anytime you see a red line going out from an injury-usually along a vein-
that could be an indication of something serious {like blood poisoning}

Those are medicare rules which the insurance companies then follow. I know i tried to get something too but i dont have diabetes so was turned down. I couldnt walk for 6 weeks but that didnt matter. It seems that only diabetic neuropathy is given official recognition, because it is easy to point to a cause. Im not talking about PN caused by pre diabetes.

--I bet Alan's strategy will work.

It's just annoying, and shameful, that it would have to come to a hearing.

I, too, had not been able to get specialized shoes for the same reason. I am fortunate that my wife participates in a medical savings plan--"flex" plan--and I was able to recoup the expense through there. But I was certainly peeved to find out that the insurance plans only recognize diabetic neuropathy as a reason for such shoes. (My Dad, who is diabetic, DID get them covered.)

And, of course, I sent the obligatory e-mail to the company (United Health Care) with the appropriate embedded references about idiopathic/cryptogenic neuropathy of the feet and lower extremities with demonstrable small-fiber damage. Probably won't do any good, but I feel it needs to be on record, and perhaps, in time, changes might be made. (I do encourage you to do that as well, Mel, contrasting your own situation, and you can find plenty of references in the Useful Web Sites--maybe if enough of us do this, eventually . . .)

Well, I just checked his foot, (like I did last night), no more red lines going up from the ankle. His ankle (which was slightly swollen (at least I think it was, but I'm no doctor), is perfectly fine and matches the other ankle.

He has no pain, he walks from his chair to the bathroom and back with no problem, waring that medical shoe.

So later on today, we go to Dr. Baird.

will update.

love,
melody

Dr. Baird took off the dead skin under his foot and proclaimed. "healing really nicely".

Then he said "Alan, I think your insurance will pay for new orthotics, and Alan replied "really???".

So we came home, called up Blue Cross, Blue Shield Mediblue and right as rain, they COVER ORTHOTICS.

Ain't life good sometimes????

mel