Being a flaneur with mobility impairments?

[rydra_wong]

So, yeah.

I am recovering slowly from a Lisfranc injury. I am now allowed to walk (in rigid-soled shoes), but it's slow, tiring, and tends to make my foot ache; I have very very limited spoons for walking in a day.

Since I could previously walk for hours on end, this is a major blow. I can't stroll or absently wander anywhere any more. If I ever can again, it will be a fair while from now.

Anyone adapting flaneur-y to deal with mobility impairments? Flaneurs using public transport? Tip, advice, suggestions or constraints?

Comments

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[rydra_wong]

Weren't you in "barefoot" footwear before the accident?

Yes, very happily. But I have now been told sternly that all the shoes I currently own are far too flexible, and I cannot wear them; I was ordered to go and buy Doc Martens or similar.

(Which means I now have the DM break-in period to contend with as well.)

A rigid-soled shoe does make walking markedly less painful, though clompy and cumbersome compared to what I'm now used to -- basically by severely limiting transfer of weight from heel to toe with each step.

And it is possible that I may (at some future point) be allowed to return to some of my barefoot shoes but with orthotics. Maybe.

This all leaves me about as grumpy and disconsolate as one might expect.

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[spiralsheep]

You have my sympathy. I wish there was something more practical I could do. Good luck!

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[kaberett]

This does sound pretty grim :-(

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[rydra_wong]

Well, relative to the injury -- which is, I was comfortingly told, "the most difficult foot injury to treat" -- I've been really really lucky.

It got diagnosed correctly almost right away (apparently it's often missed because the breaks in the bone often only show up on weight-bearing X-rays), the joint was stable so it didn't need surgery, I only had to have five weeks of total non-weight-bearing, and apparently it all looks about as good at this stage as it possibly can.

So it could have been much much much worse. It's just an injury that by its nature heals slowly and sometimes incompletely.

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[ninamazing]

Sorry to cut in, but I'm a flaneur with a recurring mobility issue, so your post really spoke to me & I'm always trying to learn everything I can about leg/foot injuries. And obviously, I am so sorry for your troubles, UGH.

If you don't mind saying so, what is the rationale for rigid-soled shoes, especially Doc Martens? I have found that heavy shoes seem to hurt me more because they're extra load to lift; I get the flexibility argument, while you're healing, but why not rigid-soled shoes that are as close-fitting and light as possible? (Leaving aside the fact that those are probably either too expensive or not really existent.) It also seems like once you've healed, God/Goddess/Universe willing, returning to barefoots would be better, but I am utterly biased by my own particular issues because barefoot shoes have been amazing for my knees.

So my advice might not even apply at all, but getting a stylin' cane really helped me. I felt very uncomfortable being obviously physically vulnerable in public but having a large blunt object made me feel safer, and inspired kinder souls to give up seats on public transit. Unfortunately, all the dragon-headed canes I found on eBay were decorative and not supportive, but I got a sturdy purple aluminum cane for like less than $20 with shipping I think.

Re: These are my first thoughts (more later perhaps)

[rydra_wong]

No, thanks for cutting in -- it's good to hear from other people dealing with similar mobility issues!

If you don't mind saying so, what is the rationale for rigid-soled shoes, especially Doc Martens?

The rationale for rigid-soled shoes is that it limits the transfer of weight through the midfoot (which is the area that's fucked up).

why not rigid-soled shoes that are as close-fitting and light as possible? (Leaving aside the fact that those are probably either too expensive or not really existent.)

Yeah, I'm guessing the bit in parentheses is the answer, basically. Though I need to check out whether there are walking boots that would fit the bill.

It also seems like once you've healed, God/Goddess/Universe willing, returning to barefoots would be better, but I am utterly biased by my own particular issues because barefoot shoes have been amazing for my knees.

I have the same biases, and switched to barefoot shoes years ago after a run of knee problems which they helped to fix. Unfortunately, the deal with Lisfranc injuries is that they take ages to heal fully, if they ever do -- they don't always get back to full pre-injury health, and there's a fairly significant risk of post-traumatic arthritis.

So, hoping I'll be able to get back to my barefoot shoes some day.