Driving with Numb Feet.

Posted by davidpn @davidpn, Jul 25, 2023

Over the past year the numbness in my feet has increased and at times I find my foot slipping off the brake. I’ve kept my driving to less than 2 miles and this might occur about once per drive.

My license is due for renewal and the medical form filled out three years ago (numbness not as bad) is due to be resubmitted. I can’t lie to doctors and pretend everything is okay but I do have a question.

Can any one recommend a shoe, currently using skechers which has helped with walking, that might help this problem.

Thanks much.

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

@johnbishop

They work fine for me driving with my PN. The soles are rubber with some non-slip surface. My biggest problem is not with the foot slipping off it's with large thick soles hanging or bumping the edges of the pedal when I apply the brakes.

Jump to this post

"My biggest problem is not with the foot slipping off it's with large thick soles hanging or bumping the edges of the pedal when I apply the brakes."

That's exactly the problem I've had on four different occasions: shoes with large thick soles catching the adjacent pedal. The last time this happened to me, I was preparing to cut a sharp right to pull away from the curb with a car parked ahead of mine (not terribly close; I had plenty of room––or should have had); I found my car easing forward but just a touch too fast; I went to move my foot from the gas to the brake, but found my foot (shoe) tucked UNDER the edge of the brake. It took a split second to get my foot out, up, and onto the brake, but a split second was all that was needed for my car's front bumper to go "Bump!" into the other car' rear bumper. Another shining moments in the lives of us folk with PN!

REPLY
@artscaping

Thanks, Steve. I also started my medications for SFN the very same way 11 years ago. I increased the Cymbalta (Duloxetine) a couple of times and like you cannot know what it would be like without it. Do you also wear Hoka shoe?
Chris

Jump to this post

I had difficulty walking because of poor balance and numbness. Friends and doctor suggested a shoe with more support and wide toe box such as HOKA. I found a pair from Shoe Mall at a reasonable price. I went on a trip that had some long excursions. I actually did pretty well. My feet were not even in excess pain after 2 miles.

REPLY
@johnbishop

They work fine for me driving with my PN. The soles are rubber with some non-slip surface. My biggest problem is not with the foot slipping off it's with large thick soles hanging or bumping the edges of the pedal when I apply the brakes.

Jump to this post

Have you ever seen the sketchers that have bumps on the bottom for better gripping the pedals without the larger soles you’ve described. In addition I find them really comfortable for walking. However, not all sketchers have this type of sole.

REPLY
@davidpn

Have you ever seen the sketchers that have bumps on the bottom for better gripping the pedals without the larger soles you’ve described. In addition I find them really comfortable for walking. However, not all sketchers have this type of sole.

Jump to this post

I've been a big fan of Sketchers over the years but stopped wearing them a couple of years ago because they made me feel a little wobbly for balance even though they feel great on the feet. Just a little more spongy than I like. They are a great and comfortable shoe though.

REPLY

I don't have very many balance issues. But I need a comfortable shoe, but something I can drive in. My left foot swells at times from a old injury. I have some sketchers , good for walking, not great for driving

REPLY
@jsb932l

Too small. Not wide enough, and Made in China. Never buy shoes made in China, sizing all wrong.

Jump to this post

Ok. These shoes are actually extra wide and they conform to my regular size of Women’s 7.5.
So they work for me but maybe not others.

REPLY
@davidpn

I just took a look at the birchbury. If one has problem of their foot slipping off the brake it seems the bottoms of these shoes won’t help this problem to be solved.

Jump to this post

David - At one point I actually found (and bought) these non-slip pedals or covers for my car. The added bonus was they had colors or accents that I felt would help me feel safer than the all black pedals on my car. (Granted, we shouldn’t be looking at our feet while driving, but it seemed to be a smart idea to be able to check foot position and feel every time you get in). It ends up that I bought the wrong size for my car model, and never pursued it further. I don’t recall from a couple of years ago if my husband would have been able to put them on or if I would have needed to take my car to a garage. I’m just throwing it out there if anyone else has tried something similar.

REPLY
@dbeshears1

David - At one point I actually found (and bought) these non-slip pedals or covers for my car. The added bonus was they had colors or accents that I felt would help me feel safer than the all black pedals on my car. (Granted, we shouldn’t be looking at our feet while driving, but it seemed to be a smart idea to be able to check foot position and feel every time you get in). It ends up that I bought the wrong size for my car model, and never pursued it further. I don’t recall from a couple of years ago if my husband would have been able to put them on or if I would have needed to take my car to a garage. I’m just throwing it out there if anyone else has tried something similar.

Jump to this post

Hi, Debbie. The first time I heard of non-slip pedal covers was here at Connect, in this thread. I found them interesting and looked to see if I could find covers that would fit the pedals of my 2017 Jeep, but no luck. I'm still interested, but I don't want to buy covers that don't fit. I think that would just compound the problem of wanting good foot (shoe)-to-pedal purchase. ––Ray

REPLY
@ray666

Hi, Debbie. The first time I heard of non-slip pedal covers was here at Connect, in this thread. I found them interesting and looked to see if I could find covers that would fit the pedals of my 2017 Jeep, but no luck. I'm still interested, but I don't want to buy covers that don't fit. I think that would just compound the problem of wanting good foot (shoe)-to-pedal purchase. ––Ray

Jump to this post

For what its worth my nissan dealer could not recommend.. He felt that after market product like this were not reliable. Has anyone had a good experience with non slip foot pedals and if so where were they purchased?

Thanks.

REPLY
@davidpn

For what its worth my nissan dealer could not recommend.. He felt that after market product like this were not reliable. Has anyone had a good experience with non slip foot pedals and if so where were they purchased?

Thanks.

Jump to this post

Hello, David. Nor could my local Jeep dealer make a recommendation. I'm not about to purchase any ol' set of covers only to have them slip, sliding away, making things worse. –Ray

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.