Managing Lymphoedema: How Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear offers comfort, support and relief.
Lymphoedema is a chronic condition that causes swelling in the body’s tissues, most commonly in the arms and legs. For many people living with lymphoedema in the lower limbs finding comfortable, supportive and properly fitting footwear can really become a daily struggle. Standard footwear can often provide limited or short term support, but often can not allow for enough space of swellings or unusual shaped feet. Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear can become an invaluable solution to many of the issues concerning the lymphatic foot, dramatically improving the comfort, mobility and quality of life of the person living with lymphoedema.
What is Lymphoedema?
Lymphoedema is a condition caused by a compromised lymphatic system, which over a period of time can lead to the build up of lymphatic fluid in the body tissues. Fluid can accumulate in lower limbs as the body struggles with circulation. This fluid accumulation results in swelling, most commonly in the legs or feet, it can be either primary (genetic) or secondary (caused by damage due to surgery, radiation therapy, infection or trauma).
Common Symptoms of Lymphoedema
Many people with Lymphoedema find that they can begin to suffer from at least one of the multiple symptoms that can present within the condition, swelling of the limbs, more commonly the lower limbs has a huge impact on people’s lives. This can present within the condition persistent swelling in the feet, ankles and legs. The lower limbs and feet can often feel tight and heavy, combined with the feeling of discomfort and pain, the skin can thicken in areas (fibrosis) making wearing shoes often quite difficult.
Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear is an ideal solution for people who have maybe struggled to find footwear that doesn’t cut into skin and worsen the discomfort and symptoms, restrict movement and create pressure points. Footwear that lacks width and depth does little to accommodate for swelling and does little to promote circulation which is a key factor for people with Lymphoedema.
Poorly fitting footwear can often increase the risk of skin infection, breakdown and further swelling. Orthopaedic footwear becomes a necessity for a person with lymphoedema rather then a luxury.
The Bill Bird Shoes Team could help create Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear for you, if you find your foot has become an unusual shape or size, if you wear compression garments, if you are suffering from chronic or advanced lymphoedema, or have been recovering from an injury or surgery that has affected the lymph flow. We can help create footwear to help relieve many elements of these symptoms.
How Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear helps people with Lymphoedema
Bespoke Orthopaedic Footwear is crafted to your exact foot shape and size, accounting for all your specific medical needs.
Footwear can be designed with adjustable straps and stretch panels to help deal with changeable swellings, extra depth and width is allowed for in key areas to help with swollen toes and insteps.
By having Bespoke Orthopaedic Lasts and Footwear created the footwear will contour to your very own foot shape. Custom fitting footwear can not only be made to accommodate for any compression garments or wraps comfortably without squeezing the foot creating pressure and friction which can have an impact on fragile skin, which may lead to infection.
Improvements in mobility and comfort are evident as the foot is supported by soles to ease gait, with extra width for stability, cushioned inserts and orthotic integration can enhance mobility and reduce fatigue. Properly designed footwear can aid lymphatic flow by providing gentle, even support, especially around the foot and ankle, allowing for a softer more comfortable movement.
Bespoke Footwear for better living with Lymphoedema
Living with Lymphoedema doesn’t mean sacrificing, mobility and comfort. The specialist team at Bill Bird Shoes will help create footwear tailored to your specialist needs, wide and low facings and openings, extra depth and width, soft linings with minimal seams, breathable, giving, softee leathers that help protect the foot. Designs can include adjustable fastenings, cushion orthotics and supportive, wide soles and heels that are profiled and tapered to help offload and reduce pressure and pain while walking, promoting overall foot health.
If you’re struggling to find shoes that fit, let us help you, step into support with your journey towards greater independence, confidence and well being. Contact the team at their Cotswold workshop on 01386 700855 or enquiries@billbird.co.uk