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

Glad that things are better...just keep an eagle eye out for it all, as I know you will.
Happy walking to you both - j

Wonderful news! Doctors must love you and Alan. You guys are so systematic about following the doctors directions. (very intelligent too...) I'm glad you've been rewarded.

Also, don't know if you've ordered from Zapho's before (online? right?) but I have and reading the comments about the shoes helped me a lot. The pair of shoes to buy had comments that said they ran small so I ordered a size larger and I was VERY glad I did so I'm sure you do it already but just in case you don't, read the user comments, caveat emptor (or something like that.)

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.)