Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Shoes, oh, glorious shoes

I have been wearing my black flats since just before the accident. I like them. They are comfy most of the time. Too bad shoes wear out. I used to look forward to buying new shoes. I love strappy, cute shoes. I used to go to Payless in the States and buy half a dozen shoes at a time. Off I went to the mall. I have too many shoes now that I can't wear. I have seriously narrowed my options. My left foot (good one) is 8 9/10" around the lisfranc joint. My right foot is 9 6/10ths. That is quite a big bump and it doesn't look very cute in strappy, little shoes. So, my search began. And my frustration grew. I was a little taken aback by my embarassment at how ugly my foot looked. I never really felt that way before. I ended up buying a pair of black flats, pretty comfy but they cost $100.00. I will NEVER wear those orthodic shoes so I guess this will be my frustration for many years to come.
I have learned that the most comfortable shoes are either a 'kitten heel', my running shoes, or my black flats with a tiny bit of a rubber heel. It makes it a bit more difficult to find just the right shoe, and it made me sad to pass by those strappy, cute shoes because they don't fit my narrowed option. I dread trying to buy sandals.
After all that has been said, it could be worse. I could have lost my foot altogether. Maybe I should learn to count my blessing instead of bitching....not likely LOL

11 comments:

Terri said...

Funny...I know what you mean! I hate wearing socks in the summer time and always wore

Terri said...

Sorry...anyway...I always wore sandals or flip flops all summer long. I have most of my old shoes that no longer work...suppose I should give them away. I did buy some Birkenstok sandals and love them plus they feel good on my feet. I wear them indoors since the podiatrist suggested that I should avoid going barefoot for the first year?! I hate wearing shoes indoors though but I'm getting used to it. My foot is bigger around the joint also and it almost looks taller in that area too...I suppose it has something to do with the hardware and realligning the joint. Ughhh! But, yes, I am very thankful to be walking and back to work. By the way, one doctor told me I may never work as a nurse again...Hahhh! I am!

Kim said...

I cannot imagine why you couldn't work as a nurse again! Anytime anyone says I can't...I will. I think that attitude has a lot to do with the progress I have made as well. Sounds like you have the same attitude.

patsyrose said...

The doctor probably assumed working as a nurse meant too many hours on her feet for comfort.

And about the shoes...get the cutest and most comfy shoes you can find...and lots of them!

Terri said...

Hello...just wanted to update my progress. I went to see my OS and he was very pleased with my results. After looking at the X-rays he thinks that the 1st, 2nd, and possibly 3rd joints fused on their own and thinks that's why I'm doing well. He mentioned that he has another patient that has similar looking X-rays that cannot take a step without pain and is about ready to ask to have the foot amputated...ugghhh! Although, if I couldn't walk and had constant pain...I'd probably feel the same way! I worked a 15 hour shift yesterday...and survived!! haha! I have almost no swelling anymore so I guess things are going well. I bought some $140 walking shoes for work to see if they help but so far I don't think that they're much better than the $60 ones...oh well..trial and error! How are you doing with your new shoes?

Terri said...

Oh, I forgot to add some info the surgeon shared. He said that there is a quality of life scale that they use and people with our type of injury rate the same on the scale as those who are receiving renal dialysis!...unbelievable...I'm a nurse and never even knew about this injury until it happened to me!

Kim said...

My new shoes are fairly comfy, nothing more than any other cheap comfy shoes though. It is just trial and error. I'm glad you are progressing just fine. I am surprised that we can be compared to someone going through kidney dialysis. However, I think that I will always have just a little bit of pain always. Some days are better than others and some hours are better than others.
I don't know if you read it, but the nurse that took my xrays once told me that she would give me $100.00 if I could find anyone else with this injury. Wish I could bring all you guys with me to collect. It really isn't very common though for sure. They also made me feel like a superstar at physio 'cause they were excited to actually see someone with this injury...they were strange people anyway!

Anonymous said...

WOW, I wish I'd found your blog earlier! I slipped and fell on the ice in the parking lot of my workplace in December 2008. Broke three metatarsals and had a Lisfranc injury (never heard of it before!). Reputable orthopedic foot specialist avoided surgery. Spent ten weeks in traditional cast then four weeks in air-cast boot. Just finished 8 weeks of physical therapy. Now I am to start 4 weeks of work-hardening PT to prepare me to return to my job which requires me to be on my feet 100% of the work shift. I've been feeling that my employer/coworkers think I'm slacking and taking too much time off for "just" a broken foot. If they only knew! Thanks for documenting your journey, I'll check back and see how you're doing!

Anonymous said...

So I thought I would add my dreaded Lisfranc story. I injuried my foot (ruptured the ligaments, broke my navicular, cuniform and second meta) playing soccer on 4/2/09, had ORIF surgery on 4/9/09, where I had a k-wire and three screws placed in my foot. I was in a cast for 5 weeks, no weight bearing, and then moved into a cam boot and began physical therapy. I came out of the cam boot after 6 weeks and moved into sneakers. As the summer approached and my time at the beach began I swore no sneakers and socks at the beach so I looked into what sandals would work and found the Mephisto sandals to be great. Stylish, but very pricey...but offer amazing arch support and stuff soles.

I'm now 18 weeks post-surgery and on the 19th I'm heading in for screw removal, followed by the cam boot and yet another 6-8 weeks of PT.
I am so thrilled to be up and walking, however I miss my heels, cute sandals, and ballet flats! I guess maybe next summer!

My goal is hike Mt. Rainier in May of 2010, as it would be a full year post-Lisfranc injury.

Thank you for this blog. This injury is so seious, but not many people know about it.

Anonymous said...

I fell off the deck Apr.5,went to First care.Dr. just said "It's complicated" about my injury but sent me to orthopedic Dr. the next day.I had emergency surgery that same day.Had 2 wires 3 screws put in & went home in splint the next day.Two wks. later I had stitches out & put in hard cast with instructions to NOT even let my foot touch the floor.Three wks. later I had the wires removed & got to have a boot{non weight bearing}I scooted around in a wheelchair all this time & also had a walker which I hopped behind.After 12 wks,Dr. said I could use crutches,cane or whatever..or wing it.I do walk on it but only for short spurts as it swells & is quite painful.I found some sandals with a good support that work best,tennies don't fit my high instep now.I never had to go to PT,maybe because I wiggled my toes from the beginning & as soon as I got to have the boot {which I could remove while sleeping} I exercised my ankle too.Dr. was VERY pleased with my progress as he told me in the beginning it was a very serious injury & I am 74 yrs. old.It Is now July 6 & I am done with the Dr. part & on my own.I still have pain & probably always will but I can work in the yard for an hr. before I have to come in & elevate my foot again.Hang in there..things DO get better!

Anonymous said...

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