Prevention - Between Attacks: Shoes (Part 2) |
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When damage has been done, whether by shoes or by disease, properly fitting shoes can do a lot to ease the discomfort of rheumatic feet. Sloppy slipper are no answer: they do not support the foot; they often constrict the toes; they are frequently so loose that the foot is not in control of the sole and the results is a fall. For outdoor use in wet weather there is no substitute for a leather show. For indoor use and out of doors in dry weather a lave-up shoe with a canvas upper is often satisfactory, surprising as it may seem; these are known by some as 'bumpers' and are remarkably cheap.
Where do you buy shoes for rheumatic feet? The best answer is a shoe shop that is prepared to take time and trouble to fir you correctly but you will ask how you can recognize such a shop. One guide is the time that the shop assistant takes; if anyone tries to persuade you that you have the right result in less than twenty minutes, be very suspicious; it may be luck that brings you a correct shoe in a shorter time but it is probably not skill. There are a few shops which make a special point of providing shoes for rheumatic feet; you may be fortunate enough to have one in your area.
If you cannot find in the shops shoes that fit properly then you may be one of those for whom the National Health Service can provide special shoes. This has to be arranged by a doctor in consultation with the hospital service. It does not mean being condemned to irons or peculiar boots: it does mean having shoes that really dot fit. These shoes are expensive but if they are going to defeat your rheumatism and keep you on your feet, instead of allowing you to become a liability to the community, then it will pay the country in terms of hard cash to provide them and keep you comfortable at the same time.
You should beware of arch supports, 'surgical insoles' and other contrivances. Only too often they five temporary relief while making the trouble worse in the long run. Arch supports, or instance, do the work of the muscles in maintaining the arch of the foot; the muscles, having less to do, then become weaker and are even less able to maintain the arch properly. By all means use an arch support if you want temporary relief when you are tired, but do not use them all day unless a doctor has made sure that there is no other alternative.
You may have 'exercise sandals' recommended by a friend for rheumatism in the feet. These are sandals which leave the toes completely free and have a rigid sole. They are certainly valuable in leaving the toes in their natural position; both for this reason and because they are stiff, they ensure that the muscles of the arch of the foot do not become lazy in the way discussed previously.
This does not mean that deformed feet cannot be straightened at all. On the contrary, there is an operation for straightening the big toe and removing the bunion at the base of it which gives very good results. As bone operations go, it is a simple operation but it does need a bone surgeon and a hospital with suitable nurses and equipment. These are in great demand for the motor cyclists who keep coming off their machines; the result is that there is usually a long waiting-list for the remaining beds that are available for remedial operations. Don't let this prevent you asking your doctor whether your trouble is one that could be improved by an operation; the results may be well worth the long wait. |
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