Well, the only thing I can say about Alan's foot ulcer is that over the past year it was doing just fine, until it re-curred and his doctor would debride it and he has not had any infection in YEARS. This is the first infection (and it was not by the ulcer), it was over on the side of the foot and we looked at the orthotic and it is apparent that it's made completely different than his previous orthotics (by the same company)

And over a month ago when he was measured at Beth Israel by the orthotic person, and she sent out his foot impression so they could make him a new orthotic, well, when it was done, they sent it to the same Orthotic lady and she called us up and said: "I don't know what is wrong with these people, we got Alan's orthotic but they didn't do the oft loading, they didn't do anything, we are sending it back with new instructions"

So she sent back the newly made (but wrongly done orthotic) along with his right shoe, and we waited. When we got the call, "the orthotic is here", Alan went by himself, came home (never took out the orthotic to show me) not that I would have said "oh this is badly done" but it had this extra piece on it and it was placed in the wrong position. Alan doesn't feel anything so it didn't bother him.

He rarely went out so he was mostly in the house and didn't wear it. He uses special slippers with the older orthotic.

but last week he went out for a while and the newly made orthotic must have rubbed along the side (the doctor showed us where the blister was and how the new orthotic was responsible).

It's so obvious because when you hold up the two orthotics side by side (made by the same company but we don't know if made by the same people), well the previous orthotic had the "well" exactly where his foot ulcer was.

and the newly made one had the "well" slightly higher and they had this foamy cushiony piece of something around the well, (never had this in any previous orthotic), and the doctor said "look at the two orthotics, look at this new one (the well), is placed wrong"

He then took a pen and drew a line where the orthotic SHOULD HAVE PUT THE 'WELL"

I then said "should I take a knife and slice around this thing and make the well the correct size"? He said "I'd contact the orthotic company, they did a lousy job"

So that's what I'm going to do as soon as I finish posting this.

Don't know about any cultures. We'll see the guy again on Saturday, and I'll ask him.

He's been our podiatrist for 15 years and Alan trusts him (as do I)

He's always had our best interest. He once said "you know, we sit around and have discussions about Alan's feet"

Alan is very comfortable with this guy and we've had other podiatrists but we really like this guy. I think he is right on the money with the orthotic, because if you just look at it, you see immediately that the "well" was put in the wrong position.

Melody