Orthopaedic Shoes

geek84

Hi Folks

I am a male in my 50s and born with a disability.  My right foot is a slightly different shape and size to the left.

I have always bought 'normal shoes' from local retailers but now feel that these are uncomfortable on my right foot and I am thinking of buying some orthopaedic shoes.

Can anyone kindly recommend any good places to buy them from?

I did a quick 'Google search' and they seem quite expensive - in the region of approx. £500.  Do you think I could get some sort of financial help to buy them?

 

Thanks in advance for your responses.

April2018mom

My son has clubbed feet. Both were affected and look like a golf club. His orthopedist is the only professional on his care team who knows all about feet and orthopaedic shoes. We usually order a pair on his recommendation. I find that he is certainly very helpful and good at answering my questions. Do you have a orthopedist or not?
Alternatively you can buy orthopedic footwear via this website. 
https://www.orthofeet.com/collections/orthopedic

pollyanna1052

Doesn't your local orthotics department do that? You need a referral from your GP if you haven't seen them for 2 years.

janer1967

I suggest you get a referral to your orthotics department, they provide shoes made exactly to you they take imprints of your foot and send them off and get a pair made to suit. Without trying on any you wont know what is best for you and its a great expense tyo go to if they are not right

JenCo

Thanks for the link @April2018mom
These look great. There are so many and there's even a Vegan Friendly category! Amazing.

@geek84
Have you spoken to your GP about it yet? That's usually the best starting point...

Now if you'll all excuse me I have shoes to peruse

geek84

Hi Folks

Many thanks for your advise.

I haven't spoken to the GP yet, purely because I have always worn 'ordinary' shoes and didn't have a need to speak to the GP.  Plus, I was under the impression that I couldn't buy Orthopadic shoes on the NHS !!

pollyanna1052

aren't shoes from orthotics free?

geek84

I'm not sure if I'm orthotic!

janer1967

@pollyanna1052 The shoes I have had from orthotics have always been free

pollyanna1052

thought so

geek84

Thanks I'm seeing my GP next week

thespiceman

Hello @geek84   Pleased to meet you.

In answer to your questions.  Most of the members have suggested contacting your GP.

Referral to NHS orthotics.

I have had this since teenage years born with toes missing.

Genetic disorder.

You are entitled to two free pairs of foot wear.   Also need to speak to the suppliers who are fitting you footwear .

What happens is they take a cast of your feet . Put each foot into a polystyrene box then they make your foot wear.

You will need to go back review anything before they complete the whole pair of foot wear.

Mentioned this, is it too tight uncomfortable. One other can have any design colour or even have foot wear made for specific requirements.

Do you want laces or zips or straps like myself.  I have straps that fold over onto a piece of material that is sticky or adhesive.

Gym footwear, gardening casual trainers, so on. Work boots if working in the construction industry so on.

One thing if your using inner soles to need to be comfortable.

Some people need them extra soles and inners to help balance the feet.

Will have to remove for each pair of foot wear.

Please if there are questions happy to answer.

Please take care.

@thespiceman

geek84

Good Morning Spiceman

Pleased to meet you too, although we have met online before !

Many thanks for your detailed reply.  As stated above, I will be seeing my GP next week.

Thanks and take care.

Chloe_Scope

Hi @geek84, please do let us know how you get on at the GP.

geek84

Yes, of course

geek84

Hi Folks

I hope you're all well and not affected by this virus.

Just to gve an update on the shoes, I had a phone consultation with my doctor last week (they are not allowing patients to come into the surgery).

He said he will write to the hospital who will refer me to a foot specialist

Adrian_Scope

I'm glad you're making progress @geek84. Thanks for the update.

geek84

Good Morning Folks

I hope you're well.

After my last update last year (above), I decided to buy a pair of shoes 'off the shelf' at my local retailer, since my docor said I wil be waiting for quite a while for my appointment at the hospital.

By sheer coincidence, the shoes that I bought fit me quite well but now I have worn them out and need another pair.  Again I went to the doctors who said he will write to the hosptial again in order to refer me to a foot spercialst who could possibly advice that I wear orthopaedic shoes.  However, the doctor said I could be waitng for quite a while because of this current pandemic.

Can you advice if there is a way to speed up this process?  Is it better if I contact suppliers of orthopaedic shoes myself?

Thank You

littleacorn

Sorry I dont know how to speed up a referral. My experience of orthotics is that yes they do measure your feet to make sure the shoes fit but the shoes are the most discusting things I have ever been given. They cost a lot of money to make but not sure  why they look the way they do. As  child I had to wear them and as I got older I just bought shoes off the shelf. Now in my 50's I went back again and the shoes were worse than they were 40 years ago. Sorry to say I cant even bring myself to wear them.