I am so glad that Alan came thru this with such good flying colors! It must be a big relief to see light at the end of what's been a very long tunnel.
As for orthotics? Well, you do what you have to do and go from there...
Any surgery to the bottom of the foot is considered VERY invasive....When a person wears shoes, it's the ideal environment for infections, and something that Alan with his CIDP can't play roulette with [such as going to the gym, as much as he'd like] Such surgery takes a VERY long time to heal. I do wish it were different?
At least, saying goodbye to the wheelchair will be nice, won't it?
Here's to Alan keeping on 'healing' and not 'wheeling'! -j