Thanks to all who responded to my inquiry regarding nice looking Custom
Shoes. Following is my original post followed by the responses I received.
I have a Veteran amputee client with severe injury to his “sound” limb. He
has been getting his shoes made custom by the VA at a facility in New York
for many, many years. I have been told that this facility is closing. They
are the best looking and most well made custom shoes I have seen with leather
soles and welt construction. I have been asked to find a comparable quality
shoe for this client. If any of you have a suggestion I would appreciate your
input.
Thanks in advance,
Eddie White, CP
Beacon P&O
Responses:
I’m not sure they will be the same, but I know locally Snell’s orthotics
here in LIttle ROck, Frank Snell in particular, believes in and helps
provide good quality footgear. I don’t have as much call for this since I
mostly see kids, but his reputation with our adult faculty is very good.
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There are custom shoe makers in the large cities as well as custom boot
makers.
Their usual clients are the very wealthy. But be prepared to pay on the
order of
several thousand dollars for each pair as well as travel for an initial
fitting
to make a last. Us mere mortals have to make due with less. The best
alternative is to try and fit him with ALDEN shoes, these are comparable or
better to VA’s. Alden used to have a custom shoe service, you might try
pleading
your case to them but I don’t believe they will be receptive. If you find
another reasonable source I would appreciate a heads up.
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The absolute best I have found is Ron Marler at R&R shoe specialties in
Paradise, Ca he does all the work for the local VA clinic. 530 872 3710
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I saw your post on the list-serv, and since you are an OPGA
member, I thought I would respond. I suggest you check out
Lord Custom Shoes for your former VA client. These folks used to
exhibit at some of the O&P shows, and I was always impressed
with the looks and style of their custom designs. Very well done,
looked like a “normal shoe”, not some poorly disguised “bigfoot”
shoe like many I’ve seen.
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I recently had a VA patient come to me with a pair of (supposedly) custom
shoes also from a VA facility. They were several years old, but in good
shape. These shoes looked just like orthopedic shoes- very standard in
fabrication. When I further inquired, He said that he was never cast, but
instead several measurements were taken of his foot and then the shoes were
ordered. Well, this isn’t really what we consider custom. I wonder if this
may be a similar case?
My gentleman really only had a pes cavus condition and slight callusing
common to this condition. I don’t even think he was diabetic. I fit him in
PW Minor shoes with custom inserts and he was happy as a lark. Don’t think
he would’ve been happy with custom ones nor did he really require them.
That was about 6 months ago and haven’t seen him back with problems.
If you do go custom, just stress like hell that they will not look this
nice. I think ACOR does the nicest cosmetic shoe- although expensive,
sometimes worth it. And at least for us, VA pays normal and customary costs
on custom shoes, so you don’t lose.
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As we’ve had considerable strife searching for quality custom shoes, I’d love
to receive a summary of this topic if you don’t post to the list.
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have been happy with the Tru-fit custom shoes in Pelham, NY. You can order
heavy duty construction and soling in a welted design.
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Lords shoes 1-800-11shoes
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The key here is the technical capability. The people making the shoes make
the
quality. Call the VA center to find out who made his shoes and then talk to
“that” person to see if he/she will be doing the same thing at another
facility.
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The key here is the shoe lasts, If you can get the VA facility to give you
the patient’s shoe lasts before they close down I feel sure that it would be
possible to have nice shoes made at a reasonable price at several places.
Such as the FootSo Port company, Alden, J & E Enterprise, or Grundmans. If
you have to start from scratch it will get expensive and time consuming, but
still possible.
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I’ve been in the O&P business for 40 years. An the work that Custom Footwear
does is next to none. They make custom made shoes to match any style, color
and leather. All work given a quote price which is pre-payed. As you know
this kind of workmanship is at a retail price only. We can’t make them at a
whole sale price, and stay in business. Check out our web page at
customfootwear.com
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I would suggest you contact the company in New York requesting the last
used to fabricate this gentleman’s’ shoes. With the last almost any good
shoe maker can produce a shoe for your patient.
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Sunnybrook hospital in Toronto, Ontario (just north of you guys!!) has a
shoe shop where they make just such shoes – and they do it well. They
probably would do it “mail order” for you. Contact Greg Ashton at
416-480-4261 (that’s actually the prosthetics # but they can forward
you to Greg – I work as a CP (c) and can’t remember the orthopedic #
right off)
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You may want to speak with Ernestro Castro, CPed, OST of Custom Footwear in
Mesa, AZ. He can probably direct you to a quality facility. His contact
details are as follows:
Tel: 480-461-1940
Fax: 480-461-3855
e-mail: [email protected]
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try acor
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Thanks again for all the responses,
Eddie
