Does anyone find that a type of shoe helps your foot neuropathy?

Posted by lorirenee1 @lorirenee1, Mar 25, 2019

I am on a constant quest for shoes that don't kill my feet due to the neuropathy. I find that Spencos and Wolky shoes seem the best. Are there any other suggestions? Shoes can be just crippling for me. Horrid.

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@lauraj155

@lorirenee1, Hi Lori, thanks so much for writing. Yes, the neuro consul...ugh, oh ugh. First off from the rumors I have heard he is supposed to be the best neuro on my health plan. He said he wants to try and figure what is going on with me. I gave him a long chronological narrative of how things started. He was very appreciative for that and also I had the pics of my red and hot feet during one of those flares. He thinks three things are going on. He is going to do the EMG June 12th which I will find out if I have large fiber neuropathy. If that is normal, then at the same day he will do a skin biopsy to test for the small fibers. He also thinks the red, burning flares intermittently are caused by a rare condition called Erythromelalgia. Thankfully I had the pics. He sees it rarely and actually learned about it five years ago from a dermatologist. It’s tricky to diagnose during a consul unless you’re flaring. My feet during consul were very cold, that’s when the pain is the worst. Also, my B6 levels four months ago were five times higher than normal. That’s when the burning began to get intense so I stopped any vitamin supplement although my PCP said he’s never seen B6 toxicity and said the levels were fine...I beg to differ. I also have a good diet, which contain B6 naturally. He very much believes in B6 toxicity and said that it could take one to two years for symptoms to subside unless I have permanent damage. So, it’s really difficult to speculate until I get the tests.
I just feel mad at myself for not being conscientious enough about the B6. The neuro said it’s a big problem now as there are so many supplements and energy drinks that contain toomuch B6. In addition, some people can’t process it properly. I think the meds I take really do a number on my digestion. So I battle with that as well....
You would laugh, my poor cute young rookie Podiatrist is so lost in the dark when he sees me. He did give me the toe injection but all it did was stir up the nerve pain...Ay, yi, yi...but not as bad today...
Lori — I so hope and pray that the epidural will help you...you have been through quite a bit with cancer, pain, and feet issues. I can’t remember why you sought out a different neurologist. Did the first EMG reveal PN? You are so right about both of us pushing ourselves. I went swimming this morning and I just do not want to stop when I am in that water! That’s great about the cardio machine at PT for you...what is it? I think I just wrote you a book!!!! Take good care -Laura

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Hi Laura, I think your neuro doc is really on the ball to order the EMG and then the small fiber test immediately, if necessary. Very expedient. My doc did not work that fast. You need data more than anything. How bout blood tests? Did he order those at all? Checking for the erythro…(I don't know how to spell it), disease, that makes your feet very red and hot, is also very smart. There is a lady on here who has it, and it sounds like a constant quest with her to find what will help with the severity of her symptoms. I just bought frankincense and myrr neuropathy cream on amazon due to reading one of her posts. She said it works fairly well for her feet symptoms. So about nineteen bucks to try another thing. I start feeling like a sucker trying so many different things. But PAIN is a strong motivator. I know I just can't wait till my epidural. You now have your wait for the EMG on June 12th. Important stuff. Better we should go out for a pizza. Much more fun! Oh. I went to the second neuro doc because my first one told me to. He suggested help from another mind. He could not figure out what was wrong. The crazy thing is that his EMG did not show the pinched nerve. The second EMG done with the new neuro doc, did. I assume they are not all done exactly the same way. Also, I don't think I told you, but I take CBD drops that I swear by when pain is a killer. If you want info on them, let me know. Anyway, past my bed time, so I am saying goodnite for now. Keep me posted, and our feet quest continues. The agony! Too much! We will talk again. Lori R.

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@lorirenee1, A sucker is not how I would ever, ever describe you!! I think that any and all alternative treatments are worth a try! I have used a bunch of different cbd topicals but the best one and strongest one for me anyway is Black Transdermal Rub. It contains 120 mg. of cbd and 60 Mg.of thc. The EM red hot pain sensations that I get aren’t that often and not too severe thank goodness. I would like to know if you get fasciculations also called twitching in any of your toes? I am getting this which I didn’t have in the past and my sister thinks you get these with the large fiber neuropathy(motor nerves) and not with small fiber(sensory nerves). Yes, let me know the brand of cbd drops that you like. There are so many out there now it’s difficult to know which one? Talk later! -Laura

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@lauraj155

@lorirenee1, A sucker is not how I would ever, ever describe you!! I think that any and all alternative treatments are worth a try! I have used a bunch of different cbd topicals but the best one and strongest one for me anyway is Black Transdermal Rub. It contains 120 mg. of cbd and 60 Mg.of thc. The EM red hot pain sensations that I get aren’t that often and not too severe thank goodness. I would like to know if you get fasciculations also called twitching in any of your toes? I am getting this which I didn’t have in the past and my sister thinks you get these with the large fiber neuropathy(motor nerves) and not with small fiber(sensory nerves). Yes, let me know the brand of cbd drops that you like. There are so many out there now it’s difficult to know which one? Talk later! -Laura

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Hi Laura, Thanks for thinking I am not a sucker!!! Love and pain can make you do foolish things sometimes!! At least love feels good! Yes, I do get toe twitching. One specific toe. The oddest, cause it is from the top joint of the toe, and toes never move that way. Just another oddity. I know I do not have small fiber neuropathy, because my biopsies did not show that. Do not know if large fiber neuropathy causes toe twitching. My neuro doc says I most likely have radiculopathy, which is a damaged nerve root in the spine, that brings pain to the feet. Hence the reason for the epidural in my spine. My CBD drops are from an on line company called the CBD distillery. I get the 1000mg., and the 2500 mg. drops. Have not tried the stronger ones yet. Just got them. Go to cbdistillery.com I think the drops are quite good. I also use a CBD salve from Anandahemp.com They only make one salve, so you can't miss it. It is fabulous for pain and making the foot feel more normal in general. Are you sure you have so much THC in your product? It is beyond the legal limit, unless you are in a state that allows it! Where are ya? I am from Illinois. Anyway, our quest continues to not be in pain. Today my pain is low to almost moderate. Yesterday, so severe in the morning I wanted to hang myself. But the drops took off all the edge...oy....so hard. Talk soon, and so nice to say hi! Lori

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@lorirenee1, Hi Lori - I hope you are having another low pain day! I don’t know what the heck happened but that steroid shot in my toe has increased the twitching and nerve pain. I was down for the count yesterday. I had to do a couple short errands and when I got home I was in so much pain and went to lay down on the bed. My husband was very sweet and was sitting next to me. I took off my shoes and socks and he noticed the discoloration near my ankle and took a picture because I couldn’t see it. It looked sort of like bruising but went away once my feet were elevated. This can happen because of damage to the peripheral nerves. Thank God my meds I take at night help me sleep. Hopefully things will calm down but it’s a blow emotionally.
I live in California so I don’t need a medical card to purchase any of the cbd/thc products. I asked for the best and the strongest salve. I increased the Gabapentin yesterday and am going to try the cbd drops as well. Just trying to take it day by day and doing the best I can. There have days, like yesterday, when the pain is so excruciating I have felt like going to the ER but I know there is nothing that they can really do.
The twitching can be a sign of large nerve fiber involvement but thankfully that was not true for you by your EMG results. And you don’t have small fiber so the epidural should help you!
My bloodwork is fine, also no diabetes and B6 dropped by down to normal range. Just gotta tough it out. I am thankful for my loving family, don’t know what I would do without them!

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I were breathable Sketchers, and wool socks year round.

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@lauraj155

@lorirenee1, Hi Lori - I hope you are having another low pain day! I don’t know what the heck happened but that steroid shot in my toe has increased the twitching and nerve pain. I was down for the count yesterday. I had to do a couple short errands and when I got home I was in so much pain and went to lay down on the bed. My husband was very sweet and was sitting next to me. I took off my shoes and socks and he noticed the discoloration near my ankle and took a picture because I couldn’t see it. It looked sort of like bruising but went away once my feet were elevated. This can happen because of damage to the peripheral nerves. Thank God my meds I take at night help me sleep. Hopefully things will calm down but it’s a blow emotionally.
I live in California so I don’t need a medical card to purchase any of the cbd/thc products. I asked for the best and the strongest salve. I increased the Gabapentin yesterday and am going to try the cbd drops as well. Just trying to take it day by day and doing the best I can. There have days, like yesterday, when the pain is so excruciating I have felt like going to the ER but I know there is nothing that they can really do.
The twitching can be a sign of large nerve fiber involvement but thankfully that was not true for you by your EMG results. And you don’t have small fiber so the epidural should help you!
My bloodwork is fine, also no diabetes and B6 dropped by down to normal range. Just gotta tough it out. I am thankful for my loving family, don’t know what I would do without them!

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Laura, When I think about it, it does not surprise me that a shot right into the toe where you have all this pain, would only exacerbate the pain. Hopefully, it is an immediate reaction, and will settle down. The word excruciating to describe pain is God awful, and unfortunately, I use it a lot. As I write this, I am only hoping that your pain now is low, or at least at a level you can handle. When I got the biopsies for small fiber neuropathy, I remember first asking if he would take skin directly from the foot. He said that is not done. It would cause too much pain!!! God in heaven, what we go through. Many times, I have wanted to go to the emergency room, and like you, realized not much could be done, if anything. Maybe they could give us morphine, or something stronger. Knock us over the head with a hammer. My toes are feeling so twisted, distorted, yanked out...and they do get a bit odd looking, but nothing as bad as what I feel. Anyway, I am glad your B6 is of more normal limits and that you are not diabetic. You are like me. You research like a mad woman. I went to physical therapy yesterday, and he worked me like a dog. Some of the muscles included were ones I never knew I had! I was so fried when I came home, that it was nuts. The only thing good about my foot trouble, is that I never think about the fact I had breast cancer a year ago. Is that nuts, or what? Life can be quite ludicrous. Anyway, one more week for me, and hopefully, the epidural will help at some level. June 12th, you will get answers. Ok, California Laura. Hope this note finds you in way less than excruciating pain. My toes feel like they are all in different directions, but who cares. No pain. That is what is important. We will talk again. God Bless... Lori

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@lorirenee1

Laura, When I think about it, it does not surprise me that a shot right into the toe where you have all this pain, would only exacerbate the pain. Hopefully, it is an immediate reaction, and will settle down. The word excruciating to describe pain is God awful, and unfortunately, I use it a lot. As I write this, I am only hoping that your pain now is low, or at least at a level you can handle. When I got the biopsies for small fiber neuropathy, I remember first asking if he would take skin directly from the foot. He said that is not done. It would cause too much pain!!! God in heaven, what we go through. Many times, I have wanted to go to the emergency room, and like you, realized not much could be done, if anything. Maybe they could give us morphine, or something stronger. Knock us over the head with a hammer. My toes are feeling so twisted, distorted, yanked out...and they do get a bit odd looking, but nothing as bad as what I feel. Anyway, I am glad your B6 is of more normal limits and that you are not diabetic. You are like me. You research like a mad woman. I went to physical therapy yesterday, and he worked me like a dog. Some of the muscles included were ones I never knew I had! I was so fried when I came home, that it was nuts. The only thing good about my foot trouble, is that I never think about the fact I had breast cancer a year ago. Is that nuts, or what? Life can be quite ludicrous. Anyway, one more week for me, and hopefully, the epidural will help at some level. June 12th, you will get answers. Ok, California Laura. Hope this note finds you in way less than excruciating pain. My toes feel like they are all in different directions, but who cares. No pain. That is what is important. We will talk again. God Bless... Lori

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@lorirenee1, Hi Lori - I am wishing you a happy Mother’s Day assuming that you are a Mom! I have two grown sons, age 41 and 35 and I received a couple of sweet gifts from them. We also have an 18 year old daughter from Ethiopia. It’s a long story...It would take a lengthy explanation of how this evolved. Her bio Mom died when she was a year old. At age two she developed a deadly eye cancer and had it removed in an Ethiopian hospital where she received chemo for 18 months. In a third world country it’s very rare with this type of fast spreading cancer that children even have a chance to survive. We have had a probate guardianship of her since she was 13 and now she is getting ready to graduate from HS with honors and received a full scholarship to UVA in Charlottesville, VA. She’s wicked smart and is pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. Oh, the stories I could tell of her life of poverty that she lived. She knows how lucky and fortunate she is to be in this country and has not taken one day for granted. No sense of entitlement in this sweet soul...
This week, Wednesday...I will be thinking of you and hope and pray that this @#$#* foot pain will soon be gone! You have to let me know how it goes...As for me, well, that cortisone shot did something and I have been having intermittent weakness and heaviness in my left leg. I also have noticed the muscle atrophy going on in my feet about a week ago so not too thrilled that none of the specialist have even caught that. Called the Neuro doc and he just said to go see your Primary doctor if symptoms are worse. Not sure Primary can do much but have an appointment in 10 days. I’m hoping things will calm down...I also hope the PT is helping your back and foot pain? Sounds like maybe it is? Stay strong! -Laura

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@lauraj155

@lorirenee1, Hi Lori - I am wishing you a happy Mother’s Day assuming that you are a Mom! I have two grown sons, age 41 and 35 and I received a couple of sweet gifts from them. We also have an 18 year old daughter from Ethiopia. It’s a long story...It would take a lengthy explanation of how this evolved. Her bio Mom died when she was a year old. At age two she developed a deadly eye cancer and had it removed in an Ethiopian hospital where she received chemo for 18 months. In a third world country it’s very rare with this type of fast spreading cancer that children even have a chance to survive. We have had a probate guardianship of her since she was 13 and now she is getting ready to graduate from HS with honors and received a full scholarship to UVA in Charlottesville, VA. She’s wicked smart and is pursuing a degree in chemical engineering. Oh, the stories I could tell of her life of poverty that she lived. She knows how lucky and fortunate she is to be in this country and has not taken one day for granted. No sense of entitlement in this sweet soul...
This week, Wednesday...I will be thinking of you and hope and pray that this @#$#* foot pain will soon be gone! You have to let me know how it goes...As for me, well, that cortisone shot did something and I have been having intermittent weakness and heaviness in my left leg. I also have noticed the muscle atrophy going on in my feet about a week ago so not too thrilled that none of the specialist have even caught that. Called the Neuro doc and he just said to go see your Primary doctor if symptoms are worse. Not sure Primary can do much but have an appointment in 10 days. I’m hoping things will calm down...I also hope the PT is helping your back and foot pain? Sounds like maybe it is? Stay strong! -Laura

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Hi Laura, I have so much to say! Happy Mother's Day to you as well, and I am a mom of just one son, 38 years old. He is married, and I have a precious 4 year old grandson who I have babysat, full time, since he was born. Now I only babysit twice a week, as he is in preschool the other days. Are your sons married? I am glad they gave you some sweet things. My son gave me an eBay gift certificate, because I am an avid eBay shopper. I hope your sons give you joy. Although my son is intensely busy with a demanding career and graduate school, he still takes time to give me an occasional hug and kiss! He also posts nice things on facebook. I can only imagine the story behind having an Ethiopian daughter. I know one thing. You have been a miracle in her life. I hope she is healthy now, and can only imagine her suffering. I taught English as a Second Language for 25 years, so I have dealt with junior high age children from so many places in the world. Before retirement, I had many Syrian and Iraqi students who escaped those countries just to be alive. I have heard, first hand, about their sufferings in their countries. So your daughter has been blessed. You have rescued her. As far as your health change, I do not understand, nor do you, I am sure, how the cortisone shot created these changes in your leg. And for no doc to find muscle atrophy in your feet is horrible. You are right in saying that your primary doc will not be able to do anything. Since my foot problems started, the toes on my right foot have all come too close together, and one overlaps the other. The neuro doc just shrugs her shoulders. It is part of what has happened! I hope there is an answer to what is going on with you. I think the EMG will tell you the most information. It kills me that a cortisone shot should trigger problems. Has it at least, in any way, helped your toe????? God, I hope so. As far as my epidural on Wednesday, I am praying it helps. I do not feel the Physical Therapy is helping my feet at all. But it is helping with my balance, leg strength, and back strength. I think it will take the epidural, right into the spine, to reduce inflammation, and promote healing. Anyway, I have a feeling I am in the presence of an angel, talking to you. You have given your daughter a life. What more could a human being do! I will talk soon again. Please let me know how you are doing with your changes. Try to keep emotionally strong. God Bless....Lori

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I took the advice of an therapist who studied my leg and back pain, and decided I needed to do some exercises and to get different shoes. I bought imported Finn shoes, handed the clerk my credit card, and pretended it was a prescription order. Years later I have a closet of Finn shoes with inserts and I wear orthopedics in my SAS shoes for gardening and work at home. I stretched my feet with bands nightly and got rid of the pain. I broke the right toe when a frozen chicken fell out of the freezer on my bare foot, and the left toe has signs of nerve damage, either from the knee replacement or the back surgery.
Despite all this, I love my Finn shoes and the leather is so excellent they will never wear out. Sometimes I dream of a new pair of shoes but at the cost, I stick with my old ones. Yes, I like the SAS sandels for summer but still need the orthotics for walking. No more high heels. I wash the SAS shoes and the inserts of the Finn shoes with Murphy's oil soap and set them out to dry. Finn makes a diabetic shoe lined with leather, but they are very hot by the time you wear socks in them. I bought a pair because they were on sale but only can wear them in the winter. Soft soles have never worked for me. Leather soles have always helped with support and healing when I have a sprain or broken foot. Yes, I am a clumsy person, but I am still walking, slowly and carefully. My husband ran over my foot with a disc and that took six months to heal, with leather soles, no tennis shoes. I no longer own tennis shoes. Dorisena

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@dorisena

I took the advice of an therapist who studied my leg and back pain, and decided I needed to do some exercises and to get different shoes. I bought imported Finn shoes, handed the clerk my credit card, and pretended it was a prescription order. Years later I have a closet of Finn shoes with inserts and I wear orthopedics in my SAS shoes for gardening and work at home. I stretched my feet with bands nightly and got rid of the pain. I broke the right toe when a frozen chicken fell out of the freezer on my bare foot, and the left toe has signs of nerve damage, either from the knee replacement or the back surgery.
Despite all this, I love my Finn shoes and the leather is so excellent they will never wear out. Sometimes I dream of a new pair of shoes but at the cost, I stick with my old ones. Yes, I like the SAS sandels for summer but still need the orthotics for walking. No more high heels. I wash the SAS shoes and the inserts of the Finn shoes with Murphy's oil soap and set them out to dry. Finn makes a diabetic shoe lined with leather, but they are very hot by the time you wear socks in them. I bought a pair because they were on sale but only can wear them in the winter. Soft soles have never worked for me. Leather soles have always helped with support and healing when I have a sprain or broken foot. Yes, I am a clumsy person, but I am still walking, slowly and carefully. My husband ran over my foot with a disc and that took six months to heal, with leather soles, no tennis shoes. I no longer own tennis shoes. Dorisena

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When feet hurt, I will try anything! I have bought so many pairs of shoes, that it is ridiculous. Have to try the Finns! And they are gorgeous!

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