1. < Neuropathy

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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domiha | @domiha | Apr 2 9:09am
In reply to @marieltha "Thanks for this shoe recommendation. They offer women's and I am going to try them. I..." + (show)
@marieltha

Thanks for this shoe recommendation. They offer women's and I am going to try them. I have recently started wearing Birkenstock Arizona sandals and my feet are much happier with the zero drop and the wide forefoot so the toes have room to act like toes and the foot is level on the ground. Excellent arch support. I got the soft footbed. Once broken in (about 2 to 3 weeks), these are very comfortable. But I also want a soft shoe that I can wear indoors sometimes, as my feet have a lot of arthritis and need some soft/cushion time, so I am glad to learn of the Grand Attack. They have a removable insole,I see, as I will need to switch that for my comfortable FootScientific arch supports. I got fitted for mine at my dr's, but Amazon sells these also. I am also going to go to a Fit2Run store and try on the Altra sneaker/athletic shoe with the Original shape, which is the wide forefoot shaped liked the human's foot. (They make narrower designs, too). These also have a zero drop. My dr also suggested I try a HOKA if I can find one with a wide enough toebox. So I will look at those as well. The longer I wear the Birkenstock's, though, the happier my feet are with a zero drop/near zero drop. PS For folks who asked for pics of the Grand Attack, the Amazon site offers lots of pics and the shoes come in several colors and sole colors. I will follow up after I get these.

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@marieltha I hope you will find these shoes helpful. My balance issues have almost completely disappeared with these shoes as I can feel the floor/ground much better. I bought a second pair and I'm wearing them everywhere. Another plus is that they can be washed in the washing machine!! I have HOKAs, and they feel great on my feet, but I find they are a bit cushy for someone with balance issues. Please do give us an update and tell us what you think when you get your Grand Attacks. 🙂 Best wishes! Mike

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1 reply
allegheny | @allegheny | Apr 2 12:00pm

Hi Mike I tried the Grand Attacks ladies shoes. Comfortable, however not enough support for my overpronation. I have Hokas, which work well, still on the search for the perfect shoe for balance issues.

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1 reply
joanland | @joanland | Apr 2 12:39pm
In reply to @marieltha "Thanks for this shoe recommendation. They offer women's and I am going to try them. I..." + (show)
@marieltha

Thanks for this shoe recommendation. They offer women's and I am going to try them. I have recently started wearing Birkenstock Arizona sandals and my feet are much happier with the zero drop and the wide forefoot so the toes have room to act like toes and the foot is level on the ground. Excellent arch support. I got the soft footbed. Once broken in (about 2 to 3 weeks), these are very comfortable. But I also want a soft shoe that I can wear indoors sometimes, as my feet have a lot of arthritis and need some soft/cushion time, so I am glad to learn of the Grand Attack. They have a removable insole,I see, as I will need to switch that for my comfortable FootScientific arch supports. I got fitted for mine at my dr's, but Amazon sells these also. I am also going to go to a Fit2Run store and try on the Altra sneaker/athletic shoe with the Original shape, which is the wide forefoot shaped liked the human's foot. (They make narrower designs, too). These also have a zero drop. My dr also suggested I try a HOKA if I can find one with a wide enough toebox. So I will look at those as well. The longer I wear the Birkenstock's, though, the happier my feet are with a zero drop/near zero drop. PS For folks who asked for pics of the Grand Attack, the Amazon site offers lots of pics and the shoes come in several colors and sole colors. I will follow up after I get these.

Jump to this post

My feet are very happy in Brooks Running shoes (Brooksrunning.com). They make a huge variety of sizes, and following advice from somewhere I have gone up one with from a N to a B to give my toes room to spread out. They make women's shoes in sizes up to 13, various models, different colors and patterns. Or plain black or plain white, depending on one's needs and wants. I live in them. They have removable insoles so your own orthotics can be readily inserted. For dress-up I have a pair of Dansko Mary-Janes. The strap over the arch helps keep the shoe on; again the insoles are removable so your own orthotics can be used. These Dansko's have a fairly wide toe box. Some are available in sizes up to US 13, in M and W widths.

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1 reply
marieltha | @marieltha | Apr 2 12:46pm
In reply to @joanland "My feet are very happy in Brooks Running shoes (Brooksrunning.com). They make a huge variety of..." + (show)
@joanland

My feet are very happy in Brooks Running shoes (Brooksrunning.com). They make a huge variety of sizes, and following advice from somewhere I have gone up one with from a N to a B to give my toes room to spread out. They make women's shoes in sizes up to 13, various models, different colors and patterns. Or plain black or plain white, depending on one's needs and wants. I live in them. They have removable insoles so your own orthotics can be readily inserted. For dress-up I have a pair of Dansko Mary-Janes. The strap over the arch helps keep the shoe on; again the insoles are removable so your own orthotics can be used. These Dansko's have a fairly wide toe box. Some are available in sizes up to US 13, in M and W widths.

Jump to this post

The Brooks have too high a heel drop for my feet and most models have too pointy a toe for my now very wide toe spread. I have tried the Addiction walker, the Adrenaline, and the Ariel. Because I have bunions and arthritis, my forefoot now dislikes the steep heel drops these shoes have, even if the cushion is great. I will look at the Danskos, though, and appreciate your detailed comment.

REPLY
1 reply
marieltha | @marieltha | Apr 2 12:50pm
In reply to @domiha "@marieltha I hope you will find these shoes helpful. My balance issues have almost completely disappeared..." + (show)
@domiha

@marieltha I hope you will find these shoes helpful. My balance issues have almost completely disappeared with these shoes as I can feel the floor/ground much better. I bought a second pair and I'm wearing them everywhere. Another plus is that they can be washed in the washing machine!! I have HOKAs, and they feel great on my feet, but I find they are a bit cushy for someone with balance issues. Please do give us an update and tell us what you think when you get your Grand Attacks. 🙂 Best wishes! Mike

Jump to this post

When I thought my foot issues were nerve-related, I was using the Naboso info and some products, but once the issue was id'd as bunions and arthritis (only nerves when the spinal stenosis aggravates the nerves--but not nerve damage), I realized the nerve-stimulating texture on the Naboso ball an insoles was making the arthritis ache, I only use those covered in a sock and very rarely., But, the Naboso philosophy about the zero drop, which is explained in the Naboso book about the dr's barefoot philosophy is making more and more sense to me. You can just search Naboso.com

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joanland | @joanland | Apr 2 12:52pm

marieltha: All good to know. Our feet are as different as each of us. I'm glad there are shoes in so many different styles with provisions for the wide variety of feet that we manage to have. Thanks for your insightful comment.

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artemis1886 | @artemis1886 | Apr 2 1:03pm

Z-coil and Columbia Hiking boots (they are high tops). My podiatrist told my to look for square toe shoes. It helps keep from getting hammertoes which is very common with neuropathy and they also do away with getting blisters on top of your toes. Been dealing with the blisters since January and trying to save my toe.

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artemis1886 | @artemis1886 | Apr 2 1:05pm
In reply to @marieltha "The Brooks have too high a heel drop for my feet and most models have too..." + (show)
@marieltha

The Brooks have too high a heel drop for my feet and most models have too pointy a toe for my now very wide toe spread. I have tried the Addiction walker, the Adrenaline, and the Ariel. Because I have bunions and arthritis, my forefoot now dislikes the steep heel drops these shoes have, even if the cushion is great. I will look at the Danskos, though, and appreciate your detailed comment.

Jump to this post

Danskos is what the flight attendants wear for AA.

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marieltha | @marieltha | Apr 3 8:13am

Yamuna's book Foot Fix is another resource. Her exercises supposedly help one wake up all parts of the foot and improve gait. My feet felt better after doing these, especially the ones about feeling the heels and the individual toes.
The foot, ankle, and lower leg PT that I am now doing, however, are making the biggest difference and leading to the most positive improvement. The whole forefoot, ball of foot, and the toes, feel and even look more normal and the strength is returning in the feet and the legs. These exercises of course are specifically tailored to my specific foot issues. Previous drs had said that just walking would make the feet and legs stronger, and I have been faithfully doing that, and walking in deep water in the pool, but I was still losing strength and my gait was not normal. They said the spinal stenosis was causing this. This outpatient PT has been ordered by the Foot and Ankle MD/ortho surgeon/specialist I was referred to, and it is helping despite the spinal stenosis. Have to keep moving.

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