birkenstocks or orthotics?

Not especially very wierd if I wear flat shoes without now, feel like I'm going to fall over.

cargirl did it take u a long time to get used to yours x

I survive by wearing birkenstocks in the summer, okay so they are not as supportive as my othotics (I have made ones) but they arekay.

My mum wears these, they were especially made for her. She was wearing them in lightish shoes when we were on holiday but her feet were roasting. Her oestopath had said she could wear Birkinstocks, so she bought a pair when we were away. She actually found they helped her more, she had alot less leg pain and her back felt a bit better.

mine are making my heel and knees hurt any advice getting worn out by it all

I hadn't realised that so many other people were finding it hard to find shoes for their orthotics as well. Having being severly 'told off' by my podiatrist for not wearing them I have now invested in a pair of slim carbon fibre ones that are much better and fit into more shoes.

I have found a great online shop as well who are really friendly and spent ages on the phone with me as I am paranoid about buying online then shoes not fitting.

Checkout cheerfulsoles.co.uk, some are a bit pricey but the info on the shoes tells you whether your orthotics are likely to fit or not. Just back from camping with my two boys and hubby and I can sincerely say that any orthotic will fit into my wellies!

J

Wow highlander! Well as I'll be out of action for a while in the Autumn I might have to leave thinking about this till next year.
Will look up the medical terms later [confused emoticon]

If it's a distal osteotomy - you are bandaged (with orthopaedic sandals) and off your feet for 2-3 weeks. Then you are allowed to hobble everywhere. I had both done at once. Bit of a faff with 2 toddlers, but I coped.

If you need a proximal osteotomy, they plaster cast you and will only do 1 foot at a time

LOL magso. I know there are some pairs which I literally can't even put on my feet now without the pressure causing some pain, and there is one pair of evening shoes which I wore in May which seem ok for an evening (they're very wide) even though they have 3.5 inch heels.

But I have never been able to find mules to fit and finally found a pair last year from Kays, just before my trouble started, and they are gorgeuos leapoard print and I am so at having to get rid of them.

BR

Bunny - I could not throw them all out either! I kept the pretty heels - just did not wear them (much).

How long were you off your feet Highlander? ( This is the bit that worries me as Ds needs very energetic parenting).
I would recommend the shoe shop chain Shoon too www.shoon.com.

Wow guys what can I say!! I know have a huge ist of shops and site to peruse!! Than you all so much. Will save all of this info and spend an evening shopping i think.

Bessie123, thank you for asking you are lovely.

I really can't bring myself to throw all my shoes out. It just makes me cry! I know I should... will try and pluck up the courage to at least throw out the ones whcih are tight and would make my bursitis worse.

How long do you have to take off work if you have your bunions done?

BR

I had my bunions removed in january. Best thing I ever did. I woulod highly recommend this while you're still young.

I've swapped my hideous orthotics for off the shelf semi-rigid footbeds (Sole). They still give you arch support for over-pronation. I wear their flips around the house.

I agree Magso - I've thrown out all my pre-orthotic shoes and now, only have shoes I can wear my orthotics in. I always take them with me when I go shopping. (Actually, I wear them all the time, so they're always with me!)

(Apologies for hopeless spelling!) I see the purple button Aida sling back is sold out and only black is left. Another brand is Hotter ( mail order so not ideal for trying out) they do EEE but most fall into DHs 'pasty' catagory! I now buy shoes to take my orthotics and cannot wear my pre-orthotic shoes! I prefer to go to good traditional shoeshops who have experience fitting orthotic wearing feet!

I have been wearing orthotics for about 5 years now.

Mine are very high - about 2 cm at the back of the left one. I can wear them with "Hush" "Puppies* Mules and other wide fitting shoes. I use sticky velcro on the back of the orthotics, and matching pieces on the inside sole of each shoe. It stops them slipping backwards and forwards.

Clarks have started doing shoes from which you can remove the shaped insole. You will need to replace it with a flat leather insole though. I've got some gorgeous orange summer shoes at the moment

Shoon are excellent and do some fabulously comfortable shoes in a make called Hispanitas which have removable insoles.

Moshulu shoes are also quite wide and come in some lovely colours.

I've heard that Hotter shoes are good too, but have never bought any - they looked a bit "old ladyish" when I last looked.

Hispanitas

Moshulu

Hotter

this site do a mix of brands (clarks/ viva la diva etc) in extra and ultra wide (EEE) fittings

So, I went to see the podiatrist and she recommended 2 shops: Footwise (she said it is in Kensington) and the Natural Shoe Store, which I think is in Covent Garden. I don't know if you can buy from them online.

She also said that it is not necessary to wear orthotics all through the day, just when you are more active, so for example if you have a desk job, you could change into proper shoes at work etc. She couldn't come up with much else, I'm afraid and she did concede that wearing orthotics can often mean ugly shoes

hth

Yes I have bunions too which on top of wide feet makes shoe buying a really joyful task!!

I had my orthotics cut down as I just couldn't fit them in anything, but it hasn't made any difference as the heel is just as high and they're still very wide.

Will have a look at Think and see... where are the slingback puple version you mention?

BR

Well they say they suite wider feet. Mine were average till I developed (whispers) bunions at um a tender age! (Ds needs too much care to have me off my feet for surgery)! I wear full length orthotics (so just put my orthotic in the space for the insole) - they may not work so well with cobras or partial orthotics. The heal padding bit comes higher iykwim than a fashion shoe so they stay on better.
Double sided sticky is quite fiddly stuff ( used to use it at work so had got the hang of it)
I have been in orthotics a while now but spent the first year in trainers, boots and walking sandles too! Used to get a bit green in summer being unable to wear all the pretty stuff! Hope you get something that works for you!

Wow they are nice. Are they really wide enough for wide feet and orthotic?

I have incredibly comfortable Merrel walking sandals which I can fit them in, but they move as I walk. Will try the sticky taps thing .... someone else did suggest velcro pads but not sure how you'd fit them in and get them in the right place, if you see what I mean....

BR

Hi I wear orthotics- great thick ones! Rather limits my choice of shoe to what my husband calls 'pasty' shoes! I use double sided sticky tape to stick them in shoes if they slide - but be careful not to tear them removing them. I also cover them with popsocks/ footsies/ ends from tights to change the colour in a walking sandle (I have just got some roman style anklehighs from Zaras sale - still deciding if it will look ok). There are a several brands that do some styles of shoes and closed sandles with removable insoles including clarkes ( too narrow for me) and ecco, but the brand that works for me and my feet is Think. They cost loads, are wide, dont need to buy a size bigger but do have healed shoes (OK low heals but not 'pasty' flats!). I will try and link.www.shoon.com/womens_shoes/sale/014415-aida_cross_strap.htm?browse= these are smart enough for work! The slingback puple version is nice and hides the orthotic!

Hi MrsDinky,
Had a surf for orthaheel shoes but all I could find are the inserts and shoes with inbuilt inserts, neither of which are really suitable as I have my own orthotics which I have to wear.

Am I looking in the wrong place?

BR

Hi,
I have had exactly the same problems, I have to wear closed shoes for work and have very wide feet too, so can very rarely find any deep enough. I am still wearing ankle boots, orthotics and trousers to work even in this weather. Like OP said, now I have been using orthotics for 3 years I can get away with not wearing them all the time, but I had them for sciatica so a different need. Scholl have a range of Orthaheel shoes/sandals, which might be OK, but are not the most attractive, I've got some old ones which are nicer but unfortunately discontinued.

Thanks Bessie

I know I can go without the orthotics for a special evening etc but need to wear them the majotity of the time and work is a real issue. I have special permission to wear my walking shoes but am sick of them!! Also with the eweather so hot, I need something cooler to wear at weekends.

MTYB, have looked at fat face but how do you know how wide they are? I have very wide feet ayway. I suppose i could order them and send them back if they're no good but sick of doing that to be honest.

Polly, the multicoloured ones look really nice. I've found a local stockist for the JS shoes so will have a look in town as soon as I can.

Thanks again guys.

BR

unfortunately bunny i can't paint mine...it's lie a footless sock made of thick black elastic with velcro bands to hold my foot in a fixed position,...on top of a spreading foot it's all quite bulky really

i had both these shoes before my splint, the plain coloured ones with the daisy cut outs are quite wide and have a lot of give because of the elastic, the multicoloured ones less....my plain ones are a lovely olive colour but i don't know if they still do them

Yes, I take out the insole in the shoe to fit my orthotics too - or they are not deep enough.

i wear mine all the time, i have a terrible job with finding shoes that are deeper enough to take them IYKWIM. I have however discovered Fat face shoes, that do fit if i take out the shoes own insole. I also find now after wearing my orthotics for 18months i can get away with a few days of not wearing them IYKWIM.

But please try Fat face.

sure, will do

Oh could you? That would be brilliant.. It's such a pain to get to the surgical appliances dept at the hospital.

Can you ask what they think of the shoes mentioned on this thread and if they would recommend wearing them either with or without your orthotics?

Thank you!!

BR

I am seeing a consultant for orthotics fittings next week, let me know if you want me to ask any specific questions.

What not wants!!

mmmmm well my feet are the problem, very wide, hence can't find shoes to fit me and the orthotics, and bursitis so need the special shape of mine to relieve pressure.

Hey they look great. Do they come up wide/deep?

Wants a splint (I mean what is your sort like and what for) and can you paint/decorate it?

fitflops and mbt aren't suitable for all as they work your feet,leg and back muscles quite hard

i find these good because they allow my feet to be different widths and still fit. can still see the splint but ok under trousers. on the expensive side tho'

this

that

i just wish they would make splints in other colours than black....skirts are a bit of a no-no for me

Oooh fit flops, not heard of those. Unfortunately I wear my orthotics all the time as they are supposed to relieve my bursitis and stop it flaring up. I can't wear toe posts but will look at the freeway.

MBTs look interesting... will investigate...

tah

I wear them, but this year I have got some fitflops and they have been a godsend! I usually wear hush puppies flat shoes with straps, or lace-ups. I can't wear slip ons at all, or heels.

Also, meant to add - you could try Fit Flops or MBTs (they do quite a funky looking sandal version) - these hold your feet in the right position rather like orthotics, as long as you take the trouble to stand and wallk as the makers recommend. My MBT sandals get quite a bit of wear in the summer.

Could be an option. Not cheap though. But then they do also tone up your legs, which in my case is a BIG plus

I wear them, but justg in trainers really, and make sure I wear these for any serious walking. For slopping about I wear whatever I want and find this is OK for me. It will be hard to wear trainers and walking boots in the hot weather all the time, but you will prob find you don't need to. If you wear the orthotics for a reasonable amount, even a couple of hours a day, you will probably find that they help to train your feet and rest your muscles, ligaments etc enough to bring about an improvement.

Also of course,if you have any physio exercises to do, be really rigorous about doing them, and that will help as well.

Hope so, anyway.

How do you cope? Mine fit in my Walking boots and some trainer style walking shoes but that's it. Bought some shoes (horrible loafers)from Marissota/shoe tailor that are a very wide fit but they are actually too big and slip off even with a heel grip.

I've tried them in my walking sandals and they seem ok but slip back when I start to walk about.

What do you wear? My feet ar so hot already and it's going to get hotter.

HELP

BR