Anyone else wear orthotics?

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[Cakesandale]

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.

[Cakesandale]

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

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[pollywobbledoodle]

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

[pollywobbledoodle]

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

[bunnyrabbit]

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?

[bunnyrabbit]

What not wants!!

[Bessie123]

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

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[Bessie123]

sure, will do

[morethanyoubargainfor]

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.

[pollywobbledoodle]

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

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[MrsDinky]

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.

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[magso]

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!

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[magso]

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!

[bunnyrabbit]

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

[Bessie123]

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

[pollywobbledoodle]

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

[Littlefish]

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

[magso]

(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!