I am the opposite with numbness - I can walk around with a twig in my shoe without being aware of it because I just can't feel it. This of course brings it's own set of problems, and I have to regularly check my feet/ legs for injury otherwise it can easily get out of hand.

But I do understand about the pain thing with shoes, as before I went numb I had 6 months of extreme burning pain. The only thing that worked for me was to carry around several pairs of shoes, and change them often. Rotating shoes really seemed to help me as I couldn't wear anything for very long.

best of luck with your new shoes - I loathe shoe shopping and find it very depressing. I am very limited in the shoes I can wear as i wear AFO's (ankle foot orthotics - they come up to my knees and have to fit into my shoes).

hth

raglet