Alan can't tell if he is wearing his shoe!!!
 

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).

For me it's been normal from DAY ONE!
 

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....

What a great idea!!
 

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

Mel,
I always wear my 'house shoes', comfy slippers - alla time!
I've tried a lot of 'em and most aren't to my liking,
or if they are- they fall off without my noticing.
I've settled on a glove-leather-soft moccasin, with a pillow-like soft insole.
I got them for Xmas 2 yrs ago and have been repairing the flexible rubber soles with 'Shoe Goop' (BTW-Great Stuff!) for the last 6 mos. cause I can't find a pair in size 13 to replace them, either!
But a moccasin style is the best for not falling off
(as long as you don't ruin them by bending the backs down to let them slip on & off like 'Crocs').

I think there is an element of DUH? here...
 

It is possible that Alan has learned to not pay attention to his feet...because they hurt etc. So he diverts his attention away from them, and hence loses track.

What really worries me, is the potential for a trip/fall. A serious fall, breaks bones or tears ligaments and leads to much suffereing. (I am just getting over my leg injury now 2 + yrs later!)

So is that shoe lost? Did he find it again?

Even tho I have some numbness, I am always aware of my shoes. Seems some days my feet have more sensation than any other part of me in fact!

I hope you devise a solution, soon.

Hi All:

Well, you can forget about me trying to invent something to keep his slipper on. We were walking to Dunkin this morning and I explained what I planned to do with his slippers. This was met with a look that said "are you out of your mind, you want to turn my slippers into ballet shoes??" lol

So I think I shall try and find him a pair of comfortable mocassins or slippers (a shoe, not a slip on), in a size 13. There are two BIG MEN stores near me. I will go and check it out. If I told Alan to come with me, he'll just go "Oh, I don't need this, you are making a big deal out of this."


MEN!!!!!!

Oh by the way, we didn't lose any shoe. Now if this happened outside, THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING, because his $90 shoes are so big they look like Herman Munster Shoes. And they are closed in so his feet can't fall out.

So thanks to you all.

I'm on my way out the door to find the big guy some big slippers.

UPDATE.......

Just got back from Telco. They are going out of business and got a pair of Size 13 crocs for Alan. In white but he doesn't care about color. I really thought they would fit.

He couldn't get them on. He has to wear orthotics and the toe box was too tight. Oh well. since I don't think I'm going to find a pair of size 15 crocs for him, I'll just wait until he can take a walk on the avenue and we'll see who sells size 15 ANYTHING.

my goodness. Size 15. I don't believe it.

My guess is he needs a really wide big toe box size 13.

No emergency. Other fish to fry.
Tomorrow's the podiatrist appointment. Will try and get some answers to the ulcer thing.

bye for now.
Melody

lol, Melody