Living with a disability can be a difficult and challenging experience, especially when it comes to finding suitable footwear. For those of us who have two different-sized feet, finding shoes that fit comfortably is almost impossible. Thankfully, custom shoes have come to the rescue. It has helped me find the perfect fit no matter how different our feet sizes may be. I'll be discussing my own experiences with having a disability, the challenges I faced in finding the right shoes, and how custom shoes have helped me overcome these difficulties.
Living with differently sized feet
I was born with cerebral palsy, which has stunted my growth on my right side. As a result, my right foot is size 3 while my left is size 4 and a half. Finding shoes that fit properly has been a challenge for me since I was a kid. My mom had to get custom-made shoes for me, something I wasn't too happy about. I was conscious that I was different, and didn't like the idea of having only shoes that were my school uniform.
When I turned 16, they said that I could wear regular shoes since my right leg had miraculously caught up in size. Although, I knew then that they didn't measure me properly. But I wanted to be like everyone else so badly that I took their advice. For the last 10 years, I have gone through multiple pairs of shoes that never lasted very long and gave me blisters. Even though I had to wear a splint on my right foot and this drastically increased the size at least in width, the sizes were still different. With my splint, my right foot was size 5. So for the whole of my young adult life, I wore size 5 shoes. My left foot found this painful. It would slip and cause the back of the shoe to wear. My ankle would get blisters. I would get fatigued quickly.
The difficulties of finding shoes that fit
Living with differently sized feet can be a major struggle when it comes to finding shoes. Shops simply don't sell shoes that cater to different sizes. This means I'm left trying to find a pair of shoes that fit my larger foot as best they can. This has been incredibly limiting. I had found, for awhile, that Karimore shoes were the most comfortable. However, my left foot would constantly side back and forth, eventually ruining the shoe. It got expensive and painful frequently.
I attempted to use shoe wedge moulds. These are wedge-shaped foam that goes into the toe area of the shoes. They helped a bit, but then my toes started to hurt. Eventually, I accepted the fact that I needed to have my shoes custom-made again. In 2022, I reached out to the rehab centre that helps me with any issues related to my cerebral palsy for help. I did plan on asking them prior to 2022, but by the time I decided I needed them, we were approaching the end of 2019. We all know what happened next.
The Appointment for my Custom Shoes
My orthopedic appointment was quite different to the ones I had when I was younger. This time, they didn't have to take into consideration my stunted growth caused by cerebral palsy. Instead, they focused on my individual foot measurements. This included the ankles, the width of my feet, and the length. They even measured with my orthotic sock splint on so that my sock would fit into the shoe.
As a child, I remember having a cast of my foot made in order to make insoles. This wasn't necessary this time as the splint worked in a similar way. After taking the measurements, the orthopaedic handed me two catalogues: one for seniors, and another for children and teens. I quickly put down the first catalogue down realising that the shoes are something my 93-year-old nan would wear. Instead, I went straight for the teenaged, colourful shoes with various patterns.
Initially, the catalogue pair had zips on the shoes but since I struggle with zips, I asked the orthopaedic if it was possible to have the shoes without them. They replaced the zip with the hooks which makes it easier for me to use elasticated shoe-laces. Fortunately, he said that it was and so now I can wear shoes that both fit and are comfortable for me!
How custom shoes have helped me
Because of my disability, I have two feet of different sizes, making it impossible to find shoes that fit me properly. The discomfort caused by the ill-fitting shoes often led to blisters, pain and fatigue which greatly limited my mobility.
It has been around 6 months since I got my custom shoes. They were supposed to contact me to give me a second pair. When I got my first pair of custom shoes, it was great. The snug fit of the shoe allowed me to move freely without having to worry about blisters or fatigue. My feet felt properly supported for the first time in years. There are some issues with the tongue slipping and as the shoes are made out of hard leather, this can be painful. However, adjusting the tongue is easy and not something I am concerned about.
The Rehab Centre was supposed to contact me after I had the shoes for a while. One, to check that I was doing ok with them, and two to give me my second pair. This hasn't happened, which is typical of the centre. I may give them a ring in a few weeks to ask. I still get fatigued but I am currently not sure if that is the effect of basically being locked inside for almost 2 years and my body getting used to the occasional day out again. It's something I'll keep an eye on. Other than that, I am grateful for their help. I now have reduced pain and a greatly decreased chance of blisters.
The downside of custom shoes
Custom shoes can be a lifesaver for those of us with disabilities such as cerebral palsy but there are still drawbacks. The NHS does provide custom shoes for free, but there is a downside to these shoes. Style. When getting custom shoes made, there are two catalogues you can choose from: one aimed at children and teens, and the other at seniors. The catalogue aimed at children and teens are full of colourful shoes. My current shoes are two shades of pink and they look nice. I can get away with this style as someone who looks younger than I am and also as someone just on the outside of young adulthood.
My concern is when I turn 40, I may not be able to wear these shoes without looking a bit immature. But I would also not want to wear shoes designed for older people. As I said, they're something my 93 year old nan would wear. They'd look too bland and old for me. These shoes come in a variety of beige, black and white. Many of them looked like formal shoes or pumps. I don't usually care so much about appearance, but also I am aware first impressions mean a lot in the job and career world, and it is something that is in the back of my mind. Not as a massive concern but as a niggle. Especially as I am making progress with my PhD and improving my career aspects.