Cushiony shoes, knee pain, weight

[David Ragan]

I'm am ready to close out my sharing about my recent knee surgery with one final question.

Delivered to the house yesterday was a catalogue from "Gravity Defyer" shoes......

I'm thinking maybe I need some cushier shoes. These appear well made, springs made into heels (gimmick?)

Can try free for a month.

Anybody have these, or any other ideas?

I need a pair of dress black, one of brown, and a shop shoe.

There is a store round here that has one of those machines you stand in to fit you....never seen it, I guess it measures for weight distribution. Is this a gimmick?

Does the above matter in regards to knee pain?

And-

I have already lost 15 lbs, and have another 60 to go to get to BMI of 27....These are permanent changes, folks. Hopefully not a fad.

I finally am ready to deal with my obesity and how I "use" food.

Every night I struggle a little with thoughts of ordering a pizza, or going to get some Popeye's chicken. Sounds absurd, doesn't it?

Have a Vitamix, am putting in lots of frozen vegetables, with gut nutrition, and eating meat. + nuts. little to no grain. Don't tell Archer Daniels Midland or ConAgra. Yum Yum on the coconut and chocolate greek yogurt.

[Grant Wilkinson]

I don't have your weight issue, but I have had two partial knee replacements. I got a pair of New Balance Walking Shoes and they are great.

[Bruce Volden]

I too had knee and hip problems, battled for several years with it. (no surgery) Some one at work said to try some arch supports, I did and immediately noticed a difference! Got them from some off the shelf place in the store. I also am a firm believer in HIGH QUALITY shoes. I have New Balance, and a great pair of SAS shoes (both made in USA!), lightweight and excellent quality. I am a janitor at a school and average 5 miles per night on my feet during my shift, I have hit as much as 11 miles though (game nights--hate 'em).
The weight issue---hey! you're from Georgia--great food! You can do it.

Bruce

[Wade Lippman]

There is a store round here that has one of those machines you stand in to fit you....never seen it, I guess it measures for weight distribution. Is this a gimmick?

Walmart has a machine that tells you which of their 10 insoles is best for you. I tried it 5 times and got 3 different recommendations. Might be better than nothing, but maybe not.

I have custom insoles in my hiking shoes and ski boots. They make a big difference, but aren't cheap. I expect they might help you in your regular shoes, but don't really know that.

[mike mcilroy]

I have orthotic inserts and they help, see if your doctor can recommend some place to get them to avoid some of the gimmick problems. I also have anti fatigue mats all over the shop where I do the most standing. Try to have extras as floaters because I found a lot of times I would end up in the middle of some task and realize I was getting sore and found I was out of the matted area. Most of my soreness was lower back but I'm sure it would help with the knees.
I have the rollercoaster weight issue and could stand to drop 30lbs myself.
Good Luck.

[Justin Ludwig]

Aside from the weight you're putting on them, mobility is a major issue that strains the extremities (not just the knees, but hips, shoulders, etc). Most docs IME treat the symptoms with drugs, not address the issue (but to their defense, most people want a pill, not a solution). I feel the same about orthopedic shoes - they mask the problem, not address and fix it. That's my opinion, I'm no doctor.

I used to be an avid CrossFit person, but broke myself of that Kool-Aid. The single best thing I learned from those years were how to maintain and treat my body's issues - without medication. And I learned most from watching Kelly Starrett, DPT videos. He focuses mainly on athletes, but all our body mechanics are the same. Just search MobilityWOD if you want.

Good luck!

[Jim Koepke]

Every night I struggle a little with thoughts of ordering a pizza, or going to get some Popeye's chicken. Sounds absurd, doesn't it?

Anyone who has watched all the fast food commercials on late evening television knows of this struggle.

jtk

[jared herbert]

spend your money on an appointment with a podiatrist. They will have the best shot at diagnosing what the real problem with your feet is and hopefully help you with your foot pain. It worked for me.

[Brian Deakin]

Loosing weight

Tip

Write a food diary, that is plan what you are going to eat over the next 3 days and purchase that food Additionally decide on a little treat for yourself (ideally not food ) if you stick to the plan

Recognise times/situations when you are likly to raid the fridge or surcome to temptation Decide on a action (distraction) you can do instead of eating at this time eg stroke the dog make a drink repeat this action each time you have the temptation

Other... each time you feel hungry have a drink of water the brain can mistake thirst for hunger

regards Brian

[Jim Matthews]

I'm having similar knee troubles, from athletic abuse as a (much) younger man
and weight gain due to little physical activity.

I fill up on fruit, and try to avoid foods that are white (unless they swam or flew).

I would recommend talking to your orthopod about a podiatry consult.

After properly fitted with shoes for walking, directed stretching exercises are in order.
Most of my knee pain is directly attributed to poor flexibility and limited range in my hips.

The only good thing I can offer you on your horizon is that most Yoga or Pilates classes
are attended by women that wear makeup to the gym.

[Keith Outten]

Shoes with plenty of cushion...try Crocs. I wear them almost exclusively. Crocs are inexpensive so it won't cost an arm and a leg to give them a try. I even wear mine on my treadmill every day, in my shop walking on concrete and just about everywhere I go unless I have to wear dress shoes.
.

[David Ragan]

Loosing weight

Tip

Write a food diary, that is plan what you are going to eat over the next 3 days and purchase that food Additionally decide on a little efor yourself (ideally not food ) if you stick to the plan

Recognise times/situations when you are likly to raid the fridge or surcome to temptation Decide on a action (distraction) you can do instead of eating at this time eg stroke the dog make a drink repeat this action each time you have the temptation

Other... each time you feel hungry have a drink of water the brain can mistake thirst for hunger

regards Brian

Great ideas

[David Ragan]

Shoes with plenty of cushion...try Crocs. I wear them almost exclusively. Crocs are inexpensive so it won't cost an arm and a leg to give them a try. I even wear mine on my treadmill every day, in my shop walking on concrete and just about everywhere I go unless I have to wear dress shoes.
.

I thought crocs were birkenstock knockoffs (thay i dont wear in shop since knee went south)- youre saying theyre padded Nd the padding stays puffy?

[William Payer]

Congratulations on your weight loss, it is a battle to change those old habits.

As others have said high quality shoes are a must. Also changing them out(replacing) at regular intervals is good practice. Runners get new shoes at regular intervals as the cushioning does lessen with time, often so slowly you do not realize you are losing the cushioning level that you had when they were new.

Custom orthotics help to keep your foot/leg in proper alignment and help correct any misalignment issues. Don't go for the "one size (or a few sizes) fits all" type. See a podiatrist (or an othopedic surgeon specializing in foot and ankle) and get a prescription set of orthotics. The are a few types, some of a semi flexible plastic (perhaps composite construction) and there are the full shoe filling ones that provide support as well as additional cushioning. The later cost me $295 but they are custom molded to your feet and do ease discomfort in the entire leg. The cost of that Dr. visit and the orthotics is significant, but nothing compared to the costs of additional care of wearing of the knees.

My family physician saw me looking at the BMI chart in the exam room and asked me what it said about me(he get on my case for being overweight periodically) I told him ," it says I'm too short! "

[David Ragan]

Aside from the weight you're putting on them, mobility is a major issue that strains the extremities (not just the knees, but hips, shoulders, etc). Most docs IME treat the symptoms with drugs, not address the issue (but to their defense, most people want a pill, not a solution). I feel the same about orthopedic shoes - they mask the problem, not address and fix it. That's my opinion, I'm no doctor.

I used to be an avid CrossFit person, but broke myself of that Kool-Aid. The single best thing I learned from those years were how to maintain and treat my body's issues - without medication. And I learned most from watching Kelly Starrett, DPT videos. He focuses mainly on athletes, but all our body mechanics are the same. Just search MobilityWOD if you want.

Good luck!

You are right
i am a family doc- and nowadays the correct way to discuss *anything* besides the obvious complaint u should ask if they want to go there first. Gone are they old days where you just come in and say this or that
This is the polite thing to do. Nobody likes being hammered w unsolicited "do this/dont do that"
****Especially lifestyle stuff
its not lack of caring on our part-dont blame the physician is my point
Such is Life