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I am a bus driver who is hoping to locate a source of very tall heeled work shoes or boots (about 3-4" oversize heels, ideally with a rounded "rocker" heel to give comfort for using gas/brake pedal all day). I am hoping to end discomfort in right (driving) leg which is some numbness in sole of foot and discomfort from pressure of right thigh (possibly due to contact of right (driving) leg on hard bus seat all day.


I think the pressure of the thigh on the right driving leg caused by the hard seat is crimping the blood flow in that leg and causing the numbness in the right sole of the foot. The idea is by using a 3-4" heel on the driving shoe/boot, it lifts my thigh just off the hard bus seat and gives an air gap which hopefully will stop that crimped blood flow, which I think is causing the numbness in sole.


I drive disabled clients and noticed some wear such footwear that has a noticeably higher and larger heel (and looks rugged too), they look like what might be called "monster mash" boots LOL as they are so big they stand out. Not sure what these are called but look like they might work for my problem. Perhaps these are used by diabetics or other medical conditions?

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Clemente, you wrote that you "had no health insurance"...what kind of bus company is your employer?   In my experience drivers in public transit companies are sometimes unionized.   Are you driving for a completely private company with no health insurance?
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American Heelers does modifications on standard shoes for people who need it done. My mother needed her left shoe made 3/4" higher from age 64 or so due to her spinal stenosis and joint replacements. American Heelers did the job well; you didn't notice the shoe had been made higher unless you saw the pair sitting when Mom wasn't wearing them.

I don't know about your idea of raising one shoe for driving. I think it would be difficult to walk with one shoe raised and would cause back pain. But maybe you could get both shoes raised? Maybe you should check with an ortho doc?

https://www.orthopedicshoelift.com/
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Clemente Nov 2021
Wow, thank you for sending the information on this unique company. It looks like it may be exactly what I am looking for!
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You could try seeing a chiropractor or orthopedic specialist, someone specializing in sciatica-like symptoms. They can prescribe the boot you need.

An egg-crate pad on the seat might help your leg and foot.

Taking sub-lingual B-12 might help nerve pain.

You want to be able to use the brake, so numbness is not a good sign.
See a doctor please, for your safety, and the safety of any passengers.

Is this a new symptom?
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I've seen good work boots at Cabelas and other similar outdoor stores, but never any with 3 - 4" heels.    As Alva suggested, though, there may be other issues.   I would see a podiatrist for examination before buying what might be difficult to find boots.    If there are such things, a podiatrist would know where to find them.

But I also think that the "hard bus seat" you mentioned could be the culprit.
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I have 2 relatives that had polio as children, the shoe they wear on the affected leg, one with a brace, sounds like what your describing. I don’t know where they come from but I would check a medical supply store.
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Get one of these instead -- you'll thank me.

https://www.amazon.com/Purple-Royal-Seat-Cushion-Relieving/dp/B01CKMP34S/ref=sr_1_9?crid=2AEZQ6R89AVZY&keywords=purple+brand+seat+cushion+for+truck+drivers&qid=1636418728&qsid=143-6247578-8899965&sprefix=purple+brand+seat+cushion%2Caps%2C182&sr=8-9&sres=B01CKMP21W%2CB08PSMHBDB%2CB08P3TRZS5%2CB014F18ZGU%2CB01CKMP34S%2CB08M93Y5FZ%2CB07MZJGYZ7%2CB01EBDV9BU%2CB098RCBD7P%2CB08CDBF2PC%2CB092SPKCDQ%2CB08HH1WH3G%2CB08J3KGMZ3%2CB07VGPSZS1%2CB09B3K6FQ6%2CB0962DWNG5%2CB07GXQZVQP%2CB08R3TLBG6%2CB01I76ELYO%2CB0721LTNWS&srpt=BODY_POSITIONER
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Clemente Nov 2021
Thank you for the advisement, I actually did get this brand of seat cover but it was still too hard to sit on all day. I ended up buying some high quality foam from The Foam Factory online, the eggcrate style, and then bought a zippered seat cushion cover from the Purple company above to go over it. Its better than nothing at all, but still not fixing the problem which I believe to be compression on the underside of the driver leg thigh. So I am confident it is not a matter of a seat cushion at this point.
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You need to see a doctor. What you are describing as pain in thigh and numbness in foot could well be a manifestation of severe back problems developing with impinged sciatic nerve. You could also be experiencing diabetic neuropathy or other neuropathy, or repetitive motion problems.
The point is, no one on this forum is in a position to do anything but guess; see your doctor as soon as you can with a good solid list of your symptoms, how often they occur, when they occur, and what you are doing when they occur.
Wishing you good luck in getting a good diagnosis, your first step toward treatment and hopefully a cure.
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Clemente Nov 2021
I am looking for a quicker fix, the challenge is with no health insurance I could be seeing a battery of different doctors due to the intangible nature of the problem. For example, I could visit a podiatrist, if that is no help, then on to a neurologist, then on to someone who deals with circulatory issues, etc. It would be helpful to know what an office visit out of pocket costs for each of these specialists, because if they all charge say 300-500 dollars a visit I could quickly be spending a lot of money. I don't see this type of problem I am having as being one that is easy to pinpoint, like when you have a pain in your tooth you know highest probability is you go to a dentist. The idea of getting a very tall heeled boot, even if I pay 300-500 dollars, I will get fairly quick feedback from my leg after a week I would say as to whether the mild numbness is going away. If the experiment doesn't work, then I would be more likely to go to one or more doctors as I believe this will be a more expensive route and require very possibly multiple visits. If I have to throw out a pair of custom made boots not the biggest deal, as cost will be lower than multiple doctors which I see as a reasonable probability. Tracking neurological problems, or other types like circulatory, I don't see as issues that have been mapped out with precision yet in the human body to determine where the problem is occuring i.e in the thigh, foot, etc.
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FYI this is a forum of Caregivers sharing our experiences. Hopefully, someone has the info u need. Can your disabled clients or their families tell u where they buy this type of boot?
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Clemente Nov 2021
I haven't seen any of our clients recently with this type of boot on, but have in the past and am going to ask them where they got theirs next time I see them. Only a very few wear them, they are uncommon.
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