If you wear orthotics...

[CurlyRover]

What do you wear for work? And (not a style and beauty question but...) What do you do at home?

I have a joint condition and also have some over pronation. If I don't wear the orthotics it makes my joint pain significantly worse.

I struggle to find smart shoes my orthotics fit in. For the last few years I've just worn trainers. I've been allowed to in work because of my disability and I've never been customer facing so it didn't matter so much what I wear (I'm science based but not lab or sales).

Now I'm looking for a new job and I'm not confident I'll be allowed to wear trainers in any new job so I'll have to find an alternative. Normally for interviews I've just worn my smart shoes and suffered the pain afterwards. I can't do that long term though.

I also really struggle with pain at home. If you wear orthotics, how do you cope at home or do you just wear shoes?

I can wear my orthotics in most of my shoes/boots. I often have to go up a size in order to fit my orthotics in. I have been wearing them for over 20ish years so I'm quite used to what will work for me.

You can try brogues, Dr Martens or wide fitting ankle boots for a smarter option. I find that if the shoe is a wide fitting then the orthotic will work comfortably.

I can wear Ugg style boots around the house as slippers but I'll wear Birkenstocks if my joints start complaining.

I have a pair of vionic slippers I wear around the house. They have an inbuilt arch support. I got slim orthotics made by a podiatrist which fit in most of my boots and shoes. I tend to wear low heeled boots for work in winter. Summer is a bit harder but I've found if a sandal has a back that covers the heel, the orthotics stay in place. The NHS ones I had didn't allow any toe wiggle room whatsoever.

I've got custom orthotics for overpronation. Work is smart casual, so I wear them in ankle boots with a small heel and side zip. It is not ideal (not as adjustable as a lace up shoe like a brogue) but it works for me.

At home I tried to find slippers deep enough to take the orthotic, but could not find anything I was remotely happy to be seen wearing. The podiatrist told me to get some neutral trainers and replace the insole with the orthotic. So I've got trainers which are my dedicated 'slippers' and I've put silicone laces in so I can just slip them on.

You have my sympathy. I have rheumatoid arthritis and osteoarthritis and my feet are damaged and crumbly - if I don’t wear my orthotics I am in even more pain.

I can fit my orthotics into fitflop trainers, the narrow black ones are quite neat looking and not at all like running trainers. Smart shoes are often too hard on the sole for me, or don’t have enough sole and I can feel every bump on the pavement which isn’t comfortable at all. I have a couple of pairs from Clarks that are bearable! DMs work mostly as do a pair of Timberland ankle boots.

At home I have a pair of Moshulu slippers that take my orthotic. Although they are pull on ankle boot slippers they seem to be ok and the orthotic doesn’t slip about. Last summer I tried a pair of the plastic birkestocks (pool slides I think they are called) for round the house and they were actually ok as they held my foot together and were soft to walk on.

I wear custom orthotics and I've had terrible trouble with shoes for work. I wore fly mes boots for a while (although the podiatrist gave me a bollocking for not wearing lace ups) but they aren't particularly smart.

Now i try to get smartish DMs (but not all styles have removable footbeds) or Eccos with removable footbeds. I love Ecco high top trainer style but they aren't particularly smart. Hotter were useless for me in terms of sizing but they may be work a try as loads of their styles are designed with removable insoles.

BTW I think any employer would need to make a reasonable adjustment if you have a medical condition. I am lucky at work and no one expects me to wear heels!

I wear boots in winter and trainers (plain black fashion type for work) or Birkenstocks in summer. I find shoes very difficult as I also have very wide feet and high insteps. At home, Moshulu slipper boots with orthotics in winter, Birkenstocks in summer.

Thank you all for the suggestions.

codswallop my podiatrist has shouted at me for not having lace ups in the past/ slipping my lace up shoes on and off. That's really good your employer is so understanding. I hope my next one is!

bamboo ooh silicone laces sound like such a good idea in house trainers!

I'd never heard of moshulu slippers before this thread. They look fab! I'll have to buy myself a pair online when I go to the library next week

I bought these silicone laces on ebay (white laces in white trainers). Really pleased with them!

I've worn orthotics for about 12 years. I've refined my shoe collection to pretty much 3 options:

Flat ankle boots with a side zip,
www.hotter.com/gb/en/mystery-boot?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0oTy0YLx2QIVE-EbCh0KEgqGEAQYBSABEgKfCvD_BwE

Mary jane style shoes with a strap,
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Tri-Carrie/p/26131108

Sandals with a strap and a solid back.
www.clarks.co.uk/c/Un-Reisel-Mara/p/26133242

Any of these are usually OK for work, although some workplaces might find sandals too casual. Orthotic salespeople will probably tell you that you can wear backless sandals and stick them to the sole but the stickiness / velcro wears out and you find yourself walking the orthotic out the back and having to shove it back in!

I don't wear anything on my feet at home now. Initially I wore mocassin style slippers, when my feet were really bad but now they are a lot better so I can get away with bare feet as much time as possible.

I have to make myself blind to all the lovely elegant shoes when shopping and just focus on the ones that will work for me, e.g. my orthotic will stay in and I won't walk out of.

RA, Mortons neuroma, plantar fasciitis and orthotics here too but I found the Orthaheel slim fit over the counter ones worked miracles so didn't need the custom made ones (I must have bought about 15 pairs as I'm terrified they'll be discontinued and I'll be stuck again!)

I wear Croc clogs for slippers and size up for day wear; low heel boots, brogues, doc martens, (Adidas superstars for a weekend as wider than Gazelles) etc

For Summer I'm really lucky to be able to get away with Ecco sandals that are shaped in the footbed and have a cushioned, trainer-like sole so no need for orthotics

For the garden and wet weather - Gumbies wellies have a shaped insole so no orthotic needed

I would hope your new employer would be sympathetic - I still vividly remember the pain I used to be in pre-orthotics and would not wish it on anyone

i wear marks footglove wide fitting. i used to wear doc martens but decided i coulnt face breaking another pair in!

Your employer doesn’t have a choice and it isn’t about being sympathetic. They need to allow reasonable adjustments for your condition. Hopefully you won’t need to go down a formal route though as hopefully you will end up working somewhere with decent humans!