Saw foot surgeon earlier this week....

[PJBinMI]

he's referred me to a foot clinic to be fitted with a leather ankle brace for my right foot, in the hopes that it will improve my gait and balance. I use a walker when I leave the house but most of the time am able to walk without it here at home.

My feet are a real mess! Neuropathy, fallen arches, claw toes, right foot wants to roll outwards, hurts alot if I stand without shoes or slippers on. Sigh! I feel pain inmy feet but little else.

Has anyone here had good results from an ankle brace? Other stuff? I sooo want to walk without the walker!

[love2golfwell]

I truly hope the brace will help you. I'm so sorry that you are experiencing all of these issues with your feet, sounds painful and stressful. Are they caused by the meds you have taken over the years? Have you heard about red light therapy. I have read about this and how it might be helpful for issues like this. In an case, I am hoping you find some relief. I know you have been on this journey a long time and you are my inspiration for continuing to fight. Sending you hugs and prayers.

[PJBinMI in reply to love2golfwell]

Thank you! I suspect that spinal stenosis that pre-dates cancer is a major contributor to the problems. Plus I had a bad fall on the ice that fractured 3 bones and tore everything that could be torn, left ankle. I giggle when I see your screen name! I took golf lessons in my early 30's and was a horrible golfer! LOL I really wanted to learn how, but the teacher and I were in very different modes...... So golf joined spelling and penmanship as things I'm just not good at! But I'm exceptionally good at surviving MBC, lol.

[love2golfwell in reply to PJBinMI]

Sounds like you have been through a lot over the years in addition to MBC. You are definitely a strong, resilient woman. I do love golf, play just about every day while I can. I know that at some point I may not be able to play as much so I am getting in as many rounds as I can now. It is a very fun sport, but takes a lot of practice. I have gotten pretty good at playing, but would love to be really good at surviving MBC like you are. Sending you hugs.

[PJBinMI in reply to love2golfwell]

I come from a long line of strong, resilient women!

[mariootsi]

Hope the brace gives you enough stability so you can discard the walker!

[PJBinMI]

Me too! Thank you! I've thought about decorating the walker--maybe pink for BC Awareness month, Oct! That just made me laugh. Any connection obvious betweeen breasts and walkers....LOL

[Bettybuckets]

hi PJB in MI, no good suggestions for braces but I just wanted to commiserate as I saw you have all kinds of feet problems… I have flat feet and have worn orthotics for 50 years but now on xeloda with HFS my feet are so sore that I can’t wear sneakers or shoes - just soft sandals that my skin can tolerate… but walking around with out arch support has been painful.. I can’t tell if the pain is from the cancer or just back pain from not having arch support… still I am grateful every day that I can still cycle snd swim as these aren’t weight baring…. And glad xeloda is portable therapy so I can still travel… and happy thst I am not nauseated or fatigued.. but with all your years I am sure you have been through so much more… what therapies have you been on that actually weren’t that bad?

[PJBinMI in reply to Bettybuckets]

Thanks, Betty! Our feet are sure important! Until earlier this year, I had strongly E+ cancer cells so my previous treatments have been anti-estrogen; Letrozole, Fulvestrant, Exemestane. They were all quite tolerable for me. I got years from each of those. What brand of shoes have you found most comfortable, before the sandals. I have worn ortho-feet (or ortho-foot) mostly but they're no longer comfortable. Living with this cancer is sure not fun!

[Bettybuckets in reply to PJBinMI]

I was on years of letrozole for BC but since 2020 had ibrsnce verzenio and now xeloda- all big guns with big Side effects… I wish I had been brave enough when I got MBC to have Fulvestrant on its own until progression. I prob would have BUT Nz had just gotten ibrsnce funded. Prior to thst it was $7k per month for women.

[Bettybuckets in reply to PJBinMI]

Oh I see now that I didn’t answer the shoe question… sketcher sandals are the only thing I can wear.. they are cotton like so soft on my skin

[13plus in reply to Bettybuckets]

Ooh I'm sorry you can't wear shoes now, that must be so frustrating! Have you thought about trying good old crocs? You would need to wear socks so your skin doesn't get rubbed by the rubber but they have a little arch support, plenty of toe room, are super lightweight, and VERY comfy! I wear mine around the house when I feel the need for a little foot support but usually I'm barefoot. (And yes, if you usually wear prosthetics and suddenly don't for long periods, that would definitely contribute to lower back pain)

[Bettybuckets in reply to 13plus]

Very good suggestion and I used to wear them.. now the little nubs would just eat my edematous feet up. And my son is coming home for a very short visit from Switzerland and we want to go to museums and out to dinner but getting so hard. Very conflicted since the xeloda appears to be working and my liver has less ascites so I feel well except for my feet.

[Figletf]

So sorry for your feet probs.😞Just having a bunion that caused my second toe to rise over the big toe and neuropathy is enough to cause me to be unstable. I pray your brace helps to steady your balance👍❤️

[13plus]

I don't have any direct experience about the brace but as a trainer I will say that having your ankle better aligned should help a lot! I always explain to people that when the feet are not supporting the body well (as in weak arches, etc) it's a bit like having a floor lamp with a wobbly base, and all themajor joints working upwards ultimately get affected. So I'd suggest trying it

A couple of other things to possibly try: getting a pair of those gel toe seperators (Amazon have them for under $10), as long as they are not too tight around your toes, work WONDERS for the feet. Many of us have feet that have spent hrs scrunched into non-roomy shoes. The toes need help to learn how to have space between them again, and toes that spread better support the body better and encourage arches to be more supportive. You can just where them for very short periods at a time and I swear it should help. I see a fantastic improvement in balance for my clients who do this. It should also help stimulate circulation.

And if you can, find anything flat that has some slightly roughish texture to it (think old-style scratchy carpet) and place it under your feet while seated - do some heel lifts or something similar for regular short periods - the stimulation to the nerves "may" help your neuropathy because even though you can't feel well that doesn't mean the nerves are completely dead. (There is proven science to this, it just doesn't work for everybody). This suggestion may depend on the health of the skin on your feet too, so do consider that. As in, don't use something so rough it could damage your skin surface! 😅

I hope this helps. DM me if you want me to send a link to show you what I mean for the toe seperators!

[PJBinMI in reply to 13plus]

Thanks for the great suggestions! I have a couple of sets of toe separators. And some socks with toe separators. I can hardly wait to get the braces and custom shoes! But it will take some time to wear them for most of the day. Am doing heel lifts right now, LOL.

[13plus]

That’s great! Toe socks and separators can’t be worn at the same time but the socks can be another way to at least bring awareness to the toes. And love that you are diving into some heel raises Make sure to do “lifting the front of the foot” too, to work both sides of the feet and lower leg to keep a balance of the muscles. And a calf muscle stretch after them, as underused muscles can cramp more easily. Best to Google for a video instruction if you’re unsure what I mean. Best of luck with the new braces and footwear!

I broke a bone in my foot last Boxing Day and it has taken it several months to heal and feel normal again. So even though our situations are very different I can relate to how you feel