I don't know everyone else's foot problems are, but I have classic and apparently quite bad deformity - bunions, pain etc. I went to the Woodware Rd practice a few years ago and got orthotics for the not inconsiderable price of £600.
The team there seems very nice but, now that I am experiencing a new type of foot pain, I'm wondering if I've been doing it all wrong these years with supportive trainers and insoles. I'm beginning to realise (seems obvious now) that, if I want to cure my foot pain, maybe I need to change the way I walk, and my posture etc. And also, maybe I need to try barefoot shoes, to build muscle where there's been no need prior, because shoes have been doing all the supporting.
I've been educating myself with Helen Hall and Lawrence van Lingen and addressing my gait seems like a more organic way to solve the problem.
Podiatrists will convince you that orthotics and / or surgery are the only way to go, but look up reddit forums and you'll find countless people saying they 'cured' their bunions with barefoot walking / shoes / and exercises.
Unfortunately I was not at all impressed by the Woodwarde Road one. I was trying to avoid taking time off work so went privately to start with as they were open on Saturdays but, after a bad experience and a lot of money, I went to the NHS service and it was brilliant.
You can self refer but I'm not sure if there are exclusions to what they'll see.
https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/referral-guide/community-foot-health-podiatry#non-gp-referrals-self-referrals-and-referrals-from-friends-carers-and-relatives
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