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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@joanne64asis
I feel your pain! I've had neuropathy for 50 years and often get the sensation I’m walking on honeycomb. That always seems weird since my feet are pretty numb, but not numb to pain. I have about 5 different severe pain issues with my feet depending on the shoe or walking barefoot. The pain can be crippling so I can’t even walk. I’ve wasted hundreds and hundreds of dollars trying other shoes and they all cause one or more of my issues in short order: heel, toes, ball of foot, arch or ankle pain. I can’t walk barefoot except on carpet with padding. The two shoes I’ve listed below are my favorite shoes that allow me to walk for miles. Perfect arch support for my feet too. I love to walk!

1. SAS Shoe Store: Twin Slip on Loafer $175 Item 1970

Leather Loafers with Tripad comfort insole. I wore these to work every day for 4 years, wore them on walks, so comfy to my feet. Last for years so the price is okay if they work for you. Quality shoes. Not very sleek and feminine so only go with pants, but if you’re looking for comfort… (I bought some other loafers and tennis shoes at SAS before that just didn’t work for me the way this style did). Comes in black and brown only. SAS caters to people with painful feet.
https://www.sasshoes.com/womens-twin-slip-on-loafer/1970.html?dwvar_1970_color=013#q=black+loafer&start=37&sz=12

2. Reebok Women’s Walk Ultra 7 DMX Max Shoe

Available on Amazon for $64. Like walking on clouds to me. I’ve been wearing these and the almost identical previous style shoe like this for about 15 years and it’s all I wear around town. Clunky white leather athletic walking shoes, but if you’re looking for comfort, I love these!

3. I can wear some of the extra cushioned Sketchers slip on colored cloth tennis shoes that look a little cuter and smaller when going out, but I don’t use them as walking shoes. Good for going to lunch or doctor's appointment. Try on at their store. Each style fits differently. I need the wide for my painful toes and I have a narrow foot.

Disclaimer: Everyone has a different shaped foot with different needs so a brand that fits my foot and issues well may not fit yours in the right places, but the extra cushion and support on these is worth a try. I have pretty slender, narrow feet and my arch may be different than yours. I haven't found a cute, comfy shoe I can wear with a dress, not even any flats (no cushion), so I had to stop wearing dresses long ago. I hope this helps. Best of luck!

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@joanne64asis

I have typical neuropathy at first - the numbness and tingles but after about ten to fifteen minutes of standing on my feet this gives way to a sensation of standing on broken china or broken glass. It is extremely painful and doesn't go away unless I elevate my toes and balls of my feet off the floor. I can walk if I walk on my heels, but this isn't terribly easy to do and might look a bit off! Is there a shoe, sock or aid of some sort that might help this? Has anyone had experience with this type of neuropathy?

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I had an extremely painful problem years ago to where I could hardly walk. It was like nerves rubbing inside the pad of my foot right where the toes meet that pad. I was in Gatlinburg on vacation, couldn’t walk and was desperate so I bought a pair of these white plastic arch supports that goes from the arch to the back of the heel. I know most of these things are gimmicks but these “unloaded”
That front pad/ball of the foot area and allowed me to walk and I used them for quite some time and the issue went away. They let the arch and heel carry the load and that was what was needed in my case.

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@cmodling

I had an extremely painful problem years ago to where I could hardly walk. It was like nerves rubbing inside the pad of my foot right where the toes meet that pad. I was in Gatlinburg on vacation, couldn’t walk and was desperate so I bought a pair of these white plastic arch supports that goes from the arch to the back of the heel. I know most of these things are gimmicks but these “unloaded”
That front pad/ball of the foot area and allowed me to walk and I used them for quite some time and the issue went away. They let the arch and heel carry the load and that was what was needed in my case.

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that sounds like it is definitely worth trying! anything to help! I have to crawl sometimes. Basically I don't walk or move at all, I have been looking into wheelchairs tbh.

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@johnbishop

Welcome @joanne64asis, I've recently started wearing Orthofeet shoes (hands free ones). The ones I have aren't specifically for neuropathy but they do have some - https://www.orthofeet.com/collections/neuropathy-shoes.

Have you seen a neurologist for your symptoms?

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I have seen 4 the first did tests and said I have neuropathy, the second no tests said I didn't, the third didn't address, the fourth didn't address it. The first podiatrist said if it wasn't addressed I wouldn't be able to walk, the second said I had alot of arthritis and the third said I was getting bad. Currently live in a medical desert area without a podiatrist or a neurologist. My gp is giving me an NSAID.

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@joanne64asis

I have seen 4 the first did tests and said I have neuropathy, the second no tests said I didn't, the third didn't address, the fourth didn't address it. The first podiatrist said if it wasn't addressed I wouldn't be able to walk, the second said I had alot of arthritis and the third said I was getting bad. Currently live in a medical desert area without a podiatrist or a neurologist. My gp is giving me an NSAID.

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If you haven't already seen it, the Foundation for Peripheral Neuropathy has a lot of information on their website that you might find helpful - https://www.foundationforpn.org/

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@cmodling

I had an extremely painful problem years ago to where I could hardly walk. It was like nerves rubbing inside the pad of my foot right where the toes meet that pad. I was in Gatlinburg on vacation, couldn’t walk and was desperate so I bought a pair of these white plastic arch supports that goes from the arch to the back of the heel. I know most of these things are gimmicks but these “unloaded”
That front pad/ball of the foot area and allowed me to walk and I used them for quite some time and the issue went away. They let the arch and heel carry the load and that was what was needed in my case.

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They helped very much with plantar fascitis, plus wearing TEVA or similar sandals with high arch !! and open toes. I hate closed toe shoes.

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@penn

THE BEST SHOES FOR THAT IS TEVA RE-EMBER SLIP-ON
I HAVE 2 PAIR, ONE IN BROWN AND ONE IN GRAY. I GET MANY COMPLIMENTS ON THE STYLE. THEY ARE NOT INEXPENSIVE, $80.00. MY FEET ,TOES DO NOT HURT WHEN WALKING.
I HOPE THIS HELPS!!!

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I agree !! I have TEVA type sandals, as long as they have a high arch, I have even bought mens when they were on sale because they have a heavier higher areh and open toes are very helpful !!

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@safarigoddess

They helped very much with plantar fascitis, plus wearing TEVA or similar sandals with high arch !! and open toes. I hate closed toe shoes.

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I just looked up the TEVA shoes and I like them. Most look similar to some other brands I have but I’ll try maybe a couple of pair of these. Yes and open toe sandal types I’ve always thought were much healthier for your feet.

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@joanne64asis

I have typical neuropathy at first - the numbness and tingles but after about ten to fifteen minutes of standing on my feet this gives way to a sensation of standing on broken china or broken glass. It is extremely painful and doesn't go away unless I elevate my toes and balls of my feet off the floor. I can walk if I walk on my heels, but this isn't terribly easy to do and might look a bit off! Is there a shoe, sock or aid of some sort that might help this? Has anyone had experience with this type of neuropathy?

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Yes I can relate what it feels like to try and walk when your feet hurt so bad,it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing on them either.
This happens to me everyday by dinner time.
What I find that helps me is Ibuprofen and Salonpas pain patches directly on areas of my feet that are hurting.

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I found Dansko work for me. They are podiatry approved and I do wear them around the house, so never wear them outside and bring in dirt and debris. I now have 2 pair so I rotate. The nurses wear Dansko clogs at work and love them. Good luck finding something that works.

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