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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@lois6524

Dr Comfort -- anything with a big box by the toes -- inserts may help -- expensive but worth it -- if you have diabetes Medicare pays for one pair of shoes per year

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Also Propet

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@cjay

I’ve ordered a pair of Oofos clogs for work (I’m a chef and on my feet all day)
Waiting for their arrival with bated breath!

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The Oofos are a horrible fit for me. The rubbery material sits waaay too close to toes and tops of feet. And everything gets squished together. Really awful. If anyone has a clog that they love please drop the name here!
Thanks

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@lorirenee1
I see the first post was in 2019 so I’m a little late coming to the game. I have diabetic neuropathy with severe numbness in both feet. My shoe of choice is San Antonio shoes (SAS). When I know I’m going to be on my feet for a while, such as taking a flight or going on a cruise I wear San Antonio Shoes. I have several pair of Dr. Comforts (brand named )
which Medicare pays for. I recently started physical therapy for walking and balance because they are both issues. I just turned 80 on November 11, 2023. God bless you all.

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@captboat
SAS is a great shoe for me too.
You mentioned “ severe numbness.” Do you also have the pain associated with neuropathy?
Jake

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Please enough with the shoes.!!!!
Put the shoe on, and make sure you have a good arch support insert and the correct size.
Stay away from leather ones .
The best and cheapest buy is good old Walmart.
Good luck

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@jakedduck1

@captboat
SAS is a great shoe for me too.
You mentioned “ severe numbness.” Do you also have the pain associated with neuropathy?
Jake

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I am one of the fortunate ones without pain, just severe numbness. I have diabetic neuropathy.

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@mitfit

Thank you so much for sharing, and for your kind thoughts. This is helpful to me. I have been struggling with custom orthotics all year. I have heard some people say they are a miracle and really work, but that has not been my experience so far. I’m glad you brought that up. Pain-free walking sounds wonderful!

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I have found that the recommended break-in period for custom orthotics is not realistic. It takes me much, much longer to adjust. I start with wearing them in the house for an hour a day and take several weeks of perhaps two hours a day, once in the early day and once later. So it takes me months before i am wearing them most of the day and then can start wearing them outside for walking. Once adjusted, though, my feet love them and I am good for about 4 years. Having said that, I find that I have to insist to the dr that my feet need lots of padding under the arch, and a cushioned inset in the heel, and bunion cutouts, but only some cushioning under the toes, to give them more room.Thankfully, my dr. guarantees custom orthotics and has remade mine without additional charge to get the fit just right. Also, I find that I have had to go with a lower drop shoe (10 or 11 max) because adding an orthotic to a 12mm or highter shoe puts too much pressure on the toes/forefoot. Hope this helps. I also have found that wearing a decent OTC orthotic in the house whenever my feet need a break helps. The Superfeet Maxx, with a 2 degree correction in the heel is the best over the counter orthotic for over-pronation. Superfeet makes a nice slipper with wool arch supports in them, too.

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Oops! I said Superfeet for OTC orthotics when I meant POWERSTEP PINNACLE MAXX. Sorry for the confusion. It is Powerstep that makes the slippers with the wool orthotics also. And the wool orthotics can be purchased separately from Powerstep and the InsoleStore online. I find virtually all OTC orthotics either too low, or too flexible, or they don't offer the 2 degree correction for over-pronators. If they do have a hard/not flexible arch/arch core, then the cushion they use isn't the high grade that the custom orthotics offer (really part of the higher cost), so they are not comfortable enough.

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@marieltha

I have found that the recommended break-in period for custom orthotics is not realistic. It takes me much, much longer to adjust. I start with wearing them in the house for an hour a day and take several weeks of perhaps two hours a day, once in the early day and once later. So it takes me months before i am wearing them most of the day and then can start wearing them outside for walking. Once adjusted, though, my feet love them and I am good for about 4 years. Having said that, I find that I have to insist to the dr that my feet need lots of padding under the arch, and a cushioned inset in the heel, and bunion cutouts, but only some cushioning under the toes, to give them more room.Thankfully, my dr. guarantees custom orthotics and has remade mine without additional charge to get the fit just right. Also, I find that I have had to go with a lower drop shoe (10 or 11 max) because adding an orthotic to a 12mm or highter shoe puts too much pressure on the toes/forefoot. Hope this helps. I also have found that wearing a decent OTC orthotic in the house whenever my feet need a break helps. The Superfeet Maxx, with a 2 degree correction in the heel is the best over the counter orthotic for over-pronation. Superfeet makes a nice slipper with wool arch supports in them, too.

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Thank you for your encouragement about the custom orthotics. My orthopedic clinic has started over on my orthotics too. They are better, but not quite there yet. I will keep working on it. We need our feet!

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@mitfit

Thank you for your encouragement about the custom orthotics. My orthopedic clinic has started over on my orthotics too. They are better, but not quite there yet. I will keep working on it. We need our feet!

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The VA provides me with diabetic shoes with inserts. These have been a noticeable help to me.

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