Well, I have no idea if this is good news, or if we are jumping the gun, or whatever, but Alan just came home from the new podiatrist.

He's been wearing the boot and using regranex as directed.

The doctors over at Methodist looked at his foot and said "your ulcer is healed". Now he had brought his newer orthotics to show the doctor last week and the doctor had made mention that when he started to wear his shoes, it would be one hour a day.

Well, it seems that Alan is so healed, the doctor told him "Alan, wear the boot for half a day and your regular shoes with the orthotics, the other half of the day".

So Alan (wearing the boot), came home from the doctor's office, took off the boot, put the newer orthotics in the Propet Orthopedic shoes he used to wear AND HE COULDN'T PUT THEM ON. These newer orthotics (he has never used them yet and today would have been the first day), well he puts them inside and tells me "I can't get my feet in these shoes". I just looked at him and said "well, what are you going to do?" So he found one of his New Balance shoes and the orthotics fit. So we went shopping. He then turns to me and says "my tailor bunion is killing me".

He had originally had surgery 4 or so years ago, on the other foot's tailor bunion (that was successful). So now, (and I have no idea why this is happening), the right foot (the one with the ulcer), well this big thing is sticking out of the right side of his foot. It actually makes indentations in his shoes. It doesn't hurt him when he wears the boot. But now he is wearing the New Balance Shoes and there was rubbing. He even put a piece of moleskin on the right side of the bunion. It helped but this is what Alan said: "I need bigger shoes if I'm going to wear these brand new orthotics. Alan usually wears a 10 1/2 5 E shoe. He now says he needs a 10 1/2 6 E. Trying find that!!!!

Then after we came home from shopping, we examined the underside of the foot where the ulcer was and there was no change. It was fine. So Alan said "oh that's good, I walked for an hour and nothing happened."

The doctor told Alan he has to check his feet several times a day.

Then after we came home, he took off his shoes. He got the older orthotics (they were re-made for his ulcer also), but they look completely different than the newer ones. The older ones were made by Langer and I have no idea who makes the newer ones but they look completely different and they are thicker than the former orthotics.

So Alan took the blue former orthotics, put them in his shoes and proclaimed "oh, this is much better".

I told him to call the podiatrist and tell him what happened but of course he's stubborn and won't call. His next appointment is two weeks and he said "you have to come with me, you know what to ask the doctor".

So in two weeks, I'll go (oh, if his ulcer recurs, we'll be there much sooner), and I'll ask questions about what kind of shoe he needs and if anything can be done about the tailor bunions.

Oh, and the podiatrist loved the stuff about the cotton balls. He went and gave Alan little toe separators. (The stuff that I saw on the website).

I am making my own home made version out of visco-elastic foam that I have in the house. We'll put some between his toes and I'll rig up a piece to go next to the tailor bunion.

At least he got to walk today without the boot, the pn is much better because he does the flexor thing from Harriet Carter, and wore the cotton balls between his toes, and hopefully this darn ulcer won't come back. He's had it for 18 months.

Amazing. We are just crossing fingers that it doesn't re-cur.

Just wanted to share.

Melody

Melody,
Tell Alan that this is wonderful news! And I know it is for you too. But perhaps the new orthotics are made to take pressure off the area that forms the ulcer. It might not be safe to wear the old orthotics.

I'd be calling the doctor to tell him what is happening.

Billye

Hi Melody and Alan:

I am sure we are all holding our breath hoping and praying that Alan's ulcer is truly healed and that you are able to find the right orthotic for him to use.

It is always inspiring to hear good news.

Shirley H.

Hi Billye: You made a boo boo. I said in my post "
Then after we came home, he took off his shoes. He got the older orthotics (they were re-made for his ulcer also), but they look completely different than the newer ones."

See, the older ones are not that old....they were remade for the foot ulcer to remove the pressure.

These newer ones (since he switched insurance hmo's, he's entitled to a completely new pair of orthotics). The older ones have been refurbished (the most recent refurbishment was a few months ago (FOR HIS ULCER). So he actually has two perfectly good orthotics perfectly made for his foot ulcer.

Only the brand new pair does not work with any of his shoes. So he either uses the refurbished pair in his shoes. Or he buys yet another pair of shoes to make the brand new orthotics fit.

I told him "don't buy any new shoes yet. You have two weeks. Wear whichever shoes you feel comfortable in for half the day". He says he is fine with the refurbished orthotics.

See, it doesn't matter which orthotics he wears, they were both made for his ulcer. But the newer ones are a little higher (or thicker).

I think that once we see that his ulcer won't re-cur, we can think about blowing another $100 (oh my god), on another pair of shoes. I went to zappos and they have 6 E.

So now it's just a wait and see and put the little things between his toes, and put some moleskin on his tailor bunion.

And he uses the little flexor thing from Harriet Carter. He loves these two things. for 10 minutes, he just sits there and flexes his toes. He says it helps the pn.


Shirley....how are you???

lol

Melody

p.s. Would you guys believe we are freezing here in Brooklyn, NY. The weather is absolutely nuts. I wore a coat today.

Oh, Melody, you are cruel to tell me that. It was 100 degrees here today.

It's 100 degrees where you live????


HAHAHAHAHAHAHAAH

I'm freezing my knickers off and I would kill to have 100 degrees. I have no pain whatsoever when it's 100 degrees. Not that I could run a marathon, but believe me, when we had a heat spell and everyone was croaking in the street, pouring water bottles over their head, I took my IPOD, took my water bottle, took my fanny pack and I marched one mile.

Never felt better. I do very well when it's 100. People look at me like I'm crazy. They can't even stand up straight and there I go with my IPOD.

But it has to be really hot and no humidity.

I would do very well in New Mexico or the Sahara lol

Melody

That's really good news! I'm so glad to hear that he's healed.

Barbara