit. Plus, I can't even wear them in normal shoes as is.

Hacking them off in the office gives some help, but it's like putting a band-aid on something that needs stitches at the ER to me. All I can figure is that they lose $. I googled the out of town company's web site and the price list is hidden. Only a doctor facility can get the charges faxed privately.

All of this "wait and come back in another month" is doing nothing but wasting away my adjustment warranty.

And yippie... I'm hormonal to boot. So, I can't help but cry at the waste of time and money--while still in pain. Maybe if I went and layed down in the middle of the doctor's office waiting room floor and starting bawling my eyes out, that would help? Just kidding... *sigh*:(.

[silver]

I don't know the answer but do have a question. Did they do a casting or a computer scan of your feet?

I do feel your pain. I took my orthodics slammed them triumpantly into the trash can...

[Zen]

I don't know the answer either but the "try and salvage" method is like trying to make the wrong size bike frame fit with stems, shims, setbacks etc.

Have you heard of esoles (http://www.esoles.com/)?

[bluebug32]

I bought a pair of $20 Walkfit orthotics at CVS on the recommendation of my podiatrist and haven't had any pain since. The old custom orthotics never felt right.

[parity]

Did you pay by credit card? If so what I would do is tell them to get you ones which fit and give them back the old ones. If they don't you'll call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Since you didn't get what you were promised and paid for.

[silver]

I asked my doc about this....we have just starting working with a brand called Foot Levelers. He said the company would redo without recharging. He likes this brand because they have such a low profile, i.e. would fit in most shoes. They use a computer scan rather than casting.



http://www.footlevelers.com/products/orthotics_elite.php

[Drtgirl]

I am having the exact same issue with my orthotics. They were defective from the get-go and he tried to tweak them in the office. I am ready to toss them and buy a pair of Superfeet.

[Miranda]

I don't know the answer but do have a question. Did they do a casting or a computer scan of your feet?

I do feel your pain. I took my orthodics slammed them triumpantly into the trash can...


Hi Silver...

They were from a cast. It was some type of gauze bandage type material soaked wtih plaster. I have heard of the computer scan before. The foot that the arch fits, the toe broke through when he took it off. He said that didn't matter since my orthotic wouldn't be there.

Well, in my mind I thought it matters to ME because I had just got through telling him that if I could not find cycling shoes that fit my foot shape I could get Rocket7s made from a cast. Of which the cast fee is seperate. Which I was already paying for at his office. (PROVIDED what is made from the cast fits!)

As I read the orthotics web site for doctor's it said "for every two orthotics made, the doctor gets one personal pair free". Surely the doctor's don't use all of these? Maybe they use the free one towards patients to make more profit?

I know doctor's need to make money like anyone else to pay their own bills, but the thing is would they really accept "salvaged trash" for themselves or own family? I'm guessing not. Or their hard earned money to go in the trash... literally. I think no there too.

[Miranda]

I don't know the answer either but the "try and salvage" method is like trying to make the wrong size bike frame fit with stems, shims, setbacks etc.

Have you heard of esoles (http://www.esoles.com/)?

Thx for that link. We don't have a distributor near by. But, I could call them to figure out what you do about that. Actually, I think these look like what is in the new Bontrager shoes? Hmm. If it is, I tried the shoes at my lbs and was impressed. My feet are so different (why I went with a casting). But, they were not half bad looking.

[Miranda]

I am having the exact same issue with my orthotics. They were defective from the get-go and he tried to tweak them in the office. I am ready to toss them and buy a pair of Superfeet.

I have a pair of yellow Superfeet insoles I bought from Zappos.com. They are a new version for cycling shoes it says (they were a different color previously). And you can read more on Superfeet's web site.

They are not half bad. But, for me, my arch is SO high, they still don't touch it. Nice thing about them they are pretty thin and do fit in the shoes. Great thing about Zappos is that you have one full year to return something (if not used of course).

Anything I have ever bought there was free shipping and returns too. I have just hung onto the pair I have until I got through the process. I took them to the doc to show how they look to fit the shoe.

[Miranda]

Did you pay by credit card? If so what I would do is tell them to get you ones which fit and give them back the old ones. If they don't you'll call your credit card company and dispute the charge. Since you didn't get what you were promised and paid for.

I told his nurse last time, if this was all the better they could fit for the money, they could keep them. She thought I was kidding Ithink. I am not.

Actually, when I checked out no helped me, so I left without paying the whole bill. I paid deposit and casting fee on a prior day. And it was cc.

My other fear is that since my insurance company does not pay for orthotics, they are going to reject these follow up visits and I will owe the whole bill. My co-pay just went up this year too.

By the next time I go back, I could have had a heat pair made at my local sports-bike store on site. That's just in the add up of doctor's office visits alone.

The sports store are lesser quality, and you can't use them for walking or multi-purpose. Why I was hoping the doc's pair could multi-task. Plus, I didn't find out about it until after my trip to the doc... or I might have just skipped him al-together *sigh*.

[Miranda]

I bought a pair of $20 Walkfit orthotics at CVS on the recommendation of my podiatrist and haven't had any pain since. The old custom orthotics never felt right.

Thx for the brand tip. We have CVS, I'll take a look.