I have just been diagnosed. In the past 3 months I have bought more pairs of shoes than I can count. NOTHING feels good.

Can someone suggest some good sandals? Is it possible to wear sandals ever again? I live in Florida and I really can't stand wearing sneakers. Plus, although the sneakers feel better for the soles of my feet, they squeeze the tops of my feet and make them burn more. I feel best walking barefoot. But it gets cold here too, and I have Raynaud's (including with everything else I have) and now this, so I keep going from cold to hot, then back to cold.

The problem I'm having with sandals is ALL of them hurt the bottom of my feet, and all the thong sandals I have put pressure on my second toes, which turns them red and has made the podiatrist trim them back multiple times, saying they are ingrown -which was my original diagnosis. I buy pretty good sandals, but now they are just not good enough.

I have slide slippers and these also bother my second toes. Actually, my feet won't hurt as much - I'll put on the slippers - and IMMEDIATELY my second toes hurt. Help!

I'm in Florida too, I wear my Birkenstock sandals year round, except for Jan when it's cold. And even then, I'll put socks on and keep going. I can't stand closed shoes.

Back when I was going to pain management, I went through a course of biofeedback. It didn't work for my pain, but the doctor who taught me claimed to have many Raynaud's patients for whom it worked very well.

Doc

Hmmm... I'll have to read up on this. Thank you.
I am not quite sure that Raynaud's is actually going on. My toes used to turn white. But now they only get red - and only around the nails. The 2nd toes have more pain and pressure causes them to look ingrown. I have also had pain and what looks like a sore is starting at the corners of some of my toes. It is really weird. I can't help but think this is more than neuropathy. Or is this normal with neuropathy? It took quite a few visits to podiatrist and rheum to get a dx, and that was after dx of ingrown, then morton's neuroma (got injections), then raynaud's, AND chilblains (got norvasc), and now neuropathy. I also get numbness up outside of feet, burning on soles, burning on tops of feet, burning on face, shoulders, arms.

Am I breaking the forum rules? I probably shouldn't ask all this in the footwear thread.

It couldn't hurt to ask again in a different/new thread, for folks who've skipped this one.

Some of those symptoms sound consistent with PN, but some sound comorbid as well. The numbness/tingling/burning is typical of PN, but some of the other stuff on your toes sounds like it could be some kind of deficiency maybe even fungal, but the podiatrist should have recognized or eliminated those right off.

Has anyone tested you for diabetes (glucose tolerance)?

Doc

I have been tested by urine twice and I've gone in and done the glucose tolerance juice/blood draw test. My blood glucose always comes up right in the middle of the range. However, I have trouble with female yeast problems and this is why I've been tested. I have wondered about sugar intolerances for quite some time.

I just looked up the word comorbid, since I have not ever heard that word before. Thanks, I learned something! I'm interested in what you said about deficiency or fungal - because the first thing I asked the podiatrist was why have my toenails changed? I do have a fungus toe on each foot, the pinkie toes. But recently I noticed my SECOND and THIRD toenails had changed and become incurvated. I asked multiple times, and every time the doctor completely ignored my specific questions. Could some of this be fungal? My third toenails were slightly cloudy at the time, not thick or peeling, but not normal. And my second toenails got ingrown and one has a vertical line down middle. I can't seem to get a podiatrist to say anything. I've been to two, one multiple times. I will say it again. I have no faith in doctors. Hmmmm...
One more thing, I was on diflucan when all this started, and I was soaking in epsom salts and tea tree. One of my pinkie toenails actually started changing and looking more normal! I have wondered if the diflucan set this off - started killing fungus and I was having dieoff. But I have stopped the med, stopped soaking, and it has not gotten better.

Thank you, I will post a new thread.

Geraldine, I wear Birkinstocks and their cuter sister brand called Betula all of the time, they are my favorite summer shoes and the only shoe that I wear as a "house shoe" or slipper at all. It the winter I just add a soft all cotton Gold Toe sock underneath to keep my feet warm. When I was working, RN. I would wear their line of professional clogs, these you could wear with jeans or long pants, and are comfortable enough for a PN'er.

hope this helps!

I haven't read the entire thread so if this has already been mentioned, then disregard. I purchased a pair of Haflinger clogs http://www.footsmart.com/P-Haflinger...ogs-71590.aspx I use these both inside and out and wear them as slippers. I can't walk without support and these offer that and they breath so my feet don't sweat if the temperature warms up. They have some that are labled as slippers too. Here is a link to their page on Footsmart http://www.footsmart.com/haflinger-s...term=haflinger They are pricey, but they are really great on my feet and work well inside and out.

Thanks abunnybabe,
I looked up Betula and there are some pretty cute ones! Gives me some hope that I just haven't found the right brand yet.

My toes are slightly better but I haven't worn anything but my sneakers and orthotics. I just got my custom orthotics this past week, hopefully they will help!

The whole shoe thing drives me crazy, and I have no idea what to do about it.
So far everyone has mentioned having sensitive feet. I have completely insensitive feet and ankles, meaning that I cannot feel whether a shoe fits well or is three sizes too tight, or rubs my ankles, or anything. I have severe pain in my legs and feet, they often feel like they are slowly being fed through a washer mangle, but it is only obliquely related to my footwear if at all. I have to decide whether a shoe fits by whether it leaves red marks or blisters on my foot when I take it off.
I also cannot keep clogs or most sandals on my feet because of the lack of sensation, and inability to move my toes. Fisherman sandals with lots of straps are okay.
Does anyone else have this problem? You could drive a two inch nail into my foot and I wouldn't notice if I wasn't looking.