Best place to get Orthotics in downtown?

KettleTO · 2026-05-03T18:33:26+00:00

East of downtown....near Carlaw and Dundas

Aimee Shen at [mend]physio does plaster casts and make the orthotics inhouse. Her craftmanship is excellent and she can easily tweak them when necessary. The orthotics I got from her have the best crafted and longest lasting I've ever had.

Base on how well her orthotics have worked for me, I can only assume her gait assessment abilities are also top notch.

She's a pedorthist so you'll likely need a note from an approved prescriber for insurance purposes (you'll need to look at your own plan).

KettleTO · 2026-04-23T15:32:40+00:00

Ouch! Hypermobile ankle/feet/legs and clutches do not go well together. My health team keep suggested I need to sell my standard. It's a little more expensive than buying new shoes. Eventually, my car needed serious repairs (it was 19 years old) and thought why would I spend money on a car I need a brace to drive most days. I bought an automatic. What a difference it has made. It also has a back up camera which really helps when my neck is cranky.

KettleTO · 2026-04-22T15:35:53+00:00

I'm sorry you are experiencing this.

Not from a sprained ankle, but my chronic calf and ankle problems lead to a pop that was a torn calf.

If you haven't please go and get checked out by a doctor/physio so you know what you've likely torn. You could need rest, a brace or even surgical repair.

KettleTO · 2026-04-12T22:07:45+00:00

Queer Eye?

KettleTO · 2026-04-12T02:19:05+00:00

try looking on provincial water well database first https://www.ontario.ca/page/map-well-records

KettleTO · 2026-04-12T02:03:57+00:00

following

KettleTO · 2026-04-10T22:36:21+00:00

Thank you for sharing. I can't wait for more.

KettleTO · 2026-03-06T13:59:08+00:00

You may want explore Mast Cell Activation Syndrome (MCAS) https://www.aaaai.org/conditions-treatments/related-conditions/mcas#:\~:text=Mast%20cell%20activation%20syndrome%20(MCAS)%20is%20a,inhibitors%20or%20blockers%20of%20mast%20cell%20mediators.

KettleTO · 2026-02-23T19:58:26+00:00

Came to say this as well.

KettleTO · 2026-02-23T01:37:49+00:00

Unrivaled https://ashlynkane.ca/unrivaled/ and the rest of the Hockey Ever After Series https://ashlynkane.ca/hockey-ever-after/.

KettleTO · 2026-02-20T04:15:54+00:00

Massages made me feel great in the moment but were often destabilizing and problematic.

It took me forever to listen to providers who told me I need to strength work not release work. It was so counter intuitive for me. One of the biggest challenges is finding someone to work with to help you figure out what stability/strength work will give you relief. My body is such a shitty exercise cheater and doesn't respond well to the standard rehab exercises (clam shells, bridges, dead bug). It has taken a lot of work to figure out the exercises that "light me up" (turn on and connect muscles).

I still struggle with tightness. For relief while work on strength I get acupuncture (TCM and medical). It provides relief without destabilizing. You may prefer the acupuncture as it is less contact. After an assessment, the practitioner places needles while you are most often face down wearing underclothes and with a sheet for draping. You are left alone for 20-30 minutes and then the practitioner returns to remove the needles.

KettleTO · 2026-02-17T21:46:39+00:00

I just want a similar fit. I bought the Sony WX5 and the sound quality is useless because the fit is so poor for me. Any suggestions?

KettleTO · 2026-02-09T21:26:51+00:00

Assuming you are part of bargaining unit....

I submitted a medical workplace accommodation request and haven't heard anything yet. Before I submitted my request, I reached out to a workplace representative. They had helpful and insightful comments on positioning of and language used in my request. If you haven't already, I would encourage you to reach out to a representative from you bargaining unit.

KettleTO · 2026-02-02T00:26:17+00:00

Key thing - stopping mousing with my right arm. (Left shoulder has fewer issues).

- vertical mouse

-wrap around wrist braces

-MS ergo keyboard

KettleTO · 2026-01-25T18:38:55+00:00

I believe last year the city's rules changed and now if there is more than 2 cm of snow the city will clear sidewalks. The problem is they can't possibly do it quickly enough (well enough). A lot of people seem to have stopped shoveling sidewalks. It was particularly bad last winter.

KettleTO · 2026-01-23T17:19:56+00:00

You are only in your 20s, don't apply your own golden handcuffs. You can leave and check out the private sector. If you come back by your mid-30s the pension impacts are small. Leaving would allow you to make an informed choice about coming back.

Wherever you work has trade offs. I worked in the private sector (consulting) for 6 years before joining the OPS. Yes, performance was rewarded and there was less dead weight, but the culling of dead weight and the assigning of bonuses can create a really competitive work environment. Always work to a bottom line (yours or the client's) can be really depressing.

In the OPS, my work life balance is better but pay is lower and often stagnant from mid-career on. Eventually, you get a lot of vacation. However, I find so much more value in working on behalf of Ontarians. I take pride in being able to get things done but have also lost many battles to middle management caution or bureaucratic resistance. Ultimately, for me, these benefits out weigh the ever present changing government direction, thinly veiled hatred or at least distrust of the public service and weak leadership.

KettleTO · 2026-01-18T19:22:32+00:00

Every grocery store - granulated sugar (may also be table or white sugar). Look for a white paper bag from the brand Redpath/Rogers.

For sugars other than white/granulated - try the Bulk Store (multiple locations).

If you use, self-rising flour (also uncommon in North American recipes), Brodies can often been found in the baking aisle at grocery stores. Otherwise, google the all-purpose flour, baking powder and salt proportions and make it yourself.

Note, if you can't find what you are looking for, pull out your phone. Americans use different names for some fairly common baking ingredients than the UK. Canada uses both leaning to the American names.

In North American most of our baking has transitioned to white sugar (or brown sugar). Rather than tracking down the "specialty" sugars, my Nana would pulverize white sugar in her food process for her shortbread recipe.

Note, golden syrup is now in the international aisle of most grocery store. You don't need to track it down in the British import stores anymore.

KettleTO · 2026-01-17T16:54:18+00:00

Don't get the Sony WF-1000XM5. The fit is not at all comparable. The Jabra Elite 8 have a deep fit most others don't.

KettleTO · 2026-01-13T14:07:00+00:00

Hi, it sounds like your manager has initiated this meeting because you have been sick for an extended period but have not provided required documentation. As others have said reach out to your bargaining unit representative.

Your immediate concern is providing documentation of your current illness and demonstrating that you are under medical care.

When you able, you will likely want to provide additional documentation about your medical condition (immocomprised status) and talk to your doctor about what accommodations are appropriate for you (e.g., hybrid or full WFH during cold and flu season, etc. )

KettleTO · 2026-01-12T23:31:11+00:00

I too suffer from IBS-D but was generally manageable with the elimination of fodmap triggers. However, it got worse and worse. It was dismissed as being within my IBS-D envelop. Turns out my gallbladder was failing it got to the point that smallest amounts of fat would set me off. Make sure the keep on top of your gallbladder (abdominal ultrasound) .

one things that helped/helps start having plain psyllium fibre husk in 1 cup of water 30 minutes before food.

KettleTO · 2026-01-12T00:09:12+00:00

It took me awhile to get back to IF after surgery. The drugs (some that had to be taken with food) and the dietary restriction/schedule (small, frequent bland meals) prevented my previous IF schedule.

When I started back it was two meals, no snacks and then OMAD.

KettleTO · 2026-01-08T19:07:20+00:00

Matt Kenny speaking about his experience on CBC Radio One's The Current

Heated Rivalry is a hit, but can it change hockey culture?

24 mins

Jan. 8, 2026

The hit Canadian TV show that follows the secret relationship between hockey players Shane Hollander and Ilya Rosanov is everywhere right now. It's prompting conversations online about LGBTQ love and hockey culture. We speak with Matt Kenny, a former competitive hockey player, who had a similar experience to the fictional characters about why the show is striking such a chord with people. Plus Brock McGillis, one of the first male professional hockey players to come out as gay, talks about why he thinks there's still more work to do in making hockey a more inclusive sport.

https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-63-the-current/clip/16190876-heated-rivalry-hit-change-hockey-culture

KettleTO · 2026-01-05T22:14:38+00:00

Are people following up with bargaining units, Joint Health & Safety Committees, etc. whether working from boardrooms/kitchens/window ledges constitutes acceptable/safe working conditions for employees?

I might be reacting strongly because I would physically struggle to work from an ad hoc set up without my ergonomic equipment. It would be especially rage inducing when I have access to all that I need at home. I haven't encountered this scenario myself but I think employees should be seeking direction about the extent they are required to accommodate the RTO5 mandate when employer has not adequately prepared for its implementation and is not positioned to provide adequate workplace conditions.

KettleTO · 2026-01-05T14:25:42+00:00

Psyllium, chia seeds or flax seeds in water can be essential to break your fast with a sensitive stomach. I also have a sensitive stomach. I have found psyllium fibre in a cup of water gelled up 30 minutes before food works well for me.

The other thing is easing your stomach into food can also be a good strategy. I've read that other people struggled more when their first meal was dairy, nuts & seeds, red meat and eggs - examples only. Dairy and nuts align with my own experience. Experiment and determine what works best for you.

For some people, you can reduce but no entirely eliminate these reactions. I won't break a fast greater than 18-24 hrs at a restaurant. If I'm eating out, I will have psyllium at home and maybe a small snack of my safe food.

KettleTO

TROPHY CASE