I have a question about neuropathy. Well, his neuropathy anyway.

This morning we were at Dunkin Donuts and he's sitting across from me and he looks down and says "oh my god, where's my shoe??" and I said "what are you talking about, it's on your foot", and I look down and there was his sock but no shoe. It seems his brand new $90 shoes (although very comfortable), the velcro has to be adjusted (I've since done this so this won't happen again).

His shoe had obviously slipped off and he was sitting with the shoe on one foot and no shoe on the other foot.

He then said "Last night when I got up to go to the bathroom, I went in with a pair of slippers on my feet and came out wearing only one slipper, wow, my feet are so numb I don't even know if I'm wearing a shoe or not".

So here's my question. If his feet are so numb that he doesn' know if he is wearing a shoe (forget about his knowing if his socks are on or off, he never knows) but now we are talking about slippers and a shoe here, well, what does this mean? I mean, how is a man able to walk perfectly fine, if he can't even tell he has a shoe on his foot?

Please, some of you knowledgable people out there who truly understand this numbness, can you please explain this series of events to me? Thanks

Oh, by the way, he goes to the podiatrist on Wednesday, so we'll find out about the recurring foot ulcer.

Mel

i was walking the dog one night and didnt realize that my shoe wasnt on until i saw it lying on the sidewalk on the way back, so i walked 6 blocks total without it. We use our eyes to balance and I think that we get feedback from the rest of the leg that isnt numb in order to walk without falling over (much).

Velcro, heel straps, I do not go anywhere out of the shower or bed w/o proper footwear! And, I've gone as far as 40 feet before 'noticing'.
You are going to have to get him soo very aware that this is to be treated as IF one has a diabetic neuropathy....It's not gonna go away, and walking around in socks or shoeless means one can step on 'things', bad things and not know it. Period, no ands ifs or buts.
It is a retraining, but one of self-preservation...diabetics get cuts on their feet that can go un-noticed and turn into those nightmare nasties...
Melody - I know you will work on this. It is essential. Take care - j

Joe, it's when the eyes go weird or bad tho, that things really get interesting! Sort of....

Heel Straps:

He wears these super comfy slippers that do not stay on his feet. He slides into them. He likes them and his orthotics fit nicely right inside.

Do you think we have to get him a slipper that fits like a shoe?? He needs a size 13. Stores around here do not sell this size.

I can go online.

I wonder how I can turn his slide on slippers into a shoe that won't slip off.

I'll invent something. I know me.

Melody

Melody, knowing whether or not your shoe is on is mostly a function of the sense of light touch. We have other sensory nerve fibers that give us feedback of deep pressure and proprioception that help us when we walk. However, when nerve damage is complete and we loose this other sensory feedback, we can actually loose our ability to walk or have to rely on canes or walkers as well as using our sight for feedback.

I would recommend that he try Crocs as slippers. If they aren't warm enough..... I wear down booties that have a foam sole.

maybe you could make something melody?

an elastic strap that is sewn on one side with a tab of velcro?

Hi Dakota and Curious.

He has crocs but he loves the slip on slippers.

I have velcro. I'll just sew a piece of stretchable elastic on one side and put some velcro on the thing, and on the other side I'll put the other velcro thing.

VOILA!!!

We will have a shoe that he can slip on and then fasten to his liking.

You guys are good.

Much thanks,

Melody