is there anyone who has cmt and can walk in heels

[diagnosedcmt]

i am recently diagnosed with cmt and wanted to try to walk on heels but i am unable to does anyone have any advice on what i should do please

[Morllyn]

diagnosedcmt , I am not sure but my husband and son cannot.

[DawnD]

Hi. I cannot, and never have been able to, walk in heels. I have had to have my shoes made for me for the last 20 (?) years through the Surgical Appliance Clinic at my local cottage hospital. Before that I just had to squeeze into the widest shoes (usually trainers) that I could find. Only found out about having CMT about four years ago. Having weak ankles seems to be one of the signs of CMT.

[gunner in reply to DawnD]

Same here I to have specially made orthotics as I cannot get my feet into normal shoes.

[gunner]

Hi I would highly recommend that wearing high heels is not advisable as cmt usually starts in your feet and works it's way up and does weaken the ankles. Wearing heels could be very damaging and dangerous as u can roll over on your ankles maybe breaking them, cmtrs don't heal as well if u break bones or tendons so I would advise wearing a supportive shoe. Sorry!

[proedros123 in reply to gunner]

If something like that occurs, nobody would done any orthotic surgery since some bones are broken from the doctor's surgery...The solution is to strengthen your ankles daily and generally your feet system through exercises...You should also try hard to improve your ballance...

[diagnosedcmt in reply to proedros123]

thank you so much for the advice but do you think it would help me

[proedros123 in reply to diagnosedcmt]

Look every case is different but i am quite sure that this can help you...As much strengthen your ankles, achilles tendon and feet muscles you can improve your condition...There are plenty of exercises on youtube where you can find special exersises for feet strength and ballance for cmt people...Bicycle and swimming are also highly recommended(in my opinion are "must")...I hope you the best...The secret is "never give up"...

[diagnosedcmt in reply to proedros123]

made my day

[John1945]

Hello to diagnosedcmt, Sorry ! the current information that I have, from my daughter (47yrs) experiences will confirm that if you have the most common symptom of Cmt, which is called "Pes Cavus" extremely ("high-foot-arches"), plus hammer toe's will prevent you from wearing high heels: Normally Cmt may not display its symptoms until your teenage years, when your bones, muscles etc, do not develop, as you progress through your "teenage-years": You most likely had the defective gene mutation, since you were born, and it is normally passed from a "parent to their offspring": On many ocassions I have called any propsed corrective surgery a "trade-off" a) High arches and hammer toes are a "no-no" for wearing high heel's! b) If your toes and "high-arches" are surgically corrected, they both will be "made-rigid" (stiffened&fixed) so once again not flexible for high heels! I hope this information may help you reach a decision? Best of health...... John (Glasgow)......

[Exhausted101]

When I was younger I could wear a low heel; as I got older I kept on going over on my ankle in anything that didn't have a flat sole - with multiple sprains to the extent that I fractured my foot on two separate occasions. It took me until I was in my 30's to admit defeat,

Try exercise which might help with stability but frankly (and I know this isn't what you want to hear) cut your losses and try some lower solid or wedge heels (at best) rather than a slim or stiletto style heel. You'll save yourself a lot of angst and pain in the long run.

I speak from long experience

[Flbeachwine]

For a while I was in a wheel chair. After being diagnosed with CMT, having AFOs made and physical therapy I put away the wheel chair. What is most important wearing heels or being able to walk? Yes trainers & braces are not the most stylish but walking is wonderful.

[Ruthyp]

I can still wear a small kitten pointed court show without any issue, but have never ever ever been able to wear higher heels. I totally struggle with flip flops and have never been able go wear them.

[Abul_Hassan]

Both my daughter and I can walk on heels. We got CMT1A

[Eddie84]

Hi. I was diagnosed with CMT last week there was always something wrong with me I've always been terrible on my feet but the last year and a half it has got horrifically worse I now cant walk 250 meters am looking at AFOs and am trying to get used to splints I'm devestated feel like my life is over and apparently it could get even worse so I would need a permanent electrician scooter. Not wearing heels is small time trust me.

[DaveyXo]

Hi,

I am able to wear a block heel or a wedge, I am no longer able to wear very high heels or stilettos due to feeling insecure like I may topple over in them due to my weekend ankles.

You can but very pretty flat shoes now. I would always suggest comfort and safety over heels any day. I'm only 5ft3 and I just have to deal with being the shortest person normally.

Hope this helps

[bsbowman]

One thing I have learned from watching posts on this site that we are all just a little different in how our CMT affects us in our lives. I was clumsy growing up, but it didn't keep me from wearing high heels through high school and all the way through my career while being a teacher and a professional director. It wasn't until I was finally able to retire in my early 50's that I could no longer feel stable when wearing a heel of any height. I too no longer could walk in flip flops or thongs without any support. I can wear sandals if they have a strap over the arch or something that hugs the toes. Otherwise, I walk right out of them. A heel of any height makes me feel as though I'm wobbly and likely to teeter right off of them. I still love beautiful shoes and am not afflicted by the issue of hammer toes that I hear about, but I have learned what style shoes are likely to feel secure, comfortable and flattering. It's a pretty narrow focus, but I say when you find something you like that feels good, buy more than one pair in different colors or even the same. You may never see that shoe again. Even within brands, all styles fit differently.

[DaveyXo]

Hi. I have type 1a CMT and I wear heels for occasions and events. Normally a chunky block heel or a wedge but they are never higher than 3inchs and always have a supportive ankle strap.

You dont have to wear heels though there are some beautiful flats you can buy now.

Dont force yourself to wear heels if it could cause more damage or injury.

[Jdc10]

Wedge heels give more stability. I have very high insteps, but I could wear fairly high wedges, no chance with stilettos or even kitten heels though. Having said that, I bought some wedge sandals with uppers made of wide elastic once, they were a disaster, I was lucky, and got away with two sprained ankles, but I was on crutches for weeks....the elastic was not supportive enough.

I asked my Dr about my inability to wear heels once, long before my cmt diagnosis, and he said I could have my ankles fused!

Nowadays my priority is safety and comfort.😊

[softkins]

I miss having the choice of footwear , slowly and surely the option of heels was taken away,

[Marialba23]

I cannot. Mine have to be completely flat or God forbid my weak ankle makes me fall. I lose my balance even when wearing flat shoes. Only you know what your foot limitations are but I'd be careful. I had surgery once and it was very painful. Took a year to recover, walked better for a few months and then went back to square one. Good luck.