Charcot Foot

[flosemae]

I AM INTERESTED TO KNOW IF ANYONE OUT THERE HAS HAD AN ARIZONA BOOT OR INSERT ....I WAS MEASURED FOR ONE TODAY AND IT LOOKS DIFFICULT...IT IS A LACE UP DEVICE THAT FITS IN YOUR SHOE TO STABBLIZE YOU WHEN YOU WALK...AND I PRAY IT WORKS...I NOTICED NO ONE HAS BEEN ON LINE LATELY AND I WOULD LOVE TO KNOW HOW EVERYONE IS DOING ... THANKS , FLOSEMAE

[kdramirez]

I was just recently diagnosed with Charcot. I had a "boot" w/o a cast for about 5 weeks, and am now using the Arizona (??) boot. Yes, it is a lace up thing looking like something worn in the 1800's. I am able to get my tennis shoes on, but only because I've recently been buying "wide" shoes.

My question is if the rest of my life will be lived with this boot and tennis shoes? Does anyone know where you can get some other type shoes, especially for working in a professional office and where we still wear dresses often, even if a flat? Even some nice "wide" flats would work better than these tennis shoes!

KR

[kdramirez]

I just got back from three weeks in Africa . . . with my brace and bone stimulator. I go into the dr. today to see how I did. I hope nothing got broken again! I also need some exercise suggestions. I need to work at getting my blood sugars down and some weight lost!

[peds64nurse]

Hi,
My name is Tami, I have CMT as well. I was fitted for the ARIZONA brace this past May... It is not difficult to wear.... it actually feels good when you walk.. but, your foot feels better when you take it off. I am very non compliant with wearing my brace... I have made a promise to myself that I must wear that brace, especially when I am at work... I am a nurse & on my feet all day long.
PS: I got the tan color, goes better wtih everything...
Good luck..
Tami

[michelecarp]

I have a Arizona Brace/Boot. It does fit in my shoe & laces up. I use it due to my subtalar joing being fused. The brace is nice however I am currently wearing a velocity brace instead of the Arizona brace. I find I have more support with the velocity brace than the arizona, which is crazy being that the Arizona brace is a custom made brace. You should have been casted for this brace(arizona). were u??? the velocity brace is not custom made. It may work for u. We get alot of our patients this brace (arizona) & they have a lot of success with it. I think it just depends on your dx & what works best for you. I hope this helps. let me know if I can answer any other questions for you.
Michelecarp

[kdramirez]

Well . . . it's been a while since I last posted. My trip to Kenya went very well with my brace and bone stimulator. I came back and the dr. said no problems! He even told me I could do some easy waling for exercise . . . as long as I wore the Arizona Brace. In fact, I can do almost everything normal in life (no rollerblading any more, of course!) within reason as long as I WEAR THE BRACE! Because this condition is still in my "brain" as much as in my "foot", I'm more cautious than before no matter what the dr. says. I have to learn to get over it, deal with it, and get on with life without making me more insane than I already am!

I am exploring options with shoes too. Of course, I always have the tennis shoes to fall back on . . . no pun intended! But I have purchased two pairs of flat ballet slipper type shoes to wear. Of course, that means "two" pairs of shoes for every "one" pair I want to wear. I buy one pair in my regular size for the right foot and an extra wide "EE" pair for the left foot to go over my brace. They only place I can find EE shoes so far is online. Luckily, they have a very generous return policy so I can keep trying in order to get a good fit over my brace. Yes, the brace does stick out like a sore thumb, especially to someone used to wearing nice dress/office type clothing. But what's the alternative? At least wearing semi-normal looking shoes helps with the "mind" problems a lot more. I feel a little bit better. HEY!! Maybe I will start a new website where people can exchange their "odd" shoes for mates!!!

And for exercise, while I'm still a bit leary of walking my normal two miles, even at a slower/easier pace, my husband and I decided to buy bicycles. We bike about 10 miles 4-5 times per week. But with the time change approaching and it getting dark earlier, we may have to start walking at least some. Right now, the high blood sugars are more of a concern since that is what most likely brought on this whole mess through neuopathy.

Life will be a bit more challenging . . . but I intend to make it through!!!

Kathy