Hello,

I have had neuropathy in both feet for approx 4 years, my number one symptom, is numbness, however the numbness with tender to touch pain exists up to my knees.

It appears to be progressing slowly, I have a few flair ups of unusually more numbness, or pain at times.

My question is this, I would like to know what sneakers will give me the most comfort for walking, and boots for hiking.

I have been trying to walk a mile a day, since I live in WNY, where we have snow, I am also interested in comfotable hiking boots as well as the sneakers.

I wear clark sandles in the summer, they are great.

The cost is not an issue, if the sneaker and boots enable me to walk, hike, and be active with the highest level of comfort possible even with my neuropathy.

Thanks for your input.

Patty

I wear Ryka sneakers; in particular, the Versa model which is a Mary Jane style which closes w/ velcro. I love them! I just bought 2 more pairs from their website, which happened to have free shipping. They cost about $60 which is really a bargain since they enable me to walk for about a mile without the usual excruciating foot pain. The first pair I bought a year ago @ Filene's and once I knew which style suited me, I could order them online.

I own a pair of LL Bean boots which provide good traction but I don't wear them much so I cannot vouch for their PN'ability. I am terrified of walking around in snow or rain so I mostly stay home in the winter.

Good luck in your shoe quest!

Thank you for the information, I will look into those options.

Patty

New Balance Velcro Walkers have been good for me for the past 5 years.
The style that sells for about $60-$65, I haven't tried the more expensive $80 or so, as the others work well.
Also the Dr. Scholl's Velcro Walkers fit well too. I switch between the two.
I also remove the innersoles & arch (I have flat feet) and use full gel innersoles topped with a foam cushion innersole because my feet are sensitive and need cushioning.

i second the new balance velcro walkers, i got a pair recently and they have a lot of room in the box which is what i need and the adjustable straps help deal with the swelling that i get in my ankles and feet. if they get too tight they are very easy to loosen.

I also use the New Balance Velcro Walkers and have been for the past several years as a result of PN. Tried lots of shoes and none beat these. I pay $65 thru L L Bean - shipping is free when I use my L L Bean credit card and there is no sales tax. PLUS, L L Bean guarantees them for LIFE with no questions asked....period!!!

Completely walking on air. Worth the extra price bump.

Too much arch for me.
Feels like I have a rock in my shoe, where I have no arch.
NB's Velcro Walkers, or Dr Scholl's - are easy to convert for me, cause I was born flat-footed- and wear a size 13.
Just pull the insole & arch out and re-build with gels and foam cushions.
Large box at the toe to wiggle my tootsies, & easy to adjust,
even while driving (using cruise control) longer distances.

Hi there...
I like the New Balance also, they have a great "toe box" for the really sensitive toes. I haven't given in and started using the velcro ones yet, as in my mind those are for "handicapped, an/or old" people. I know, I "am" handicapped, and I "am" old... but I'm not ready to admit it yet. So I still wear the ones with laces. I just tie them loosely.

I have really progressed in what shoes I can wear now. Two years ago, there were almost NO shoes I could tolerate. Now, I've learned that if I switch out almost every day, I can tolerate a pretty wide variety of shoes. The priorities include: NO squeezing of the toes... NO pushing on the tops of the feet (I have a high instep) NO heel, whatsoever, that puts pressure on the balls of the feet and the toes... and NO flip flops, there is no feeling in my toes to "grip" the shoes, so they fly off when I take a step. It's quite entertaining actually.

So, basically they have to be
1. Flat
2. Grip my foot, not my foot grip them
3. Lots of toe room
4. Made from as natural a breathable fabric as possible. However, I usually wear socks unless it's above 80 degrees out.
5. If they are "closed" shoes, must be adjustable for days when my feet are feeling like they are giant baked potatoes.

Hope this helps!

The absolute only shoes I can wear at this point is crocs (the ones with all the holes in them), and I think that they are so ugly! I have always refused to wear them, no matter how comfortable others say they may be. But now, I can't get a tennis shoe on, even if I take out all the laces. I tried sandals this summer, but they would slip off my foot and it literally felt like my foot itself was sliding off the bone--so painful. The crocs are not good for long term walking, and the texture on the inside of the shoe hurts if I am not wearing socks, so I have to always wear socks. The only problem is, I live in South Dakota. It's going to get cold soon--and before long, we will have our -25 degree weather that "feels like" -45 with windchill. I will NOT be able to wear crocs with holes in them in three feet of snow. I am so worried about what I am going to do as it gets colder--I need a tennis shoe or boot that can keep my feet warm. Even the air conditioner makes my feet freeze--and it is SO painful. Being outside in -25 degree weather is NOT going to work with these crocs. I have no idea what I'm going to do.