PMR and Tendonitis

Sorry to hear of all your ailments Nefret Ypu are really suffering

Have you tried on the internet for shoes or boots ?? Under say orthapedic footwear I have seen boots with wedges which would be enough of a heel and they are normally soft backs The problem is of course if you are having trouble walking the last thing you can do is go looking

On another note my sister in law has another illness Has taken steroids for 8 years ( on maintenance dose of 5mg ) with her main relief coming from methotrixate and she has also developed tendonitis Her feet were causing trouble for some time and she could only wear the Marks and Spencer Footglove range but she has now resorted to what she refers to as \"old ladies shoes \" wide fitting and flat as her feet are so swollen

Hope you find something suitable

best wishes

Mrs G

If you're a double polywhatsit you have to be a giant thingy and no wonder you're on the bottle! :roll: :lol: :oops: :bubbly:

Nefret

Try 'Hotter Shoes' and Ecco.

When I had the snapped tendon repaired -operation and no foot on floor for 3 months then plaster and moonboot for 6 months, then allowed to walk with crutches for a while. Back to normal, but it took a year.

The Orthopaedic people - told me to try 'Hotter Shoes'. They worked. I still buy 90% of my shoes from them. They are on line and they are very good about returns.

Hang on in there, you are coping with everything else, this one you will crack too.

Nefret - on a more serious note: what treatment have you had? Has anyone offered you ultrasound or sports massage? A heel wedge? An Achilles strap? These are all possibilities for treatment/relief but I suspect you probably would need a sports medicine specialist to know about them. If it's anything like plantar fascitis the NHS physios are not a lot of use! I remember being told early on in PMR that the foot pain was something I'd have to put up with (I couldn't walk, at 45!) and that was by orthotics specialists and a musculo-skeletal specialist. Funny how a dose of steroids dealt with it. :roll: Your tendonitis is a different matter but I bet there is someone who can help more than the NHS.

A heel wedge to wear inside Uggs (for example) would seem to provide both the heel and the softness you need. And relief to the overstretched tendon (which is why no flat shoes).

good luck,

EileenH

Oooh, what a wonderful lot you are out there - replies and suggestions in minutes!

Mrs. G.......the musculo-skeletal specialist I saw did say that in his opinion the tendonitis was secondary to the PMR, but I am beginning to wonder.......already have other long term side effects from Pred (I have a love-hate relationship with Pred; I love to hate it. I wouldn't be without it, though!).

Mrs. K - I did try some Hotter shoes during the summer when this really began to trouble me, but all the styles I tried (and I am rather limited due to my rather strange right foot) had the same stiffened seaming on the heel. I've not heard of Ecco shoes but will be googling like crazy over the weekend.

Eileen - PMR alone is enough to drive anyone to the bottle! But thanks to Mrs. K I am now into double brandies! (and I am very lucky in that my liver appears to be welcoming the Metho).

Other assistance - I was offered a heel wedge for a pair of shoes I took with me but they didn't bring my right foot up high enough. If I'd had my wits about me I would have asked for a pair to use in soft boots and I will be writing to them to see if they will provide me with a pair for use in that way. (Can't see why they shouldn't).

I am being referred for physio and also to the orthopaedic team, but in both cases I have doubts and probably a long wait. I think ultrasound might be of use, but will see what I can find out. An Achilles strap is something new to me but will also be googling that (and perhaps spending some money - well, it is Christmas). I will have a look round further afield maybe next week if the snow disappears enough for me to wear my comfortable clogs!

Thanks again to all of you!

Nefret

Just occurred to me - have you seen fur-lined crocs???? I would be seriously considering a private visit to a sports medicine specialist - as starters!

How bizarre is the foot - I wanted a pair of fitflop boots (come as sandals, trainers and boots) but they were too narrow for me - also don't know how an achilles would react. The daughter got them instead! I have spent years in Birkenstocks - summer and winter - but now find the ones I have always used too flat. Wonder if it is the same problem?

As for the bottle - I do wine, wine, wine... Response to the GP's How much? has always been \"probably less than you\" - I went to Uni with them...

Fur lined is not something I need, Eileen. Due either to Reynauds or to peripheral nerve damage my feet are either on fire or in the freezer and often both at the same time. Hands are the same but are more easily dealt with. I will admit that I don't like the look of crocs - they make me think of Olive Oyl. Also I'm not sure that my foot would take to whatever fantastic materials they are made of. What I have been wearing for the last few years are leather Fly Flots, still wear the sandals and clogs even if I can't wear the shoes.

How bizarre is the foot? Well, when I arrived at the clinic on Tuesday and finally took off my socks, the doctor there - who I have to say was an absolute sweetie - did a total double-take and then asked me if he was seeing things. The entire staff came in to have a look and for a moment I thought we were going to have a party. They all left muttering, 'well, I've never seen anything like that before'.

I'll do my best to describe it then you can all frighten yourselves.

OK, kindly take off your right shoe/slipper/boot/whatever and look at your right foot. Imagine the place where the big toe sits to be twice as large and have another identical toe sitting beside it. These toes have the middle joint missing but in all other respects are toes, i.e. each has a nail and metatarsal BUT the pair are wrapped in one piece of skin, so that it looks like one very big toe at first glance. Set this concoction on your foot at an angle - I'm no good at degrees but if a straight toe was 12 o'clock these would be at 10 minutes to 12. OK so far?

The metatarsals are also not quite right (bit like the rest of me). They are shorter than average, so I have quite a short foot - it's about an inch shorter than the left foot which is a perfect size 3. The nerves there are all over the place, several minor ops left me with some really odd nerve problems.

I am left with one foot size 3 and the other - well, it's the length of a 2 and probably the width of a 5 or 6. It really is the reason I have been referred to the orthopaedic team and they will all sit there muttering that they haven't seen anything quite like it before, but how about...........

The answer is going to be no - after the last op some 15 years ago I swore never again. It doesn't like interference and goes into a huge sulk if anyone touches it.

According to the doctors it is a minor congenital deformity - they don't have to live with it, it's also a major nuisance. At birth my whole foot was turned inwards and although that was largely dealt with and improved, I never have been able to run - it just flips inwards and trips me up. Put me on a dance floor and I float away.........I have never been able to understand why I danced so well, no doubt there is some explanation.

I am now off to do some serious googling - it's best done when I'm tired, I just buy it all!

Regards to all

Nefret

Hello Nefret,

This may be quite useless info. which you've tried but I mention it because you're sort of in my area geographically. Friend of mine was under the Royal Surrey hospital and got some shoes/ boots specially made for her there (NHS). Her problem wasn't yours - her arches had collapsed so much, they'd tried putting wedges of all shapes and sizes in her ordinary shoes but eventually there wasn't room. Her knees were turning inwards as a consequence so she could hardly walk. Anyway she's got something that's a cross between a boot and a shoe, lace up, very soft leather. Can't say about the heel. But they were specially made for her by the hospital. Is it worth having a try?

You certainly don't need extra problems on top of everything else!

I don't think I am walking anywhere today - sleet falling on top of ice is going to be lethal!

Hope the house move worked out well for you, Nefret! Green granny

Greengranny - I would have suggested that if Nefret were here, we have an orthopaedic shoemaker in our village! Who makes shoes for the Pope! His offer of shoes is actually quite normally shaped and styled - I don't know how much they are, but one pair of perfectly fitting shoes will last a long time as it is the poor fitting that causes the damage to the shoe as you wear them. And, having seen her description of her foot, I'm surprised and actually quite disgusted that the NHS hasn't offered shoes in the past! :roll: The docs reaction was similar to mine though she has far more justification.

EileenH

Hi Nefret

It sounds that with your foot problems the NHS should be doing something for you so perhaps it is worth having a go at them when you are feeling up to it

I Googled orthopedic footwear and I think there were enough answers on there to keep you going if if it keeps snowing for a week !! Hand made shoes /boots would cost a lot but what price is comfort and being mobile

My Optician ( a friend I have worn contact lenses for over 40 years ) has people who come in for check ups only when they have a problem and are very pleased that they have made their lenses last for about 4 times as long as they should !! He said that in Scandinavian countries new lenses are ordered automaticaly every 6 months

I hope you have some luck with your footwear as walking and keeping mobile is so important

Best wishes

Mrs G

Hello Nefret

I don't post very often, but your description of your right foot rings some bells when I look at my left one. My toes aren't joined, but they are at the same sort of angle, and they don't move independently. I have similar difficulties with getting shoes to fit, and over the years have tried a number of solutions. What worked years ago doesn't work now as the angle between my big toe and the others is gradually increasing. I've been offered operations but have always refused.

1 I used to wear ecco, but had to give up as my feet got too broad.

2 Birkenstocks do their sandals, which I wear a lot. Not elegant, but very fashionable at the moment. They also do mules in nubuck or suede, which were all I could get my feet in for about 4 years. Again not elegant, but comfortable, and warm when worn with thick socks to keep the back of the feet warm.

3 Then I discovered Wolky. They are a Dutch firm. They were quite easy to get hold of until about 2 years ago, but then the shop I got them from stopped dealing with them and they became harder to get. However, you might be lucky and find a shop near you which sells them. They are also available online. Some are broader than others, so I prefer to try them on. Not being able to get them here (I'm in Lancaster) gave me a good excuse to go to Amsterdam last Spring, and I'll probably go again next year. I'm particularly fond of my red patent boots.

4 For walking shoes, the best ones are Brasher. (I can walk long distances in the Wolkys, but I don't want to ruin them by using them in some of the places my dog insists on visiting; I prefer a proper walking shoe or boot with a Gortex lining). They usually have some Nubeck in their range, and unlike other walking shoes, I don't have to have the mens' fitting to get the width. A very helpful assistant once explained to me that although I would get increased width and that they might feel better in the shop, mens have a narrower fit at the heel, which I guess wouldn't do your achilles heel any good.

I've had PMR for 4 years, and currently take 3.5mg. And just in case anyone is wondering, I have no connection with any of the shoe firms named above. I just have very funny feet.

Margaret

Hi Nefret

Good to read your post and, of course, don't worry nothing frightened us in the least - I'm just in awe of how well you've coped with everything that has been thrown at you! It's so wonderful to read how well you've responded to the MTX and weaning down on those steroids so well, which I'm sure you couldn't have dreamt of a year back.

I'm with MrsK on the Hotter shoes. I wear their shoes and boots almost 100% of the time. My chiropodist told me that for those people who can't get on with Hotter, then they do well with Ecco and vice versa. I don't get on so well with some of their slip-on type shoes and have found one or two of them a little hard but I stick to a design called \"Tone\" and three pairs are in suede Nubuck and they are so soft inside and out that I wear one pair as slippers. I do have to wear orthotics and find that these fit excellently inside the shoes. This style is very soft at the heel and I thought it might be possible that this style could suit you.

If all else fails, hopefully when you see the orthopaedic team they will come up with something to suit, but I fear the best answer may lie in having special shoes made privately.

Off to watch Strictly now and am just hoping that none of those remaining fantastic dancers lose out to Anne Widdecombe!

MrsO

Hi Nefret,

I am a PMR sufferer with sciatica.

The sciatica caused drop foot meaning I could not lift my toes and could not support any pressure on the heel ie the foot dropped when walking causing a limp

A fellow back sufferer recommended MBT shoes.

These immediately made me walk without the drop. Interestingly they also caused me to be exhausted after walking 50 yards, so I had to build up the distance slowly

I now can just about walk without the drop using ordinary shoes

Not the same ailment as yours I know but the shoes cause one to roll from heel to toe relieving the pressure on the heel.

A few months back there was an unrelated article on the BBC suggesting that heavily padded modern shoes enable one to walk (and especially run) putting unnatural pressure on the heel in a way that would be impossible bare footed

My doctor, neurosurgeon, rheumatologist and physiotherapist (the full array) hadn't heard of these shoes and were most dubious.

all the best

farmeroz

Hi all - MBT and fitflop shoes both cause you to be exhausted and achey when you first wear them because they make you use muscles either in maintaining your posture (fitflops) or walking (MBTs) that you don't normally use. That's why, like any exercise, it's recommended you start with short periods!

I know of nurses in the US who swear by their MBTs - their only objection being the price! That doctors through physios hadn't heard of them and were sceptical doesn't surprise me in the least - many of them haven't heard of PMR either.

EileenH

you are on the ball Eileen. Yes the MBT's use muscles you are unaccustomed to. I could actually feel them pulling all the way up my back when I first wore them and they are a bit unstable when you are standing still so you still get exercise.

they are not common in aus. I had to get mine from the us. and they are expensive but it was for me a thoroughly worthwhile investment.

Incidentally my physio now asks me to wear normal shoes when I visit her as she can't see the limp with the mbt's (she is very good, Eileen)

farmeroz