Prescription shoes?

Mrs_pbradley936

Can you get shoes on the NHS? My husband is seeing a podiatrist and he has advised him to get a brand of shoe called MBT but they are £160. He is not diabetic and the only info I can see is about people with diabetic feet.

MrsBartolozzi

I very much doubt it, MBTs are a type of trainer used primarily for toning the thighs and buttocks as they mimic walking on soft ground. (Masai Barefoot Technology)

read about them here: http://uk.mbt.com/Default.aspx?lang=en-GB

There are a number of cheaper shoes that promise similar results- Fitflops is the first company which comes to mind, but there are others.

ETA:
Even if you end up buying MBT, I've seen them in shops for much cheaper - below the £100 mark so be prepared to shop around.(I remember last year when the seasons changed to cooler weather they brought out different styles and the older ones were reduced so you might like to wait til then).

nursenancy

Yes, people can get shoes on the NHS - but usually they are people who have foot deformity and/or very vulerable feet (ulcerations, ischaemia, amputations etc)
Is the podiatrist that your husband visits an NHS or private one? Did they give a reason as to why they recommend MBT's? Sometimes if a person has very little flexibilty in their foot a rocker bottom sole can help, which is the shape of an MBT sole. However, there are other shoes that have a similar design which may just as suitable.

Mrs_pbradley936

nursenancy wrote: »

Yes, people can get shoes on the NHS - but usually they are people who have foot deformity and/or very vulerable feet (ulcerations, ischaemia, amputations etc)
Is the podiatrist that your husband visits an NHS or private one? Did they give a reason as to why they recommend MBT's? Sometimes if a person has very little flexibilty in their foot a rocker bottom sole can help, which is the shape of an MBT sole. However, there are other shoes that have a similar design which may just as suitable.

My husband is going to have something called a cheilectomy and possibly a joint fusion (he won't know until they cut open his foot and see the extent of the problem). The joint is his big toe and he has a bone spur on the top of the joint.

I think the brand of shoe is being suggested because it will distribute the forces of his gait in a more favourable way. He was seeing the man on the NHS but will pay for it because he will be treated far sooner. He has had this problem since 2004 and it is getting worse.

nursenancy

It may be that part of the post-op plan will be a referral to an orthotist for footwear provision and/or orthotics. It's probably best to discuss it with the person doing the surgery before buying shoes.
I hope the surgery goes well for your husband.