Custom made footwear on NHS?

meritaten

my cousin gets shoes courtesy of the NHS - but she had polio as a child and one of her legs is significantly shorter than the other.

zaksmum

Seanymph wrote: »

Mine are heel inserts - they 'lift' me about half an inch - I had trauma to knee and ankle, both were open fracture dislocations - and so I have bone growth in my ankle which restricts the movement and means I can't 'move forwards' over my foot as I walk forwards on one side. These 'open' the joint to the right degree that I can move forwards as I walk, rather than jar into a boney full stop too early and limp.

It was life changing.

But like I say, it took many many years to get there via a physio (of course the physio was making me worse, because ALL MOVEMENT made me worse!) - they are excellent in Norwich, they literally watched me walk up and down a corridor, flexed the joint to see the movement, and made them to fit foot moulds they took.

I can't praise them enough.

But I never knew such things existed, or exactly what was causing my problem - I just knew it hurt to walk and that got worse as I walked to the point where I couldn't any more (and that didn't take very far!).

With these....... well, the other morning I walked my dogs for two and a half hours. I don't do it without company, and I have other issues - but a two and a half hour walk. Four years ago I couldn't have dreamt of it.

I can't tell you how pleased I am that you asked the question OP and that others may get help from it - I want to shout about biomechanics from the rooftops - even my orthopeadic surgeons have never mentioned them. They apear to be hidden in an NHS cupboard somewhere and kept secret.

Seanymph, your problem sounds very like mine! I had four double compound leg fractures and a fractured and dislocated hip and my ankle won't move at all, plus scarring to the sole of my foot makes the foot clawed. So like you I can't do the heel to toe movement of a normal footstep and I limp really badly.

If I could walk my dogs properly again I'd be ecstatic! Just to have the pain to ease up even slightly would be like a dream.

I can't believe this...because of my aunt's dementia I thought she must definitely have it wrong!

I'm so pleased this all worked out for you and thanks for your help here!

zaksmum

meritaten wrote: »

my cousin gets shoes courtesy of the NHS - but she had polio as a child and one of her legs is significantly shorter than the other.

That's also why my auntie has walking difficulties...polio as a child. Thank God we don't see much of THAT nowadays!

Seanymph

well good luck from here! Funnily enough as soon as I had it done someone said 'oh yes, they do that to horses with restricted fetlocks, the farrier just builds up the back of the shoe, brings them on a treat'.

Sometimes you'd get better treatment as an animal.

Do let me know how you get on. I feel your pain, truly. I spent years on wheels on and off, couldn't do more than 20 yards without pain, walking the dogs was a memory - or if I took painkillers first and forced myself it was the last thing I could do for a couple of days.

And all the professionals knew that, and not one said 'biomechanics' to me. I think they all thought the damage was so extensive that it wouldn't help.

Your GP may not know what they do even, but they are amazing amazing people.

LondonDiva

If you're having problems walking / foot problems, you need to speak to your GP about referral to the local podiatry team who will assess you & what excercises and / or support may help. Biomechanics tend to come under podiatry.

pogofish

This also comes under the remit of Orthotics - I'm waiting for an appointment to see about my troublesome foot and specially made footwear is one of the options.

custardy

yup,I recently got orthotics from the Podiatrist
told me just to get in touch if these wear out

zaksmum

Seanymph wrote: »

well good luck from here! Funnily enough as soon as I had it done someone said 'oh yes, they do that to horses with restricted fetlocks, the farrier just builds up the back of the shoe, brings them on a treat'.

Sometimes you'd get better treatment as an animal.

Do let me know how you get on. I feel your pain, truly. I spent years on wheels on and off, couldn't do more than 20 yards without pain, walking the dogs was a memory - or if I took painkillers first and forced myself it was the last thing I could do for a couple of days.

And all the professionals knew that, and not one said 'biomechanics' to me. I think they all thought the damage was so extensive that it wouldn't help.

Your GP may not know what they do even, but they are amazing amazing people.

That's the trouble, you get to be an expert on painkillers! I never took so much as an aspirin before all this.

I will indeed let you know how I get on. I'm really hopeful now that it just might help.

Thanks SO much for the input!

elsien

A chap at work gets specially made shoes from orthotics as he needs a built up shoe and it's not possible to adapt shop bought shoes (which they tried to get away with in the first place.)
As others have said, you need a GP referral. The other downsides are you are entitled to 2 pairs a year (in our area), a pair and a spare, new ones take a couple of months to come through, and if you have to take them in for repair (eg resoled) that can take a few weeks till you get them back again. It's not a quick process by any means.
I've only seen the mens shoes, there's a choice of shoes, sandals or trainers in different colours and they can accommodate velcro instead of laces, that sort of thing. Having said that, they're functional rather than trendy, which I guess is the point.

persa

I also know someone who gets shoe inserts courtesy of the NHS and it makes a real difference to her too.

I suspect like many services on the NHS, if you don't shout enough, you won't get, but that doesn't mean you're not entitled and you shouldn't take it further. If a pair (or two!) of custom made shoes will help you with your mobility (and thus quality of life), it's worth going back to the GP and insisting on a referral. If your own GP won't give you one, see a different GP until you do get the appointment you need.