This week I’ve been out and about, testing my insoles, new walking boots and the heel strike movement more. And I’ve developed new pains, strains, and aches. But it’s been great for mental health to enjoy the jewels of nature.

While it’s been lovely to get out and enjoy autumn and all its colours seen here It’s been a very painful affair too. The arch of the left foot really hates the arch block (made to stop arches from falling) it really aches and makes the foot tender to touch. The insoles overall are good, but even with 2.5cm ones I’m still lurching when I’m tired, so the Trendelenburg gait is there. The low back pain I get isn’t being relieved with the insoles as of yet. This is a massive pain that’s holding me back daily.

I’ve also gained a new pain that I’ve never had before, a side of the lower leg pain, the Fibularis Longus. No idea why or how, is it over use? The insole and my legs positioning, or the leg length? Would I be better off with a built up shoe? Or perhaps insole wearing improves over the months not weeks.

As I flex the ankle it pulls up near the knee, it’s a sharp stinging pain. Possibly a nerve or tendonitis pain?? It’s going to need a fair amount of resting to settle down this inflammation.

Peroneus longus acts as a foot evertor and pronator, thus ensuring stability of the talocrural joint by curbing inversion movement of the rearfoot. Increased activation of the peroneus longus muscle in the stance phase could have a stabilising effect on the ankle joint. In a study the aim was to determine whether the activity of the peroneus longus muscle could be increased by the targeted use of a specially formed lateral pressure element in a customised orthopaedic insole. For me I think as I strike my heel down in the way I’m supposed too, it’s activated this muscle or tendon, that probably has been bypassed before.

I’m grateful for the replacements, but I feel more studies are needed on the impacts of having a Leg Length Discrepancy. It’s clearly pulling ligaments and tendons in a totally new way, as well as lengthening and shortening muscles while twisting my lower back to compensate. It’s far more complex than merely adding a shoe lift. Its impact on my overall health is massive.