"For 2 years I tried just about everything to get rid of the incessant pain I felt in both my heels – the result of a not uncommon condition called planter fasciitis. I did stretching exercises, wore well-cushioned footwear with semi-custom orthotics (contoured insoles), even received steroid injections. Finally, only two options remained – custom orthotics or surgery. While this choice should have been easy, horror stories of how painful custom orthotics were, actually had me contemplating surgery. Good sense prevailed and I decided to take the less invasive course of action.

Selecting a podiatrist was easy – Helen Crawford came so highly recommended I found myself in her office a few days later. After a thorough going over she prescribed the dreaded orthotics. I very tentatively expressed my nervousness about how painful they would be. Helen just smiled gently and said, “Not if they are done right”. A few weeks later I gingerly stood up in my new orthotic-lined trainers. The relief of standing without pain was indescribable. I wore them continuously for the first few months and was able to go for long walks, stand for hours with virtually no pain. I am now at the stage where I don’t have to wear them all the time and can even endure an evening wearing silly, strappy sandals!

Working with Helen has been a pleasure. Her gentle but firm (don’t ever yank your trainers off without untying your shoe laces in her presence!) manner inspires confidence and I, for one, am very grateful that my troublesome feet are in her very able hands."

-- Indira Pant