Hi All.

I just wanted to show you Alan’s invention. I had absolutely nothing to do with this one. It’s all his idea. He’s become McGuyver.

Because of the foot ulcer problems over the last 18 months, he has to make sure he doesn’t put any pressure on the area where the ulcer was. It is now completely healed and has been so for a few weeks now.

So what he used to do is put the bacitracin and a bandaid (as the doctor told him to), then he would put a clean, very very soft sponge right over it, pull on the sock and put his foot into the shoe with the orthotic.

Then he came up with the idea “why not attach the sponge to the orthotic” He thought he would need Velcro but he realized that he just could have used tape, but since he bought the Velcro, he just took the soft part of the Velcro and wrapped each piece to secure the sponge to the Orthotic.

He says this is the best thing he ever done. He does not feel any pressure whatsoever and we check his feet every single day (sometimes twice) just to make sure.

So far, so good.

So here is what it looks like.







And as you can see, from the side view, it is still very thin and poses no problems when placed inside his big shoes. It just takes the pressure off the area where the ulcer used to be.

Melody,
It's very innovative, but at the same time, I'm worrying about the velcro straps now rubbing Alan's foot. Are you aware you can buy velcro dots that are small circles. The podiatrist had me buy some of them to put on the bottom of the gelpad to stick inside my shoes at the heel. I put two of them on the gelpad. One at the top and one at the bottom edge. Both on the layer that is between the pad and the shoe. See the dots in the right hand corner: https://www.fastenation.com/category...FRYHFQodUDf3xA Just a thought to keep in mind in case you have problems with the strips.

Billye

Billye:

Never thought about the Velcro straps.

And Alan checks the bottom of his foot two times a day. I told him "you have to be careful, you might be protecting the area where the ulcer is but you don't know what the Velcro straps are doing to the bottom of your feet".

He said: "But I'm wearing socks".

I thought about it and said "well, if he's wearing socks OVER these things, then how can it rub, right?"

So time will tell. And so far, time is on his side. lol

Right now, he's sound asleep.

Before he went to sleep for the day (he worked last night from 12 to 8 a.m.) he took his sleeping pill, and I would ordinarily massage him.

Well, a few weeks ago he came home with this Theraspa thing from Brookstone. It does 3 things. On the back of this Theraspa thing there are three words. They are SOOTHING, THERAPUTIC, STIMULATING. I gather than these three things are different kinds of massage.

I was holding it in my hand and I turned the power on (this is in regular mode). And I glided it over his calves and his ankle. He was in heaven. He said: "Oh, I feel the blood going into the nerves of my feet" I said "really?" then I said "what else does this thing do?" and he said "Well, press the word Program and give it a whirl". Well, I pressed the word Program, then the light went all the way to the left (on the handle) and when the light went to the middle word THERAPUTIC.

Well, the darn thing started to THUMP his legs. I have no idea how else to describe the feeling. It was like it was pounding his legs. He absolutely loved it. I've never used this on myself. I really can't hold it in my hands for long because my hands do NOT like anything that vibrates. I've had carpal tunnel for years. It doesn't bother me if I don't bother it.

But I don't use vacuum cleaners or anything that vibrates. That's why I can't use any kind of vibrator on Alan's back.

I can't wait to see what STIMULATE does!!!!! lol

Melody

Hi Billye:

Thank you so much for telling us about the Velcro dots. I didn't know there was such a thing. Might come in handy one of these days.

Shirley H.

Alan says Thanks, for the Velcro Dots idea.

He just said "wow, and I thought I was McGuyver!!!!!!.

"These guys on the boards are terrific"

So Alan thinks you are terrific.

Mel

Melody,
Tell Alan
and thanks.

Billye