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

Dorisena, How did you exercise with bands on your feet? That one I have not heard of! I thought I heard of everything already! Lor Renee

I used the colored wide rubber bands and stretched my arches up and down and then had the grandkids pull the bands to the right and to the left. You can get instructions to do a whole body workout with those bands. I used to tie them to a fence at the pool in Florida and stretch while strangers stared at me, but it is a rather easy exercise and no big equipment. They are commonly used to strengthen the arms in the gym. The different colors indicate the strength of the rubber. I broke the ones in the nursing home because they were old and I was stronger than the therapist thought. I was supposed to be having therapy on my knee replacement. I left the place after ten days. About the leather soles. I may have misled you. I got better healing with leather soles before I bought Finn shoes which have hard foam soles. It is the soft foam shoes which do not give great support. I wore them in Europe thinking they would be best and the cobblestones hurt my feet so much I couldn't walk some mornings. I soaked in Epsom salt water and we used the waste basket for a pan. The hardest part was purchasing the Epsom salt when we didn't speak the language. I demonstrated my need and my hurting feet. The clerk understood.
I never buy shoes without an expert checking the fit as different styles fit differently. It helps to have straps and buckles to adjust. Every little bit helps.
Dorisena

Thanks, Dorisena! I use big bands to strengthen my legs, but never have used any for the feet. Hpsoave tried many things for feet, including Epsom salt in my foot whirlpool. Very soothing. Also have used it in bath jacuzzi. By the way, I find cobblestone hard to walk on, no matter what shoes!!!! Take care, Lori R.

@lorirenee1, I wish you best of luck with the epidural tomorrow!!! Did they say how long it would take to feel the effects? I am thinking it could take a few days? How are you feeling about it all??? Aww, your comments concerning our daughter were so very kind! You must have had a lot of patience when teaching at the junior high age level. I’m sure it must have been very challenging and rewarding as well. I bet you enjoy having your grandson so close to you!! I don’t have any grandkids as yet and maybe it is just as well because I can’t chase after little ones right now!! Hmmm, that is interesting concerning your toes on your right foot. I still wonder if the chemo drugs caused any of the feet sensations that you have now. I have heard that chemo induced neuropathy may dissipate with time. But I understand the Radiculopathy diagnosis. I think it’s very common in our age group to have this. My Mom used to say, “getting old ain’t for sissies.” Almost forgot to mention that I’m getting the nerve conduction studies next Monday, May 20th. They had a cancellation! Knowing me I will probably be in there with two pages of questions! I think I need someone to perform an exorcism on my feet because last night one foot was red and hot and the other was cold. What the heck. When you feel up to it please let me know how it all goes for you. I will be thinking and praying for you!!!! -Laura

I am apparently lucky compared to most people on here. Gabapentin allows me to sleep at night almost pain free. I have peripheral neuropathy in my feet and my biggest issue is as soon as i put on any type of shoe my feet hurt immediately. It is like my feet are raw 24/7 although they look normal. It is affecting my ability to do my job and I may have to take early retirement ( I'm 62 ) or apply for disability. This would be a hardship for me financially as I am not sure my wife and I have enough savings and retirement to sustain us. Does anyone have any suggestions or a similar issue.

Hello @thomaslink, welcome to Connect. I also have small fiber PN but only have numbness. Shoes can make a difference if you find the right ones. There is another discussion which will give your post more visibility and you can meet other members with neuropathy who share your symptoms and have issues finding shoes that help them. I'm tagging our moderator @ethanmcconkey to see if we can move your post to the following discussion:

> Groups > Neuropathy > Does anyone find that a brand of shoes helps your foot neuropathy?
-- https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/does-anyone-find-that-a-brand-of-shoes-helps-your-foot-neuropathy/

I've found that Sketcher's relaxed fit shoes work fairly well for me. I also found some really comfy, stretchy, easy on/off bamboo thread socks that helped with my feet. I also wear soft socks at night specifically because I don't always feel what I step on and have more than once injured my foot without knowing it by stepping on something accidentally during the night if I have to make a bathroom trip.

@thomaslink are you able to share what the biggest problem is that you have with shoes? Is it the tightness? I've also tried several types of Crocs which I sometimes wear around the house because they have a lot of room in the toe area and are fairly wide.

Thanks for your input John. Having shoes on at all ( I usually don't even tie them ) is a problem. Even having socks on is an issue although not as bad. If I wear shoes for just a few hours my feet hurt badly. I have found that the only thing that helps is icing them down. I have a pair of Sketcher's relaxed fit air cooled that are probably the best but putting anything on my feet is a problem. It's mostly the bottom of my feet. They feel raw and sore but look normal. I saw someone suggest their podiatrist had some sample shoes and am going to look at that as I am going to a podiatrist soon. I have only seen my PCP so far.

Hello, @thomaslink - I'd like to add my welcome to Mayo Clinic Connect. Glad you've connected with @johnbishop. You'll notice I moved your post here to an existing discussion he mentioned, "Does anyone find that a brand of shoes helps your foot neuropathy?" so you can meet others with similar concerns. If you click on VIEW & REPLY in your email notification, you will see the whole discussion and can join in, meet, and participate with other members talking about their or their loved ones' experiences.

That sounds very difficult that having on shoes at all is a problem with your peripheral neuropathy and they feel raw 24/7. Ouch.

Hoping that others here who have talked about challenges with shoes hurting and trying to find solutions will chime in with some thoughts and suggestions for you on this, in addition to how this is affecting your ability to do your job. Please meet @dorisena @lauraj155 @lorirenee1 @peggyn @nanashelly @retiredteacher and others.

Right now at work, do you ice your feet down sometimes, or how are you getting through your workday with the shoe issue?

@thomaslink Hi and come on in. This forum on neuropathy is filled with so many different types of problems from the bottom of the feet to other parts of the body. It seems there are pockets of pain in different places for different people. My feet sound like yours although I can wear socks and have to wear shoes because barefoot is worse for me. I have pain like walking on broken glass. I have tried several brands of shoes but as of yet I am not comfortable in any of them. I have worn Birkenstocks for decades, and though they don't soothe my feet, they are what I am used to. I wish I had an answer, but I don't. It doesn't seem that there are any answers. Has your doctor suggested anything that will help? Sometimes a podiatrist can suggest shoes; have you tried that?
I hope you can find something that will help. I hope we all can.
Carol

So far the best ones for me have been. Finn. ,,expensive,, I do better in short periods of time