Originally Posted by CRPSsongbird

My Crps started in my left arm only from nerve injuries from an IV. Last summer it progress to both feet and legs unfortunately. I couldn't wear heels or my normal shoes for the longest time because of swelling and intolerance to anything touching them. After I had my first Lidocaine Infusion I was FINALLY able to wear shoes again , however I have to wear them a half a size to full size larger because I do still have some swelling and I can still no longer wear heels. So I have started buying larger but still fashionable flats. Whether its boots or any other type of flats, and I had to find very supportive and not snug or close fitting sneakers. But still it's a definite step up from not being able to tolerate shoes for long or if at all.

Something you'll also need to be EXTREMELY aware of is walking barefoot!! Due to the odd nature of numbness aspects of crps, it can be dangerous to walk barefoot. Last October I had unknowingly stepped on a very small piece of glass and it was in bedded in my foot. It was in there for so long that it caused infection and extreme exacerbation of my CRPS symptoms. If I had not realized it when I finally did, it very quickly could've turned into a severe infection possibly turning septic. Even though I caught it when I did it still exacerbated my symptoms so much that I was barely able to walk at all. And it exacerbated all my other symptoms throughout my body and I ended up getting new symptoms including CRPS in my face mouth and throat which is very rare. All because of a centimeter size piece of glass in my foot!!! So please exercise extreme caution when you're walking barefoot. I wouldn't want you to experience anything of what I went through last October simply from not knowing you would step done something.

Ask your doctor about a lidocaine infusion . It can really really help with the severe sensitivity deep bone aching and swelling issues caused by CRPS. If you have severe edema or swelling in your foot or feet ask about a ketamine infusion which is the same process with a different medication. Ketamine helps a lot more with the severe edema cases. And also helps with all the same symptoms that lidocaine can. However the side effects from ketamine are much worse than lidocaine. Lidocaine can cause severe drowsiness been kind of out of it wooziness and being unsteady on your feet. Ketamine causes severe hallucinations the entire time you're on it however it stops is soon as your infusion is done. Personally I'm hoping that I can stick with the lidocaine infusions because I don't really look forward to having severe hallucinations. But either procedure I think you would benefit greatly from and that it could hopefully help you be able to tolerate wearing shoes again. Of course with CRPS as always every patient reacts different to each medication or procedure so what works well for me might not work for you but you should have a very good chance of it actually working for you.

I hope you'll be able to find some relief soon, and find away to tolerate wearing shoes again! Since I have had a long and illustrious affair with shoes and boots my entire adult life I can definitely empathize with not being able to wear them!!

Wishing relief and warm hugs!
Emma