For over 25 years Pedors Shoes has designed and manufactured shoes for problem feet. Our goal is to get our customers back on their feet again with affordable, quality footwear that addresses their specific needs. We’re here to help. Your footwear problems are our challenges.
For a company that specializes in manufacturing women’s shoes for lymphedema, the holy grail is to make a cute shoe !! It’s tough!! Really tough!! Neither Manolo Blahnik or Christian Louboutin have ever tried, because, well, frankly it’s just not going to happen. So when evaluating the design features in women’s shoes for lymphedema, you need to leave the aesthetic parked somewhere else and focus on the functionality of a shoe that can accommodate your lymphedema and get you back on your feet and again and your life back on track.
I hear this a lot. My response is that “beauty is in the eye of the beholder” and that while a lymphedema shoe might look ugly in the shoe box it miraculously becomes a thing of beauty once it’s on the foot, comfortable and when mobility is restored.
The main difference between Pedors Shoes that have been designed for women with lymphedema and other shoes that you may find in a shoe store and hope they fit is most likely, the shoes in your local retail store are not wide enough as they haven’t been designed to accommodate the lymphedema in your feet.
It’s common that people go longer in a shoe rather than wider, because most retail shoe stores don’t offer really wide shoes as the demand is not there. The mistake is to think that the only way to accommodate all of the extra lymphatic fluid in the foot is to go with a longer shoe. The problem with that is you increase the risk of tripping when a shoe is too long for the foot. Think of it this way, since the lymphedema came along the bones in your foot have not grown - they have been the same size since you were a young adult at 20-23 years old. The change is that there is more swelling in your feet and probably in your toes as well. You might want to go up half a size for a little more room in the toe box area of the shoe, but rarely more than that. Going wider is the key for fitting feet with lymphedema.
The material we use is called Pedoprene™. Pedoprene is a specially formulated blend of Neoprene and EVA that allows the shoe upper to stretch and can also be heat-molded, two unique features that even the softest leather can not emulate.
Our proprietary Pedoprene material has a 4-Way-Stretch feature so as the lymphatic fluid sbuilds up in your feet over the course of the day the shoe can provide some compression and can help therapeutically to keep the swelling down.
Orthopedic shoes are specifically designed to support and accommodate the mechanics and structure of the foot and have a number of medically beneficial features and functions that separate them from regular shoes and are available in a variety of widths and shapes to ensure they fit a variety of foot shapes.Pedors Shoes use Pedoprene to provide the support and some compression for the lymphatic fluid in the foot. Pedors Shoes are available in multiple widths but specifcally very wide widths to provide the accommodation needed. Extra depth with removable insoles should custom inserts or orthotics be needed, the Classic MAX line for example also has double Velcro closures to allow the shoe to open up so that the foot can be easily placed on the foot bed.
Using the tailor’s tape or a piece of string, measure the circumference of the foot where the swelling is most - usually around the arch or instep of the foot. Place the start of the tape on the middle of the top of the foot. Wrap the tape under the foot and pull it up to the top of the foot to where it joins the start of the tape. If you use a piece of string, mark the string where it joins the start with your pen or marker and measure the length on a tape measure- again to the nearest 1/8th of an inch.
Trace each foot on a piece of paper: Ideally in a standing weight bearing position, make a tracing of each foot ensuring that the pen or marker is held vertically. From the tracing,measure the longest length from the longest toe to the back of the heel to the nearest 1/8th of an inch.
Yes, when you buy a pair of shoes on Pedors.com the fit is guaranteed or you get your money back. Exchanges are free and easy.
We have (USA) customer support at 800 750 6729 that can help you in the decision making process but in the main much will depend on your level of activity, your range of motion and the degree of severity of the lymphedema.
• For example, if your ankles are particularly swollen, you have difficulty bending over to reach your feet, you may want to look at the Pedors Slide.
• Alternatively, if you are looking for a shoe to wear outside during winter to get from the house to the car and for driving, you may want to look at the Classic MAX which has an enclosed heel to help keep your feet dry and warm while your feet are exposed to winter weather and to protect your heels on the pedals while driving.
• If you are wearing wraps or bandages inside the shoe then you may need to order our Classic MAX in a 10E width - the widest shoe we make.
The severity of the lymphedema dictates how wide the shoe needs to be. If the lymphedema is relatively mild and under control then a 4E width should be sufficient. Most people with lymphedema usually require the 6E width. For people with very severe lymphedema or if compression wraps or bandages are being worn iside the shoe a 10E will be needed.
When choosing footwear for lymphedema it’s about functionality over aesthetics and making sure that you get a shoe that fits properly. Living with lymphedema presents so many quality of life challenges, can limit your independence and even extends to your mental health. Something as simple as finding a comfortable pair of shoes that fit can improve your quality of life and extend life expectancy with increased mobility.
We'd love to hear from you! Call 800 750 6729 Monday through Friday, 8:30 am - 5:00 pm EST or use email us at support@pedors.com.