[sydneywheels]

At the moment I have only one available foot to put a shoe on anyway as my other foot is encased in a fibreglass cast. On Monday when my gf and I were getting ready to go to the Ortho consultant, I was putting on my running shoe on my left foot.

Now my gf knows all about the usual benefits of having a shoe on your foot to protect it from bumps, protect the soles, keep its temperature right...etc...

However, she asked if I'm careful with my feet, do I really need to wear shoes? I suppose strictly speaking the answer is no. I don't wear shoes when I'm around the house.

Apart then from the aesthetics of having my barefeet on display in public (which as a bloke is generally not a good idea and I feel uncomfortable even when I was able bodied of showing off my barefeet to the rest of the world) do we do this out of societal pressure?

If I think about it I could wheel myself around throughout the year wearing either thick comfy socks in winter and barefeet in summer.

Do I do it because it's what is expected? For ABs there is the added necessity of protecting your feet from sharp objects, rough surfaces and general dirty feet after walking on pavements. For me on wheels, none of those things apply.

Anyway, just some meandering thoughts/discussion we have had recently. Not having any real affection or thoughts for my feet (except to keep them dry and free of cuts/bruises), I was wondering whether anyone else had any views on this?

Cheers

[gordonr]

sydneywheels, on Dec 15 2009, 10:24 PM, said:

If I think about it I could wheel myself around throughout the year wearing either thick comfy socks in winter and barefeet in summer.

Cheers

Sydney,

The first time you try openning a plate glass door in a shopping centre, you will realize the benefit of shoes.

In fact, not only should you be wearing shoes, but best is steel caps.

And heavy. When you are bouncing up and down curbstones and even much smaller bumps, your feet will also want to bounce... off the footrests. And in that case, the only help you get is from the weight of your boots/shoes.

Finally, as you said aesthetics. What image do you want to project to the world? Ballet Shoes? Fluffy Bunny Feet? Or heavy m*utherf*ckin' steel toed work shoes/boots?

It's up to you pal.

Best Regards,

Gordon

[Trinity]

sydneywheels, on Dec 15 2009, 10:24 PM, said:

Do I do it because it's what is expected? For ABs there is the added necessity of protecting your feet from sharp objects, rough surfaces and general dirty feet after walking on pavements. For me on wheels, none of those things apply.
Cheers

Maybe the walking on pavements thing doesn't count the others sure as hell do! There have been many times when I would have done myself serious damage if I had not been wearing shoes. I don't even go around my house without shoes on!

Plus shoes are a fashion item, and some are soooo pretty!

[LeahC]

Um to keep my feet warm, to complement my outfit, to stop getting them hurt?

[qbounce]

I got pressure sores on the bottom of my feet, partly due to a slight drop foot, so extra sole cushioning is a necessity. But, you got it right for around the house. I'm usually sans any foot covering at home. I've always preferred it that way, though . . . . some habits die hard.

[Ratticis]

Must be a bitch to live in a paved world. My shoes sure help with the foot drop and keep my toes from being broken by some idiot pushing your chair into a wall (thanks mom)

[pistol_pete]

I'm with gordonr on this one.
When I returned to work and ordered a new office uniform, as opposed to the field uniform I used to wear. People were asking me why I bothered ordering steel cap boots.
I did wonder myself, at the time they happened to be the best looking solid shoe in the catalogue.
They have since proven their worth. I can open the heavy outer office doors battering ram style with impunity and since my lap is now how i carry stuff, thre have been numerous times when heavy objects have slipped off my lap and onto my steel encased tootsies.
I get around home in barefeet in summer. As for going out in public, I usually cover them up as they tend to freak people out with their curly toed blue puffiness.
They also help when driving by reducing sensory stimulation threfore reducing spasms.
So my shoe wearing is really no different from when I was an AB.
I don't like to use " AB " , I still think I'm still pretty able bodied really. From now on I'm going to refer to myself pre SCI as COOL, 'Capable Of Operating Legs'. Mind you I hope I'm stiil pretty Cool post SCI too.

[Texaswheelz]

Ask her why she bothers to wear a bra. Isn't a shirt covering them enough?

[Jax]

Texaswheelz, on Dec 15 2009, 08:39 PM, said:

Ask her why she bothers to wear a bra. Isn't a shirt covering them enough?

[E-DOG]

Texaswheelz, on Dec 15 2009, 06:39 PM, said:

Ask her why she bothers to wear a bra. Isn't a shirt covering them enough?

More than enough. Women should NEVER wear bras.

And I don't think you guys are getting the point here. Reading this guy's initial post here. It seems he wants to have a deep philosophical discussion upon the ramifications of the use of footwear in general.

In the grand scheme of things, the big picture, the over all world view, are two shoes necessary if only one foot exists?
And does a foot exist if it is in fact enveloped within the confines of a protective device deemed necessary by a health care representative? If a shoe is untied, and there's no one there to tie it and the person wearing it can't see it, is it really untied? Did it some how become untied?

Or was it never tied to begin with.

These, apparently are the questions we should be asking ourselves.
Should we look to the heavens for the answers?
Are there answers?
Is there a heaven?
What does it mean to question?
And what the f*@k is that silly curved thing with a period underneath it that we put after asking a question? yeah, that one. or this one. "?"
This one, that one.
This shoe, that shoe.
I sound like an idiot, so what else is new?

E

[dsindc]

depends on if your feet smell

[edlee]

The safety factor is a big part but I wear them for another reason. I have a lot of edema in my lower legs and feet. Wearing shoes helps keep the swelling down. When I don't wear them during the day, my feet look like someone over inflated them. Like some clown tried to make a foot out of balloons.

As for the bras,,, some women should DEFINITLY wear them,,,, hell,, some men, too. On the other hand, some women should wear nothing at all.
ed

[FROG]

My feet are extremely ugly........... I mean U-G-L-Y........ they have no alibi. That and that alone is the primary reason I always keep them covered. I would probably be arrested for displaying them in public! And, besides, it would be rather inhumane to subject any person to such a ghastly sight.

[Maltese Cat]

E-DOG, on Dec 16 2009, 11:04 PM, said:

And I don't think you guys are getting the point here. Reading this guy's initial post here. It seems he wants to have a deep philosophical discussion upon the ramifications of the use of footwear in general.

In the grand scheme of things, the big picture, the over all world view, are two shoes necessary if only one foot exists?
And does a foot exist if it is in fact enveloped within the confines of a protective device deemed necessary by a health care representative? If a shoe is untied, and there's no one there to tie it and the person wearing it can't see it, is it really untied? Did it some how become untied?

E

you're not going far enough. Forget about the shoe - Does the FOOT even exist? How do we know?

So you can see your foot? I can see pink elephants on the way back from the pub - do they exist too?

maybe you can feel your foot? Well, feeling and existing are only distant cousins in SCI world.

If you can hear your foot or taste your foot I don't want to know...

Ah, but you can SMELL your foot??

I stink therefore I am?

Phew, Descartes to the rescue, and we can all relax in the safe and sure knowledge that we have feet. Or foot.....

[E-DOG]

The hands of the Statue of Liberty are only 11 inches long.
Does anyone know why this is?

No? Then I'll tell you.
If they were 12 inches inches long, they'd be a foot!

E

[Brokeback Brenda]

I took some flip flops, ripped the straps out, and put velcro on the bottom of them and on my footplate. I leave a pair on there all the time, you can't notice them when I have shoes on, and when I roll around barefoot my pretty, tattooed feet are cushioned on the bottom and are protected from drop foot

[qbounce]

Brokeback Brenda, on Dec 23 2009, 09:40 PM, said:

I took some flip flops, ripped the straps out, and put velcro on the bottom of them and on my footplate. I leave a pair on there all the time, you can't notice them when I have shoes on, and when I roll around barefoot my pretty, tattooed feet are cushioned on the bottom and are protected from drop foot

Damn BB,
That's a pretty good idea!
I was thinking about doing the same thing, except I was going to put a computer mouse pad on my foot plate. Same type of padding, anyway. I think I'll look into again.