Yes, wide toe box is essential. Too narrow of a shoe is thought to contribute to neuroma formation also.

My doctor said to get WIDE only. I discovered for myself, that a mens' shoe is wider than a women's wide! So last time I bought a walking athletic shoe, I bought a New Balance Men's 8.5. ( I usually wear a women's 10)

They have a bit of life in them still, but next spring I will probably need a new pair.

My crocs are good in the width department, but on the left foot the upper top edge hits my scar...and that is becoming a problem.
I use them for gardening now, and going in the water on vacation. But I can't wear them for walking any distances, or shopping!

For a while there I thought my tumor had grown back under the skin, but that swelling has finally gone down. The only thing new I did while this happened was the ribose. (and I am still taking it).

I have problem feet and wear orthotics. I've just got a pair of NB Walking shoes, #927, which are orthotic friendly and I can't say enough good things about them. They have extra depth and width and my feet don't rub against the tops. The front of my feet are numb and I got a pair of the Sketchers with the rocker bottoms and it pulled up my toe nail on my second toe. I didn't feel it happening and only discovered it when I took the shoe off. Aside from these new sneakers, I also wear Birkenstock, Dansko, Earthshoes and Propet. I have some Naots and Finn comforts, but they don't serve me as well as the others. A good online source with good prices is Footsmart. I have ordered from them in the past, but for me its easy since I already know my size in various shoes. If you sign up for the email newsletters, they send notices of free shipping and discouted shopping, anywhere from 15-25% usually, and their clearence section usually has good bargains too. I'm not affiliated with them, just a happy customer. Heres a link to their site http://www.footsmart.com/

Absolutely. One time i walked for a few blocks with no shoe on my foot. Only realized it because i looked down and saw a shoe missing. Had to go back and look for it. Those were slip on shoes. Another time i was walking around a few weeks with a thumb tack in the bottom of my foot. Heard tapping then didnt. I usually always wear shoes so the next time i had no shoes on and walked on hard surface about two weeks later i heard tapping then looked on the bottom of my feet. Also broke a number of toes without knowing it because of slamming feet into something without realizing it.

Echoes,I have found myself doing the same, I usually wear mule sandals in the summer and in recent weeks I have had to keep looking at my feet to see if they are still on my feet. I am either going to have to change my footwear or walk with a stoop.
I went to the podiatrist last year and there was a shard of glass embedded in my foot and skin had grown over it. One of my friends is walking over hot coals for a Charity stunt, I was going to volunteer as I don't feel anything anyway, although the burn makes me feel as though I am walking over hot coals

Ouch! Breaking toes and not knowing it? That's horrible. I have a lot of numbness in the front half of my feet... but this morning my cat scratched my toe... I didn't feel it at the time, but did notice his paw was on my foot, so I lifted it up and took it off... but he must have gotten me. I was on my way to the clinic for my doctor appointment, and when I went down the porch stairs, I felt this awful burning in my foot. It felt like it was on my big toe, but I couldn't quite tell if that was the spot or not. It's so hard to tell where exactly the pain is coming from. After my appointment, I got home and took off my shoe and sock. Sure enough, he had gotten me pretty good and my foot had been bleeding... but it was on my middle toe! Weird how I felt the pain in another spot... I can't imagine breaking a toe, though, and not feeling it. I have numbness, but I also have pain--and the pain shines through the numbness (though it was delayed today).

I STILL haven't been able to find a pair of shoes that I can wear this fall. It's so frustrating. All we have in town is Walmart, and they don't sell anything that I can get on my foot. Anything I buy online will take days to ship, and then I imagine I will have to send it back (and pay twice for shipping, etc). I really need to be able to try a shoe on...

I've spent hours (literally--several hours... probably double digit--more than 10) searching online for one shoe that I can wear... and I've had friends searching for me as well... no luck! I'm really nervous about what is going to happen. I won't be able to have the trial (for a SCS) if I can't find a shoe to wear!

Have you tried Zappos.com?
Free shipping on returns. Good return policy.
Have you tried 'Walkers"? I find New Balance Velcro Walkers,
Dr Scholl's Velcro/Hook & Loop Walkers, & Rockports- helpful.
Plenty roomy and flexible.
But I have to take out the innersoles and arches cause I'm a born flat foot and cannot stand arches in innersoles. I replace them with full gel innersoles and foam innersole liners.

The problem is, my toes are so extremely sensitive that I can't put my toes into a shoe.. you know how when you wear a tennis shoe you put your toes in first? I can't do that.. if I even lightly touch the shoe with the tip of my toes, it sends my feet into major spasms and it hurts really badly. So, the only shoes I have been able to wear are crocs, because I can slide into them, not stick my toes in and down. However, they have holes in them and it is getting in the 30s... and that is way too cold for me to walk around with holes in my shoes. And when we have -25 degree weather and several feet of snow, that won't work. I need to find a way to wear a tennis shoe or boot of some sort.. but I can't find anything that I can easily slide my foot into without hurting my toes. I've tried at least 8 pairs of tennis shoes (even taken the laces out and opened them wide) and I just can't get them on. I am really worried that I will have to postpone this trial and surgery until spring or summer because I can't wear the right shoes. I have worn new balance before and they are good shoes. I, like you, have flat feet and can't handle arches. I haven't tried zappos because I can't even find a style of shoe that will work--and I don't want to keep sending tennis shoes back when obviously I won't be able to put them on regardless of the style. I have no idea what the solution is. I'm all out of ideas!

Sarah I have very sensitvie feet where at one time I could not wear socks and still can only wear a certain type and one kind of shoe. For the first many months of my condition I was in an airboot where I became so sensitve that I had to train my body to be able to wear regular items again. It was very bad experience. So why I am bringing this up is I wonder if you have similar and need to slowly introduce new items? I could be totally wrong but just a thought. Also no matter what shoe I try on it hurts very much. Some more then others and I have to slowly transition into them. I also like mesh top shoes which many walking shoes are not. The hard leather feels like someone is stepping on my toes so that is a thought too. For me this did not work but have you looked at uggs? Good luck I know how stressful and painful this is. I could open a shoe and sock store with how many I have bought and can't wear.

I also broke a toe and didn't feel it. It was almost 3 years ago and before I was diagnosed with this. At the time, I thought the meds I was taking were blocking the pain. Now I suppose I already had this neuropathy thing back then.