Swollen and sore ankles/feet - support.

[Moomin8]

Hi peeps🙂Hope you guys are doing OK.

I am having particular trouble with my ankles and feet at the moment. I have some pull on supports, but I can't get them anywhere near my feet, let alone pull them up to my ankles!

I think it would be better to find a strap-on type of thing. It is so difficult to walk, stand for long or even sleep.

Also my hands and fingers aren't strong enough to pull anything on 🤷‍♀️

Any help and advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks 🙂

[springcross]

Just a thought but would a long shoe horn help?

[Moomin8 in reply to springcross]

Thank you for taking the time to reply to my post. However, it's not getting shoes on - albeit that is a problem- I need to put something on my feet to give them some relief.

[springcross in reply to Moomin8]

Oh right, sorry I misunderstood. x

[Moomin8 in reply to springcross]

I'm sure I didn't explain it properly 😊but thank you again x

[charisma]

Sorry to know how bad your ankles and feet are just now. I bought ankle support straps early this year, from Amazon.

They go on with Velcro and really helped me but do mean you need roomy shoes that are easily width adjustable.

Bodyprox ones, made of breathable neoprene, they can go on under or over socks. £9.99 each one but I felt it was money well spent. The bonus is that the go under and over the foot too, giving support to both foot and ankle.

You might take a look at Amazon and see what you think of them. Mine are black. Good luck!

[Moomin8 in reply to charisma]

Thank you for the advice! I'll give those a look 👀

[Summerrain14 in reply to charisma]

I am going to give them a try too as still having some foot and ankle swelling and pain myself so thanks much for sharing this. 😊

[Moomin8 in reply to Summerrain14]

I've ordered them! I'll let you know how I get on 🙂

[Summerrain14 in reply to Moomin8]

Thanks so much Moomin. Really hope they work well for you! 😊

[Summerrain14]

Thanks so much for posting this Moomin. I have no suggestions sadly as so new to all of this myself but will follow. I really do hope you find something that works well for you. 🤞🏻😊

[KittyJ]

I would go back to whoever told you to get them/gave you the supports as hopefully they can give you something you can actually get on by yourself. I hope you get sorted soon😊

[AgedCrone]

If your supports are from a physio....ask for a review....if not why not see a physio?

If you have just bought supports they could be the wrong thing for you.

You can self refer to see a physio at your local hospital....you will find the referral form on line....it might take a while but it would be worth it.

[Moomin8]

Morning 🙂 I haven't actually been given any supports. I have asked to see a physio, but have drawn a blank so far....

[KittyJ in reply to Moomin8]

You can self refer to a physio. Please don’t buy supports without knowing they are the ones you need. You risk causing more problems for yourself as what is causing the problems with your feet will be different to other people. It’s your choice I suppose but I’d rather take the advice of someone qualified than someone who has never met or examined me 😊

[Moomin8 in reply to KittyJ]

Morning 🙂Thank you for taking the time to read and reply to my post. I'm going to try again to self-refer 🤞

[Moomin8 in reply to KittyJ]

Just looked again....and I can't self-refer at my local NHS hospital, only the private ones. I'll have to wait until my December rheumy appointment and ask....again 😏

[KittyJ in reply to Moomin8]

I do it through my GP not the hospital, they have a form you post to the physio. Might be worth asking your surgery 😊

[Moomin8 in reply to KittyJ]

🤔Hmmm...I'll have to make an appointment with my GP - thanks 🙂

[KittyJ in reply to Moomin8]

Speak to reception that’s where I got mine from, didn’t need to see the doctor.

[Moomin8 in reply to KittyJ]

Thanks - I'm just on hold 🙂

[Summerrain14 in reply to Moomin8]

I am sure you have already tried this for your referral to physio but could your rheumy nurse make the referrals for you? My rheumy nurse has just made a referral to the physio and our surgical appliances team but appreciate each team have a different services to each other 😊

[AgedCrone in reply to Moomin8]

Look on line for the NHS Self Referral Physiotherapy form...that way you could possibly get seen sooner.

I know it works because I have used it...unless of course it has been suspended due to Covid.

You will need to describe why you need help...describe how the supports you bought are not suitable.

[essexgirl]

I bought off amazon Beskey ankle support it has really helped my ankle and bottom of foot and you can wear it with shoes or trainers and the straps are velcro so easy to do up

[Moomin8]

Morning 🙂 Thank you for your suggestion. How long have you had them?

[essexgirl in reply to Moomin8]

About 6 weeks and 100% has helped

[Moomin8]

👍

[JulezH]

Hiya, I know quite a lot about this as have had ankle problems for years and have been given many different types of supports.

If you want one that is easier to do up you might be looking for one that is essentially a long strip of material that you wrap round your ankle and Velcro on. These are OK for a bit of support but more for compression, I found these didn't really work well unless I wanted to hold something to my foot, like an ice pack.

The better supports are the ankle braces, they typically have metal or plastic down the sides. With these ones I have found they give a lot more support to my ankle but can be tricky to get on (there is typically a part you put your ankle through, then Velcro straps to secure it).

I tried variety of different ones from Amazon and Boots. An orthopedic surgeon gave me ones which you can find on amazon called 'Malleo Dynastab Lace-up Stabilising Ankle Brace' and these are decent but can be uncomfortable at times.

Good luck, I hope you get some relief soon.

[Moomin8 in reply to JulezH]

Wow - they are mighty thing! Thank you so much for taking the to write such a comprehensive reply🙂 These are things we generally put up with, but it makes such a difference to our everyday lives. I've increased my etoricoxib to 60mg a day which is helping, for now, too.