Leg Length Difference 😫

Welcome to my world Fanny I joined The Ministry of Silly Walks a few weeks ago and have now been referred for possible knee replacement - I have to lift my leg to 'unlock' my knee before I walk 🤣🤣🤣

Apparently, it's quite common. I was born with a twisted ankle, which was corrected when I was a child, but my legs have remained difference lengths. As a result, I have muscle wastage in one calf and it's probably a contributory factor to the problems I have in one hip.

Yes Fanny join the club. I have one leg shorter and one foot smaller. I drag one leg a bit and it contributes to back problems.

Fanny my mother in law had a shortened leg following a hip replacement.
One of her shoes had to be built up. This helped. Perhaps you might benefit from something similar.

I totally agree with what Aldom says. I have been out of the profession for too long to remember the minimal leg difference for shoe build but it should be sorted asap because it will affect other joints, especially the back.

One of my legs is shorter than the other and a good NHS podiatrist has made inserts for my shoes. I do mostly wear trainers as they don't really work for standards shoes but they are great. However its only about a centimetre different.

Was not discovered till I was around 60 so have a weak knee and back issues which I try to deal with with exercise.

How funny to see this post today. I've just been told by an osteopath this week that my right leg is significantly longer than my left. Both my sister and I have intermittent problems with our right hips. Mine can be painful and sometimes feels very unstable. Our maternal GM was born with talipes but we never met her and often wonder if our hip issue may be related to her condition. With the NHS in crisis I decided to 'go private' in an effort to try and avoid surgery further down the line and was lucky enough to find this osteopath here on our small island as soon as I started looking. She specialises in women and takes a full history - both medical and social - before starting. Her opinion is that damage to my coccyx - once while pregnant and again 4 years ago in a fall - may be relevant and she will work on that next week. She has already made a huge difference after only 2 sessions. My leg feels much more stable this week. She has, however, suggested I may need to see about getting on a waiting list for surgery in the long term and we will decide at the next session. I walk miles with the family dog and feel that is helping too.

A friend had the same problem after a hip replacement, I think I remember you saying that you had a replacement, could this be the cause?

Wyllow3 has found the easiest solution to equalising leg length. Orthotics aren’t always available on the Nhs in Uk but podiatrists will provide for a price!

My right leg is 2.5 cm (1 inch) shorter than the left one. But it happened a long time ago, when I was 19 and had a terrible car accident, and femur smashed to smithereens. 4.5 months in traction did pull it out again a bit- but not quite enough.

Always kept fit and learnt to re-balance- especially with Gi Gung- and never had back problems, which all docs and physios think is a miracle.

Hoped they could do something about it when I had both knees replaced, but ortho surgeon said after all this time, it could do more harm than good.

Go and get it checked if it is worrying you.

Same here when I went to NHS podiatrist for inserts to help my plantar fasciitis I was told I had one leg slightly shorter than the other . She had one insert built up ,
By the way I still get occasional flare ups of the plantar fasciitis 😄
It’s quite common apparently.

I was given heel wedges to put inside one shoe by the podiatrist but in fact find it better with one in each shoe, which is odd.
I had an accident, breaking one foot when I was a teenager and it was never set properly.

Yes, I have this. Get good advice, and be wary of spending a great deal until you have tried simple options.

Myself, I find that a silicon insert works best, like these:
www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08W8SXZW6?linkCode=osi&ascsubtag=ecSEP2s23jlh0qqk1t&th=1&tag=gransnetforum-21

I have to have a shoe with a removable insole, to put the raise under it. There are a small number of sandals available with a closed heel and removable insole. However, as I also need decent support, I use Geisswein merino shoes, as they are comfortable in both hot and cold weather.
They go into walking boots easily as well.

I had a lot of back trouble when I was young which was eventually diagnosed by spine not being straight which made walking not right. He advised that I should have one heel of my shoes built up.

I too, have a longer right leg than a left which I was unaware of till a physio lold me. Maybe explains why I have a problematic left hip as it must take more wright than the right hip. My right foot is also slightly bigger.

Weight not wright

ronib

Wyllow3 has found the easiest solution to equalising leg length. Orthotics aren’t always available on the Nhs in Uk but podiatrists will provide for a price!

That is strange. I wasn't aware of that.
My orthotics have always been provided by the NHS.
If you live in the Glasgow University Trust area, ( which is huge), you can self refer.

Marydoll

ronib

Wyllow3 has found the easiest solution to equalising leg length. Orthotics aren’t always available on the Nhs in Uk but podiatrists will provide for a price!

That is strange. I wasn't aware of that.
My orthotics have always been provided by the NHS.
If you live in the Glasgow University Trust area, ( which is huge), you can self refer.

I did spend about 30 years suffering after seeing an unpleasant surgeon in the London area Marydoll who was rude and dismissive. I was quite shocked at his attitude after the NHS had provided orthotics in another area for years.
It wasn't until a few years ago I decided to ask for a referral here and, although the referral procedure is tortuous, it's fine once you are in the system.

I think the rules on free Nhs orthotics have changed over the years and if you have diabetes/some other complications etc the orthotics are free of charge. In England…. It doesn’t count if you are in pain and can’t walk it seems. So bit mystified!

Thank you so much everyone.

Charley yes, I have terrible back pain. The podiatrist was quite shocked when he saw the difference in length, and he said that I must be in pain.

Alsom and others, yes, I’ve got a squidgy wedge heel thing for my ‘lesser’ leg.
I’ve also got a compression / support sock thing on the foot of my greater leg because that’s the one with ankle pain and plantar fasciitis

Theexwife yes, I had a THR last year. The surgeon said that my legs were different lengths before the op, so they could be even more different now.

Re orthotics, we are in England and my husband had free orthotics about 20 years ago

Thanks again everyone

My friend is having orthotics on the NHS at the moment awaiting her new shoes and has NO other underlining factors perhaps it depends on your area

Not legs but my second toe on my right leg has ‘grown’ in the last few years and means it’s pressing on all my shoes now which has never happened before