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.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Neuropathy Support Group.

I see this discussion has broadened into other subjects. My answer is to the original question.
I have idiopathic small fiber PN, primarily burning pain when my feet are under pressure (e.g. wearing shoes and socks), and in my legs when wearing pants or even from the bed sheets.
It's somewhat better now that it is warm to hot where I live in N. California, but bad during the winter.
I find that wearing shoes with shearling lining helps (Ugg brand is the best). I have even gone so far as to buy or make shearing insoles for my non-Ugg shoes.
I wonder if anyone else has found this helps?

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@jeffrapp

I see this discussion has broadened into other subjects. My answer is to the original question.
I have idiopathic small fiber PN, primarily burning pain when my feet are under pressure (e.g. wearing shoes and socks), and in my legs when wearing pants or even from the bed sheets.
It's somewhat better now that it is warm to hot where I live in N. California, but bad during the winter.
I find that wearing shoes with shearling lining helps (Ugg brand is the best). I have even gone so far as to buy or make shearing insoles for my non-Ugg shoes.
I wonder if anyone else has found this helps?

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I am just learning about neuropathy which I have now and then, and am convinced it is more a result of back surgery nerve damage than diabetes since I keep my blood count low in the morning and try to be active enough during the day for better blood circulation. My mother had poor circulation from her forties on, so it didn't look like much of a problem to me. What I am reading really confuses me because I do not have the same problems as some of the people posting here. Yes, I have had cold feet since high school and I am now 83 years old. I wear socks and shoes which helps much, then take the socks off at 2:00 a.m. in bed because I am too hot. That makes sense because food metabolism produces heat and water, and should produce energy, but my body does a poor job of it due to my diabetes. My biggest issue is the numbness and some cramps which are relieved by standing and stretching. There are many trips to the bathroom, and right now I am recovering from a fractured shoulder caused by falling due to poor balance and being clumbsy.
Shoes are not a problem since I wear orthotics or Finn shoes but it does not stop the numbness. Exercise is the solution to help everything these days, so I do what I can even with not being up to par from my back surgery. I don't know what else to try and I am avoiding asking my primary doctor because he will prescribe pills that make me sleepy. I have done that. I have lost ten pounds and think I should continue trying to lose more, as the blood pressure is going down a little. The doc gave me too much medication for that so I don't take all of the pills due to sleepiness, of course. What else should I try? Dorisena

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Possibly xero shoes, which relieve pressure and have a large toe box. They are designed to feel like you are walking barefooted, so they do not give support. But if your feet are more comfortable barefooted these may be something to look into. Buy them online, go to Xero shoes.
Hope it helps someone

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@lorirenee1

I know, Carol. I have so many horrible feelings in shoes. Sometimes I feel like I am walking on pebbles. Sometimes I feel like I am walking on cotton balls, or that my socks are all bunched up in my shoes. Sometimes I feel crazy sharp edges from no where. But the best shoes that do not feel quite as crazy are Spencos and Wolkys. The crazy thing is, barefoot, is also terrible, for other reasons. Let's face it, neuropathy is so difficult. Lori Renee

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Oh how agree! After many different shoes, I have found Orthofeet give me the longest lasting comfort. They do have a large wide toe box.But, after several hours i will change to a different pair of same. Also like Kuru' s. I have flip flop Kuru's and slip ons. These are not cheap.

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@mlross4508

Thanks for your reply. This forum is helping me realize that I’m not alone. I’ve been too timid, for lack of a better word, to look in forums like these. It’s really beginning to help me as now I have resources that can offer alternatives and options I didn’t know were out there. My feet are in constant pain 24/7, even with my feet up in a recliner. The gab and oxy takes the edge off but I’m always in some amt of pain, anywhere from a 6 to an 8 on the pain scale.
Thanks for everyone’s support as well and thank you Carol.

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I took gabapentin, but side effects were almost worse than neuropathy. I have switched to Cymbalta....works a bit better , but less side effects.i do add a Lyrica sometimes when real bad. I did the electro therapy...useless. Useless.

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@cappyys

I took gabapentin, but side effects were almost worse than neuropathy. I have switched to Cymbalta....works a bit better , but less side effects.i do add a Lyrica sometimes when real bad. I did the electro therapy...useless. Useless.

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One of these days I am going to tell my very nice doctor that I am finished with his pill suggestions and I plan to grow old , die sooner rather than later, rather than sit in a rocker with a blanket over me half asleep in my nineties. My granddaughers say that I am doing so much better than others my age that I will live to 100 easily because I eat well and avoid junk food, so, pain or no pain, I guess I will slow down, wear socks to bed, and try to do enough small stretching to have a decent day any way I can manage. I pray a lot. Dorisena

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Hi there I have found a pair of dr comfort shoes helps with the pain.

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I really like my Propet Diabetic shoes, my feet feel the best they have in years.

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@cappyys

I took gabapentin, but side effects were almost worse than neuropathy. I have switched to Cymbalta....works a bit better , but less side effects.i do add a Lyrica sometimes when real bad. I did the electro therapy...useless. Useless.

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Hello, @cappyys - I'd like to welcome you to Mayo Clinic Connect. Good to hear you have found some shoes that give you the longest comfort you've found.

Since you mentioned you'd taken gabapentin for your neuropathy, I wanted to share a thread you might be interested in https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/can-gabapentin-make-neuropathy-pain-worse

You may also be interested in reading some of the posts in this thread on neuropathy https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/living-with-neuropathy-welcome-to-the-group. Click VIEW & REPLY in your email to get to the entire discussion so you can take a look.

How are you finding changing shoes partway through the day helping with the neuropathy symptoms in your feet?

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Dot you live close to Austin, I know of a shoe store there that might help

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