Stylish foot brace for city walking
July 23, 2019 1:17 PM Subscribe
YANMD. I have seen my doctor. I may or may not have a stress fracture. I would like a foot brace or wrap to support my foot while my injury is healing.
I have seen my doctor and been X-rayed. I either have a stress fracture/stress reaction (which wouldn't show on the x-ray for 4-6 weeks, after it heals), or just a weird sprain. My doctor (NP, if it matters) basically said to elevate, wrap it if I want, take it easy, and come back if it's not healing.
I live in the city, work a suburban desk job, and typically wear flats to work and cute (aka not very supportive) sneakers or sandals out and about. I do a decent amount of walking, and while I'm going to take it easy, I can't just stop all activity for 4-6 weeks. I'd like to wrap my foot in something better than an ace bandage, but... what? Amazon/CVS have a ton of options that seem focused on arch support/plantar fasciitis. What kind of brace should I be getting for forth/fifth metatarsal support?
I have seen my doctor and been X-rayed. I either have a stress fracture/stress reaction (which wouldn't show on the x-ray for 4-6 weeks, after it heals), or just a weird sprain. My doctor (NP, if it matters) basically said to elevate, wrap it if I want, take it easy, and come back if it's not healing.
I live in the city, work a suburban desk job, and typically wear flats to work and cute (aka not very supportive) sneakers or sandals out and about. I do a decent amount of walking, and while I'm going to take it easy, I can't just stop all activity for 4-6 weeks. I'd like to wrap my foot in something better than an ace bandage, but... what? Amazon/CVS have a ton of options that seem focused on arch support/plantar fasciitis. What kind of brace should I be getting for forth/fifth metatarsal support?
I'd suggest contacting your doctor again and asking what aids might help you to be more active without aggravating things.
Beyond that, at the very least, I'd start looking into shoes with rigid, lightly rocker-bottom soles. Alegria is perfect for this kind of thing. These sneakers have a nice roll without putting you off balance. The sole is still going to flex a little, but not nearly as much.
I personally have not come across thin, flexible braces that were worth much against body weight and motion.
I'm currently using a fancy walking boot for a completely different issue. It is about as nice-looking as such things get, but it is big and clunky and in no way subtle or stylish. It helps a lot, but for me, it is not a magical exoskeleton that makes all things possible. I am still limited in my activities. For you, maybe metatarsals are far enough downstream that a boot can isolate them completely, so to speak.
posted by moira at 6:17 PM on July 23, 2019
Beyond that, at the very least, I'd start looking into shoes with rigid, lightly rocker-bottom soles. Alegria is perfect for this kind of thing. These sneakers have a nice roll without putting you off balance. The sole is still going to flex a little, but not nearly as much.
I personally have not come across thin, flexible braces that were worth much against body weight and motion.
I'm currently using a fancy walking boot for a completely different issue. It is about as nice-looking as such things get, but it is big and clunky and in no way subtle or stylish. It helps a lot, but for me, it is not a magical exoskeleton that makes all things possible. I am still limited in my activities. For you, maybe metatarsals are far enough downstream that a boot can isolate them completely, so to speak.
posted by moira at 6:17 PM on July 23, 2019
I had a stress fracture of my fifth metatarsal and had both a walking boot and crutches. Mine did show up on an x-ray, but my doctor said they're usually detected by an MRI.
posted by Kris10_b at 7:13 PM on July 23, 2019
posted by Kris10_b at 7:13 PM on July 23, 2019
Ain't nothin' stylish about it, but wear one of these for two or three weeks, and your foot will heal almost completely. Try to cobble something together that doesn't look goofy, or actually looks good, around your foot and stylish shoes and you'll be in for years of annoyance when your foot doesn't heal right.
In an aircast, you'll be able to walk without limping much. I say "much" because it is, by design, inflexible. Stepping up and down curbs and walking up and down stairs will take a bit longer than you're used to, and you won't be able to turn on a dime, but you'll have about 95% of your regular motion available to you, and you can easily take it off for sleeping/showering.
Signed,
A guy wearing an Aircast for a week right now, because he didn't handle metatarsal breaks properly 10 years ago and his feet still give him problems to this day.
posted by pdb at 8:35 PM on July 23, 2019
In an aircast, you'll be able to walk without limping much. I say "much" because it is, by design, inflexible. Stepping up and down curbs and walking up and down stairs will take a bit longer than you're used to, and you won't be able to turn on a dime, but you'll have about 95% of your regular motion available to you, and you can easily take it off for sleeping/showering.
Signed,
A guy wearing an Aircast for a week right now, because he didn't handle metatarsal breaks properly 10 years ago and his feet still give him problems to this day.
posted by pdb at 8:35 PM on July 23, 2019
Just wanted to come back and urge you to be cautious about resuming normal activity. Bones take several weeks to heal, and from personal, repeated experience, it's better to give your body a little too much time than not enough and end up back at square 1, or worse.
posted by moira at 9:16 PM on July 23, 2019
posted by moira at 9:16 PM on July 23, 2019
while I'm going to take it easy, I can't just stop all activity for 4-6 weeks
Unfortunately, this is exactly what you have to do. Just because the reality is inconvenient doesn't mean it's not the reality.
Whatever this injury is, "taking it easy" is not going to do it. If you do not rest this properly and get the rehab it needs, you will be impaired for more than 4-6 weeks--imagine years of chronic pain. Think of it as an investment in your future quality of life and figure out some temporary solutions to your transportation problems. Now is the time to pull on your networks for help, talk to your coworkers about carpooling, scounge up some money for rideshares, or whatever you need to stay off your feet.
posted by epanalepsis at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Unfortunately, this is exactly what you have to do. Just because the reality is inconvenient doesn't mean it's not the reality.
Whatever this injury is, "taking it easy" is not going to do it. If you do not rest this properly and get the rehab it needs, you will be impaired for more than 4-6 weeks--imagine years of chronic pain. Think of it as an investment in your future quality of life and figure out some temporary solutions to your transportation problems. Now is the time to pull on your networks for help, talk to your coworkers about carpooling, scounge up some money for rideshares, or whatever you need to stay off your feet.
posted by epanalepsis at 7:04 AM on July 24, 2019 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks all. I've emailed my PCP to ask for further review of the x-ray and further direction on footwear. The doctor I saw was very unconcerned so I'd rather get my PCP involved.
posted by DoubleLune at 7:36 AM on July 24, 2019
posted by DoubleLune at 7:36 AM on July 24, 2019
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:51 PM on July 23, 2019 [3 favorites]