Hi Texas Geek:

GREAT NEWS!!!!

We just came back from PAYLESS.

Let me tell you what happened earlier this morning. Alan had gone to his doctor for his blood test. I was on the avenue after going out for Dunkin dounuts coffee all my myself.

I passed this pharmacy and they had these Orthopedic shoes on a stand outsife of their doorway. So I am looking and I walk in and I tell them. "My husband is not diabetic but he wears a size 10 1/2 5 E but he might need a 6E because he has a tailor bunions.

She said "I have the exact shoe for him" She runs downstairs, and she brings up these PROPET (now he has worn this brand before). and they are 10 1/2 5 E. Well, I'm about to tell her that no way would a 5 E fit him when I take a look at these shoes and I go WHOA!!!!!

These were the biggest toe box sandal sort of shoe I hve ever seen.

I said "can you please put these aside, I'll bring my husband in later". She said fine. Now this is an ordinary pharmacy on the avenue. No special medical supply store or anything like that.

So Alan later comes home, I tell him about the shoes (They are $90, by the way). Oh, I had gone to Zappos on line and they were over $100, we have shoes by them also).

So he says "lets' go to PAYLESS first, they have buy one and get one half price. I said 'Do you really think they are going to have a size 10 1/2 6 E? He said: "No, but I might be able to fit in larger shoes with my newer orthotics." (He hadn't been able to wear them as of yet).

So we take the laundry, I go to the laundromat and he goes across the street to PAYLESS. I then walk to meet up with him, and there is my husband trying on Shoe after Shoe size 13 W. I just looked at him and said WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU DOING, YOU DON'T WEAR A SIZE 13??

He said "oh yeah??? well, in this store, I do and with these orthotics I most certainly do!!!!" So he puts his orthotics inside these nice black dressy shoes and he starts walking around the store. He walked around the store 5 times, just to make sure. He said "these I want". So he puts another pair of shoes on Size 13W. These were more athletic " HE LOVED THEM. No pinching of the tailor bunions.

So here's a picture of the two pairs of Size 13 W shoes he got at payless. Total price for the two pairs $37.00



and here’s a photo of the dressy shoes size 13W


Now here’s where it gets interesting.

We then went to the pharmacy to see the Propets. I knew that as soon as Alan saw them, and put them on, he would HAVE to buy them.

The lady then took the $90 shoes, walked Alan over to a chair, took out the inserts that were already in the shoes, took Alan’s orthotics, put them in, she then put these shoes on Alan and told him to “walk around the store”.

Well, as you can see ‘ALAN WALKED HOME WEARING THESE SHOES”. In his words. "I LOVE THESE SHOES". Oh my god, they are so comfortable. He let me take them off to take these pictures.

Here they are: And these are Size 10 1/2 5E






Oh, I thought I'd take some pics of these orthotics.


and here’s the bottom of the orthotic.



So Alan now has 3 new pairs of shoes (oy veh, credit cards lol).
the $90 pair is 10 1/2 5E and the two Payless shoes are Size 13 W.

WHY SUCH A BIG DIFFERENCE IN THE SHOE SIZES????

Melody

P.S. remember, spongy things between the toes. They spread the toes apart so no compressing. In Alan's feet, these things work.

Sorry you had to spend so much but I'm sure you have heard that alternating shoes is the best way to make them last longer. With 3 pair, it may be 10 years before Alan has to buy another pair of shoes!!!

Those Propets look interesting. I wonder if they are made in Europe. I had a wonderful pair of shoes (size 40 since they were European sized) that lasted me forever that had a similar look to what you have shown. I may check and see if there is a store here in Houston who sells that brand. (I would really like to try them on first if I have the option rather than online and support a local retailer if possible.) Thanks!

p.s. bet those Propets last a lot longer than the ones from PAYLESS but who knows!

p.p.s. I'm editing to add that I think a nice part of the Propets is sandal type top. I've heard it here before and it is my experience that when my feet get hot, the pain is much worse. Sandals are a good thing, even in winter (maybe with some thin socks.)

Hi Texas Geek:

How are you doing today??

Just saw your edit about sandals.

Alan has never worn sandals in his entire life. These really are so comfortable.

I now have a big bag full of useless shoes that Alan will not let me throw away. Why guys have to keep shoes (I thought us gals were bad), but pulleeeeze!!!!

He says "don't get rid of those, I might need them someday"

I am putting them away. If he doesn't look at these shoes in 3 months, I'll be ditching them. He cannot wear any of his old shoes with his newer orthotics and the purpose is to keep the ulcer from coming back.

We actually might be able to go for a walk outside tonight. Won't that be something new??? Been married 27 years and his feet are now a walkin!!!!!

I hope this ulcer stays gone.

But I'm prepared. You never know. It was there for 18 months.

Keeping everything crossed.

Oh, I have a question if anyone knows the answer to.

Alan has a tailor bunion. He might need surgery. I have no idea. We will talk this over with the new guy in two weeks.

Now he had the other tailor bunion done 4 years ago. He had to be off his foot for 6 weeks, (only to go to bathroom and to bed).

I had to wait on him hand and foot.

If he has the other bunion done, will he be able to utilize the new boot and walk around?? God, that would be so great.

Anybody know what they do now with tailor bunions? Or is it the same story?? Off of the feet for 6 weeks.

Melody

It's just like with clothing. I'm sure you've gone shopping thinking you know what size top or jeans you wear and then several different stores have several different sizes that fit. It's because of who makes the clothing. It seems there simply is no standard for US womens sizes. Most likely the same thing for shoes. Stupid isn't it?

Melody,
You are so right. I made a boo-boo. Blame it on tired dried out eyes. The swimming pool (therapy) fumes of the stuff they put in the water really affect my eyes. So reading is a difficult chore for me right now. I'm glad the orthodics are working for Alan and I love the Prophet shoes.

Billye

Hi All:

I am still crossing fingers and toes, but I had to update you all.

Alan wore the shoes home from the store. He was commenting. "oh my god, oh my god, these are soooooo comfortable".


I've been checking his foot all day, and it's still good. SO THAT'S GOOD!!!

Then after dinner he goes "Want to take a walk"? Now my husband has never uttered those words in his life, he hasn't WALKED anywhere voluntarily in over 18 months because of the foot ulcer. And for 5 years, he has had the PN so bad he quit driving because he can't feel his feet. The pn between the toes was horrible.

But in the last few days, since we have done the spongy thingees between his toes, well, I guess it's working. Also, the toe flexor thingee is good too.

But the best, the absolute best, is the Propet Shoes he bought.

He only took them off when I demanded to check his foot. He would wear them to sleep, that's how much he loves them.

So he goes "Want to go to the Feast"??

If anyone doesn't know what a Feast in Brooklyn is, it's a bazarre kind of festival with food, dancing, lots of good music, jewelry stands, food stands, tee shirt stands, they sell handbags (I know what I'm buying tomorrow night, believe me), they sell cd's. Well, it's 12 blocks of a lot of people walking on both sides of the street, people selling stuff and you eat a lot of good food (we don't but other people do), Sausage and pepper sandwiches.

It's a lot of fun, and for 10 or so days, it's right around the corner from my house. Alan hasn't been to a Feast in 5 years. He couldn't walk for long periods of time, and after the foot ulcer, well, forget it!!

Tonight, my husband WALKED. He walked the 12 blocks going to the Feast, and the 12 blocks back. We walked slowly, but he felt fine. He also said "It's amazing, I have no pain". He also looked a whole inch taller because of the orthotic and the Propet shoes. And maybe, because he is feeling better, and less stressed????, well his psoriasis cleared up behind his ears, and his eyebrows. Honestly, he looked HEALTHY!!!

But he actually asked me if I wanted to WALK!!!

Boy, what a good doctor, a good Shoe Boot, Regranex, and lots of love can do!!!

Now, I 'm not kidding myself. I know that this ulcer might re-cur. But we'll deal with whatever we have to deal with.

All I know is that tonight, I took a walk with my husband.

That's a good thing.

Melody

Nice story, Melody and yes, I totally agree, walks are good things.

My husband and I would probably be divorced were it not for the fact that our dogs DEMAND to be walked everyday. (sometimes we might have to skip but they give us HELL) and sometimes my feet hurt like hell but I get my cane and give it a try and take it very slow usually. During our walks, it seems it's the best time for us to talk about things, positive as well as negative.

If we're sitting at home, I may be cooking or we're both watching TV but just doesn't seem the time to talk about anything really. Walks are different somehow, we talk about the good and bad (as well as what we see...). We've even had arguments in the middle of the street, LOL (not a bad thing if that is what it takes to communicate IMO as long as we don't give out too much noise pollution...).

I recommend walks to everyone. So sad that many of us with PN can't partake. I"ve seen a few people on those little carts. I may have to get one of those one day so I can keep on getting out. (and gotta keep the dogs happy..)

And if someone (who knows more than I do about the feet), tells me we shouldn't be doing this, I will tell Alan, but for now, it works.

Here's what happened.

He got the new Propets, he puts the spongy thingees between the toes, he walked during the Feast, we came home, checked his feet. All was good.

Bedtime came. Now Alan takes xanax and melatonin and usually (if the weather outside is cooperating,), well he falls asleep and stays asleep till the next morning.

Well, last night, he comes to bed (after taking his pills), and he's tossing and turning, he can't find a comfortale position. I just looked at him and said "what on earth is the matter" and he said "my neuropathy is killing me". I said "do you have the spongy things between your toes"? and he goes "I don't know"

So I said to myself "well, if he's good with the spongy things, then he'll be great with the Toe Flexor thingees".

So I got the toe flexors, and let me tell you, getting these two things to go between Alan's tight toes, well, it's a struggle, but I did it. Then I put his socks right over the toe flexors.

He fell asleep in two minutes. When he woke up this morning, I asked him "How are the toe flexors working? and he said "I felt so good, I didn't know I had them on".

I really think we are on to something here.

He wore the PROPETS this morning, when we went to Dunkin Donuts.

Did a little shopping, Came home and we checked his feet. Still great.

Thirty minutes ago, while he's sitting in the chair, I see him shaking his right foot (that's the one with the worse PN sometimes). Now he has no neuropathy when he walks. Feels no pain. It's just when he sits for longer periods or lays on his back.

So I just put the toe flexor things on his toes and told him to flex his toes and exercise the toe joints or ligaments or nerves, or whatever is being compressed.

I just walked over to him and asked "how are you doing? and he said "Oh, these things are working, I'm much better".

So, because this is not a drug and has o side effects, is there any reason why, when he sits int the chair, he can't wear these toe flexor thingees indefinitely. He's sitting there right now, doing toe exercises.

Let's put it this way. You know when you are a kid and you put braces on your teeth and they realign your teeth??? Maybe this toe flexor thing is realigning his ligaments and de-compressing his nerves. Maybe????

What do you all think?

Oh, I just came back from the eye doctor. Wait until you hear what he said about my eyes. I'm posting a new thread on this.

Melody

Sounds very good all way round, i am glad to hear the ulcer is healed, awfull things they are...and what you worked out with his toes is just fantastic, i am happy for you both