Wedding Shoes

As a bride-to-be, my current fixation is…wedding shoes! I'm hoping I'll be able to wiggle these into the wedding budget somehow, we'll see! 

As I've scoured the stores and websites (hello Nordstrom) I've become unsatisfied with my results (residing in Southwest VA doesn't help either). My original goal was to find hot pink satin wedges since the ceremony will be in grass. Then the whole "gold glitter" craze began and the pink shoes were out the window. After I found the dress I unfortunately came to the realization that I can't wear gold glitter shoes- as I have silver detailing on my dress. 

Now I've decided to go back to the pink shoes but they must be…pink glitter shoes!! And now my focus has somehow turned to Jimmy Choos and Christian Louboutins. And honestly people- it's my one chance to go ALL OUT! 

Of course I have a few rules in order for one of these ridiculously over priced pair of shoes to come to my hands: they have to be comfortable and they can't be in the quadruple digits unfortunately. 

Now let's get into why these shoes are priced the way they are and how to people (other than being their wedding shoes) justify them? 

At the low price of $3,395 these break my "quadruple digits" rule

A salesman at the Christian Louboutin boutique in LA explains, "each shoe is handmade in Italy using only the finest materials. Each craftsman has a specific job and they employ the best people. Christian left school at the ripe old age of 12 and has been designing shoes since then. His company launched in 1991 and his shoes have been a favorite of celebrities and royalty, Princess Caroline of Monaco was one of his first customers, ever since." Sounds like a good enough reason to me *visions of red soles dance in my head* -source 

One 'investigator' reports she has two pairs of Loubs and while she can wear them for a couple of hours, after that the effects of the narrow toe box kicks in…ahh the price to pay for beauty!

The one token of advice I've come across time and time again is, "buy what you can afford." I completely agree with this and that's why I'm using my wedding budget to pay for them! 

Nail Polish and Nail Fungus

The other day I wanted to paint my toenails with the at-home shellac kit I received for Christmas. I've been told by both the Podiatrists at the office I have "superficial" nail fungus. This means it's on the surface and shows as white spots (similar looking when you have a calcium deficiency). I stopped myself from applying it to my toenails because I didn't know if the next time I used it on my fingernails the fungus would spread.

At the Blacksburg office, I made sure to ask Dr. Feeny if that is the case. She said with all the chemicals nail polish has it probably wouldn't spread, but my best option would be to pour some of the nail poslih onto a disposable dish, get a disposable brush and apply the polish/shellac this way. Obviously that's way too much of a task with shellac (you have the base coat, color, and top coat) so if I do decide to use one of my favorite polish colors, I'll just use regular nail polish!

Lately for my toenails I've only been applying Dr. Remedy's since it has natural ingredients, helps with the fungus and also strengthsns the nails (and we sell it in the office so it's too really convenient to purchase).

Why Do Diabetics Need Special Shoes?

There’s a question that we get in our Blacksburg and Roanoke offices quite frequently – and that is, “Why is it that your diabetic patients require special shoes?”

To understand the answer to this question, one must first understand the diabetic foot. One big reason why it is important for any diabetic person to carefully monitor and control blood glucose levels is that when uncontrolled, many complications can arise. Some complications that are frequently seen in our office are nerve damage, decreased blood flow, and foot and joint problems. All of these problems can and do affect the feet.

Besides the bladder, bowel and stomach issues that can arise from diabetic neuropathy, poor sensation can have devastating effects on a patient’s feet without proper care and attention. Inability to feel pain, pressure or temperature can easily allow for rubs, blisters, burns and other injuries to go unnoticed.

Feet are sensitive and the blood supplying oxygen to the lower extremities may be reduced without you even being aware of it. The decreased oxygen delivery to the feet from poor circulation results in slower healing and nail growth.

Uncontrolled blood glucose levels can be inherently dangerous. “Rollercoaster” blood sugar levels can damage tissues and cells. An elevated blood glucose level can cause dehydration and dryness of the skin as well as promote the growth of bacteria and fungi (since sugars are a good food source for these organisms). Because of this, bladder, gum, and skin infections are common in our diabetic patients with high sugar levels. 

So, Why Special Shoes?

-          Proper shoes are the first line of defense against injury and infection.

-          Well fitting shoes are comfortable and allow proper circulation in the feet.

-          Proper shoes will allow your feet to breathe while still protecting them.

-          Proper shoes can prevent the development of ulcers, blisters and fungus.

How are these shoes different?

-         Deeper and wider to accommodate diabetic inserts, allow more room for feet, and reduce possible pressure points.

-         These shoes provide excellent support which is recommended for anyone buying shoes.

-         Most have a breathable fabric upper to promote good air circulation within the shoe.

-         Most are custom ordered for size or even custom molded to a patient’s foot.

-         The toe boxes are roomier to prevent pinching or squeezing the toes as well as to allow for more room for foot deformities.

-         Many are easily adjustable or have elastic which makes it easier to put on without making the shoe too tight or too loose.

-         Available with Velcro to make putting on shoes easier for patients with peripheral neuropathy who can not feel their fingers well enough to lace shoes. 

 

If you are interested in a pair of these shoes for a loved one or yourself, please give our office a call at (540) 808-4343!

Martin Luther King Jr Day

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Today we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. who used his most precious feet to fight for freedom and called others to use their feet to stand up for what they believe in. Remember those who have walked to bring about the changes that we get to enjoy today. Never underestimate the power you have to make positive changes in our world and know that with belief, creativity, and ingenuity anything is possible!!!

Take It Easy on Those Resolutions!

We all love the new year, it gives us a fresh start, hope and motivation for what's to come. Of course, this is the best part of the first of the year, especially since most people's resolutions are to lose weight and workout. Good for you! We can't encourage this enough. BUT we do have some suggestions- ease into the workouts!! Don't go all out- completing circuits, diving head first into crossfit, running 8 miles right off the bat. This is how you get injured! Start off by heading to the elliptical or do some modified HIIT training on the treadmill (or outside if it's warmer than Southwest VA-brrr!) or even rotations on the weight machines.

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We are so glad you want to hit the gym- just be cautious! Here are a few common injuries by doing too much at once (over use injuries).

• Achilles Tendonitis- Symptoms of Achilles tendonitis include mild pain after exercise or running that gradually worsens, a noticeable sense of sluggishness in your leg, and episodes of diffuse or localized pain, sometimes severe, along the tendon during or a few hours after running. Other symptoms can be swelling, morning tenderness in the Achilles tendon, or stiffness that generally diminishes as the tendon warms up with use.
• Plantar Fasciitis- You may feel pain in the bottom of the heel, especially when first getting out of bed or after sitting for long periods of time. Usually the pain subsides but returns after spending long periods of time on your feet. Sometimes, it just hurts all of the time.
• Stress Fractures- Symptoms can include pain and swelling.

Don't be the person who says, "these won't happen to me" because they might and they're not worth it!