Foot wear
Ok I have been in two shoes without a boot since 6 weeks. This last week I have been almost totally fwb. It’s only later in the day when the swelling is huge that I revert to both crutches. For my showers I use beach shoes and two days ago I found my old Teva sandles. Wow I forgot how comfy they feel on the arch and bottom of your feet. They really grab on the slippery shower floor and I really feel steady getting up from the shower seat and getting out of the shower. My question is should I stick to my sneakers(trainers) or are the teva’s safe enough to walk around the house? Does anyone else have any foot wear suggestions? Bare feet on the floor seems to hurt my feet. Probably irritates my plantar fas (sp?).
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Enjoy walking on the beach in your boots!
My PT strongly suggested that I go to a store that specializes in running shoes - I didn’t want to spend the money, so I held off until I couldn’t stand the pain anymore.
I was wearing a pair of Nike running shoes that I bought off of the shelf at a department store (the same ones that I was wearing when I ruptured my Achilles) and thought I was just fine, and that it was just expected that my feet would ache and my scar would rub on the back of my shoes.
The guy at the shoe store watched my walk and how I was standing, then pulled out different running shoes for me to try. I chose a pair of Saucony Ride 5s (wide) that felt like heaven.
What a HUGE difference!!! The support on the bottom of my foot is better, the backs are cut lower and the back is softer, wider and more flexible. Seriously, they are like walking on a cloud.
People at work made so many comments the first time that I wore them about how my limp was practically gone.
They really weren’t that much more expensive than my original shoes, and the place I went gave me a $20.00 physical therapy discount.
I have never really thought about my feet, and have always just bought what was inexpensive and cute. But, it is worth it just to go somewhere that will listen to you and recommend shoes based on your needs. I can not believe how much better I feel.
Joan
My footwear varied between 2 extremes. When I wanted support, I wore some high top hiking boots- very stable, some heel lift to assist with walking, easiest to walk without a limp, etc. They were my primary every-day shoe for several months.
Then, there were times when I wanted to deliberately give my Achilles a workout: I used Sketcher Shape-Ups with a rockered sole. Wobbly, unsupportive, made me use all the muscles in my ankle, challenging to balance on. The one “easy” thing about the shape-ups is that they were very good for heel pain- since much more weight is carried through the center/arch of the foot.
I sometimes wore my Vibram 5-fingers too; let me simulate being bare-foot, without scuffing up the bottom of my still tender foot.
I’d be a little cautious about sandals, such as Teva’s. Seems like, while your gait is compromised, it might be easy to catch the flopping sole/toe on something, causing a trip/fall/stumble. I learned very quickly that they were a very poor choice while on crutches (5-fingers were best for that).
Ryan you are right about the hiking boots. first thing in the morning I can wear my boots but after about two hours the swelling makes them uncomfortable. I feel very safe in them and the support is very good. I just can’t justify buying another larger pair.
Joan I have an appointment with the footwear guy at the PT to discuss foot beds. My husband thinks they may run around 300 dollars- I can’t see putting out that much money for something that may not feel great. But I will have them let me try on some of their walking and running shoes. I spent two hours today in famous footwear and I could not find anything that fit comfortably.
I’m with Joan. Buy yourself the best pair of running shoes that you can’t afford and your Achilles will reward you with miles of pain free walking/running. I bought a pair of Asics Gel Kayano’s and Superfeet insoles way back in week 8 and I wear them every day all day.
I hear you Skutr, Lost my job because of this injury but I guess I will find other ways to cut cost and get some decent shoes. The PT footwear shop told me to hold off another two weeks while my PT works on the swelling. They sold me some super compression socks to help. Those things take about 15 minutes to get on.
I’m sorry to hear that. I really couldn’t afford it either but I knew that in the long run (pun intended) dropping $275 on a pair of shoes, insoles & compression socks was going to pay for itself in a faster & stronger recovery.
The trick to getting the socks on is to reach inside, grab the heel and turn them inside out leaving just the foot to squeeze into. After its on your foot just turn it right side out.
Blessings & I’ll be praying for your healing.
Scott (aka Skutr)
I’ve often been fussy about running shoes, but just because I know where I like the footbox to be roomy, and where I want my foot to be grabbed, held, supported, etc. When I went through a Cardio Rehab class recently, they recommended the kind of fancy-store analysis that Joan got, but I still haven’t done it.
When my second ATR was healing and the bottom of my foot was very sensitive — e.g., it made me nervous to walk barefoot, because if I stepped on a telephone cord it felt like a bed of nails — I got a pair of (imitation) Crocs that felt like heaven. Soon it’ll be 2 years I’ve been in the Crocs, indoors only.
Recently I went to a podiatrist who customized some Superfeet store-bought footbeds I had. I use one pair in the Crocs now, and one pair in my outdoor shoes — often a pair of Skecher running shoes. (They’re NOT the Shape-Ups. I do have a pair of those, but the podiatrist thought they wouldn’t help cure the foot and gait problems he found. Some more details on my blog.)
I’ve been wearing no back slip ons by Merrell and Crocs the last few days. The more I walk, the more all my running shoes irritate my AT. I have a lump in the AT where the heel backs rub and stick into it when I PF. I bought a new pair of lightweight, flexible Adidas Climate Cools yesterday, but even the low heel backing in that shoe irritates my AT.
The only thing that works are my Skechers “Go Runs” with a really low heel but they have a positive DF producing footbed which is worrisome. So for now - I’m sticking to backless except during exercise.