I found some not too awfully ugly orthopedic sandals

[rose]

OK BethU and other ladies :) I found some sandals with closed heels so they work with my AFO's (YAY!)

They all have removable insoles, and are designed so they can be worn with orthotics. The style I show with the laces has insoles with a narrow strip of velcro under the edge of toe and heel, so they won't slide out under the foot when walking, and yes, this works with the AFO in place, and insole on top of the footplate. The shoe with just the straps does not have the velcro to keep insole anchored, and I've not worn the shoes enough to know if this will be a problem or not, but, they were designed with orthotics in mind (so the company says) so I hope they work out.

I think I need a gel pad for inside of the sandal where the AFO is exposed to the side of my foot, as the whole point is to be able to go without socks and have my toes be free and happy, but this is not a short coming of the shoe, just the "hard" fact that my AFOs are made out of carbon ~ a little pun here :)

The tan sandal I altered slightly, I removed the tongue. I may or may not do this with the black pair. All are made by Propet...


Click on photo to enlarge... (and try to ignore the cat, he was determined to get in on the action)

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5683_1024x768.jpg


http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5696_1024x768.jpg

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5690_1024x768.jpg

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5677_1024x768.jpg

[hopingforcure]

love, love, the sandals, so cute, the kitty cat, so cute, your toes, and the floor.. Ok that covers everything I think, I appreciate your help so much. I am heading to Florida next week for a while and need the ideas. I am a size 8 lol.. thanks again you are always so helpful..

[brooksea]

Rose,

I'm concerned about the laces cutting into the top of your foot! But, I love the Roman look! Fashion tip: Just don't wear black socks (or white, for that matter) with your new sandals!

My husband had a pair of crocks that he loved (Dutch looking ones). I couldn't decide if he looked sillier wearing them with or without socks while wearing shorts.!

[BarryG]

Sexy!!!
And the cat likes them too! 8)

[thelma313]

Cute shoes and very nice pedicure!
Okay, I tried to ignore the cat like you said, but he's too adorable! :)

[BethU]

Very nice indeed. Much better than the tennies I tried, which unfortunately made me trip and stumble every other step. (Somehow interacting awkwardly with the carpet.) Still don't have my brace, but I'm working on it.

Love the kitty. Nice close-up of the tail. I, too, have a plus-sized cat (who didn't want his photo posted on my home page). When we started feeding him six years ago, he was feral ... a lean, mean, kitten-making machine. Now his motto is, "I'm not a lover, not a fighter ... I'm an eater !"

[rose]

Yes, the cat LOL I "let" him be in the one with the AFO because, for the benefit those who've asked about AFOs, I was focusing on getting it to show up at the right angle ~ then I discovered my camera battery was dying, and I gave up shooing him away, any other time he'd be somewhere sleeping... or eating... if he could sleep and eat at the same time he'd think he was in heaven.

CJ, I was kind of concerned about the laces cutting in too, will see what happens. I think I'm sending the black laced ones back, was only planning to keep 2 pair.

Other members have said Crocs worked for them. The only pair I have are the fleece lined style, without the strap, and I'm having trouble walking in them.

What I really want is a pair of sandals that will look good with a dress, which may be too much to ask.

...Hoping, the floor I stenciled in what seems like another lifetime ago now. I'm just glad it didn't show up in the photos as dirty as it actually is !!! Definitely get yourself some sandals for Florida, I got these from an online store called FootSmart, but you possibly could even find them in a retail store (?) It said delivery in 5-8 business days, I only received the email from them that the shoes had shipped this morning, and then they arrived this afternoon. The order was placed on Saturday, so its hard to know what their true turnaround time is.

[hopingforcure]

I love fat kitty cats.. Like Olly, and your kitty Rose, I want to see your guy Beth. Thanks for the tip, going to look tonight. I have been wearing UGGS for about 7 years, so they help, but my husband would probably enjoy something a little cute like the sandal's someday. I love the comments, I could just see all of us with the high socks and sandals, my dad will have them on in Florida, love him for it. Like you said it might even be cute. I am sure he will get the last laugh when my teenager starts wearing that style, when it becomes cool..

[rose]

I like seeing old guys in black socks with shorts. who can help but smile, right? Growing up in Miami I always thought it was a "northern" thing, but maybe its just an "old fart"thing. ~ and if anyone here on the forum wears this combo, my observations about being an old fart do not apply to YOU! 8-)

[brendapals]

cool "kicks", rose!

I'm going to shop around in a catalog I got today from Medco medical supplies-don't know if they'll have sandals, but it's a 400pg catalog.

I'm not wearing orthotics as of yet, so mainly just want to get prepared. I'll try to take some pics tomorrow of the ones I wear now, and then with them off, so you all can see what the baseball field has done to my feet!

talk soon,
brenda

[rose]

Brenda, yes let us know if that resource has anything. And post a picture of your baseball field altered tootsies... how did waltz practice go?

[brendapals]

hey rose,
Whew, I just worked up a sweat! Me and digital pics and computers just really don't work well together! LOL

I put my pretty feet pics in my "more pictures" album on my profile. Remember, I've only been to 5 baseball games and it's only April 2. I'll go to at least 40 or so more this season-I'll have really cool stripes!

Waltz practice was fun, got to see lots of folks I hadn't seen in years, some in months-and knew about ALS. We were supposed to have it again tonight, but we had some thunderstorms and tornado warnings around 5pm, and now it's just raining. Good thing it was cancelled-my feet are still sore from Tues!

They may be sore, but I think you can tell in the pics that I do NOT have 2 LEFT feet:razz:

But a good sore indeed!

Hope you can see the pics OK, might be a bit blurry,
take care everyone,
brenda

[cutecousin]

Glad you found sandals but where do I get a pair?

[MtPockets]

Ok, women and their shoes :lol: :lol: :lol:
Do they make them in mens styles?? I wore size 9 shoes but had to go to size 11 crocks for a couple of years and now even they do not fit, due to swelling.
Me in my crocks????

http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t172/ShakeyMarble/Animations/oldman.gif

[vmd]

Capt. Al:

Can I get a pair like yours? Also, can you teach me the dance?

Actually, the bottom of my left foot hurts so munch when I walk, that I am now limping. It's as if everytime I plant my left foot, I have a sore on the sole of my left foot.

[rose]

cutecousin, I ordered them online, there are retail stores that carry the Propet brand, but online shopping is so much easier for me. One of the styles (can't recall which one at this moment) was an exclusive to that internet vendor.

Capt Al, You made me laugh :D This brand actually does have mens shoes as well. They looked nice... Not as nice as the boot collection you used to have (see.... I remember what you've said..... I think LOL)

Ladies, Another shoe arrived today. I forgot that I'd even ordered another pair. When the box arrived earlier in the week I just thought those were it. ~ Obviously, fiscal responsibility is not one of my most prominent traits!

This shoe is my favorite of them all. It too has the removable insole, is made so that orthotics can be worn with it. The insole has slight little ridges so the toes have something to grip on (for toes that can still grip). They have the little strips of velcro under tip of toe and heel to keep firmly in place in the shoe like the lace up pair has.

Comparing it to the other black sandal, this one is less cumbersome looking, only has the two straps across the foot instead of three, but it still supports as well. I also noticed that with the three strap style, the way it was made, they kept flopping over and the velcro grabbed closing the shoe up while I was trying to put it on. Hard to explain, just suffice it to stay the straps got in the way. This newer pair has a different closure system, still with velcro, where they are easier to put on,

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=shoe_661x768.jpg

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5718.jpg

I thought I would also share what I've done with my AFOs so they can be worn without socks. In hindsight, this seems so rudimentary, but no one helped me, and so, if this helps someone else, then good. I bought a product made by Dr Scholl's called Molefoam Padding. It comes in a rectangle and can be cut to fit any shape, it has the paper backing you pull off like a band aid, and that side sticks. I held it up against my AFO where the orthotic will touch the inside of my foot, cut out the shape, and stuck it to the AFO itself. It works perfectly. I do not know if this will affect how the AFOs fit if I wear them in enclosed shoes with socks again. I'd not had any shoes before, with the insoles that could be placed back on top of the AFO plate, and they are so much more comfortable than just my socks on top of that carbon foot plate of the orthotic.

http://s421.photobucket.com/albums/pp299/dstormewr/?action=view&current=IMG_5720_1024x768.jpg

[Zaphoon]

I remember a few months ago, Al (the moderator) said he had gone from wearing shoes to shoe boxes. I thought that was pretty funny.

Rose, nice nail polish!

Zaphoon

[GlenBrittle]

Oh Rose ... its the nail polish ... :drool:

Your AFO is so dainty , lady-like.

I have this monster that wraps around the back of my calf , all the way down to my heel , and runs both sides of mt foot. I am glad for its cumbersome size , as I am sure it saved me from a broken ankle this winter when I fell.

I have a EEE width foot and it took 6E shoes to fit. When I was in Mexico , I found some size 12 sandals that seemed to fit. The vendor was very happy to sell them.

I have tried buying shoes online , but no one seems to have the width I require.

Maybe , I need to paint my toes or something *snicker*

Glen

[rose]

You boys and the nail polish :rolleyes:

Glen, you could check out Drew brand shoes, they make 4 & 6 E widths, and also some with removable insoles (to accommodate orthotics). This morning, after reading your post, I did surf around a little, and found one site ~ Hitchcock ~ that has a few brands, including their own, with extra depth, width, 1 (& some with 2) removable insoles, for men.

My AFO's don't have strong ankle support, the reasoning for going with this style was that as the foot is in a neutral position, the AFOs place less stress on my knee and the rest of my leg muscles. I still think they make my calves work harder, and not sure if its a good thing. My calves get very twitchy after walking in the AFOs for any period of time. But then, yesterday, walking around barefoot in the house, I kept tripping on my left toe, so the supports at least keep me from falling on my face from tripping.... well tripping from slight foot drop, don't think they erase the klutz factor.

I'd think that for those who have AFOs such as yours, with it wrapping around the back of your leg, finding a shoe with the closed heel is not that necessary. With mine, unless the heel is closed, no matter how supportive the rest of the shoe is, the AFO inevitably works its way out of the back of the shoe.

I have, in my closet, tucked away in a shoe box, a pair of leopard print high (HIGH!) heeled mules. I know that description does not sound tasteful, but they actually are,... I barely could walk in them back before all of this (but they looked great worn with jeans) I refuse to get rid of them. I know I'll never wear them again, but, keep them I will.

[MtPockets]

OK, Rose two things; For the sake of us old drooling men please change your picture to something ugly and watch out how much we see of your feet and legs. You know "some" men are just animals. :mrgreen: :lol:
Now you did not have to bring up the boot collection, sigh.......Yes, I did have Ostrich skin boots, and several other exotic types. Guess it must have been the feminine side of me leaking out.
I also wear an 8 1/2 EEE size shoe, so it was hard to find boots that wide. Now they just sit in the closet reminding me how much money I spent on them. :lol:
Say hello to my little friend:
http://i160.photobucket.com/albums/t172/ShakeyMarble/Animations/shakyCat.gif

[rose]

Capt Al, You know how we all love you!

... I can always put the bulldog puppy back as an avatar 8)

I'm glad you held onto some of your boots. My daughter wears the same size shoe as I do (she's always felt that was a good thing, me, not so much LOL) so she has pretty much cleaned me out, was more than happy to take my flip flop collection from me, and many other shoes too.

[brendapals]

oh, us girls and the shoes:mrgreen::-D

I wore my sandals to Avery's 3, count them-3, baseball games yesterday...and I now have the nicest RED:oops::oops: stripes on my feet! OUCH

Didn't think the sun was that bright, and we're having snow tomorrow-guess I'll put the sandals away for a while