Shoes and socks --- very important for people with foot pain, that is for sure.

We all have tried many types, and in the past here have been some threads with suggestions, like these:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=shoes

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=shoes

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ighlight=shoes

I can share what my podiatrist told me to do. I also have cracked sesamoid bones in the balls of both feet. These can move and inflame the tendons there, and double my pain problems.

Make sure your toe box is adequate for your feet. Buy wider shoes to accomplish this.
Now for women here, this is going to be a fashion killer. But I don't know any good way around that. I use Arcepedicos nylon knit slip on shoes for my dressier occasions and they pass. They are not sexy or have high heels however!
The first one on this list in black is what I use for dress:
http://www.arcopedicoshoes.com/classic/

The rest of the time, I am in slide ons (right now Dr. Scholl's men's memory foam soles) or crocs (for gardening or vacation), or wide athletic type shoes (which I use with a gel insert). That is it for me these days.

Men are going to have more problems I think with dress shoes.

Socks, for me need to be NOT TIGHT. There are some affordable diabetic socks at WalMart now and other stores called Med-Ped. These are softer, but I still don't like socks.
Some stores have larger size socks as well, now, and I like that option.
These are Med-Ped :
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...0070921x00003a
There are black ones and short ones, etc. And they tend to cost less than others from catalogs.

Footsmart is a good resource for shoes and socks. They have a free catalog.

Also on our RSD forum, some members there use bamboo socks, and claim they are very soft and don't hurt to wear. There are many sellers on Google for these.

I am sure everyone has their favorite for shoes and socks. So this thread is open for experiences and comments.

Here is a link to a post from our stickies, on the main forum.
It is from 2007 and by a long time member here: Wing42

on the subject of shoes:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/post117751-31.html

Spot on Mrs. D.! And I love the Footsmart catalog. I do have a question though. I went to my Podiatrist about a week or so ago for a different problem (had something like a splinter in my foot). Anyway, I mentioned nighttime cramping in my feet. He wanted me to try Maginex and told the person he was training that it was important to have Aspartate (sp?) in it. Would you know the reasoning why? In any case, it is working very well. Oh, just one more thing. I love to wear spa socks around the house in the winter.

Gee...I don't know about that. Aspartate is a neuroexcitatory
amino acid...like glutamate. I tend to avoid both of these aminos.

I would think any chelate would be okay. (just not oxide). Many find glycinate works well too. I use generic SlowMag.

I got the new Dr. Scholl's orthotics recently and they have helped my foot pain quite a bit. (and my back). I got measured on that machine they advertise now in the stores, and scored 320. They are expensive but pretty good and a lot less expensive than regular orthotics. It took a week to get used to them tho!

See my magnesium thread, for details.
Soaking in epsom salts before bed will help too, especially if you have poor circulation. Poor blood flow means, stuff in the blood does not reach the foot well. Soaking bypasses that problem.

Here's one of my favorite pair of shoes (if I have to wear shoes): Clarks Wave Path.

The toe box is very roomy (high, which for me is the main criterion) and I like the unusual stitching on the top. If I have to walk any distance, these are the shoes I want. And I don't think they look too clunky...well, I've definitely seen worse.

Oh, and Crocs: I agree with the many here that they are pretty good except that the bumpies on the inside aggravate me. Has anyone tried to sand them down? I've been tempted to take a Dremel with a sandpaper "flapper" to them but considered that it might also wear through the top of the shoe. Any other ideas on how to wear them down?

I have found the "bumpies" on the crocs are painful when I get them out for spring (I don't wear them in winter).

I don't know why we have such sensitivity to tiny things like this!
Sort of like "the princess and the pea" story!!!

Once I wear them a bit, I get used to them, tho.
They are a little high in the top of the instep so I don't walk long distances in them. Once I wore them to the store and got a blister on my ankle. My instep is quite high, so things rub and pinch there. So I only wear them on vacation (in the woods and on the shore and in the water) or in my yard.

Right now I love my Dr. Scholls' Breakaways, and just ordered another pair thru the Famous Footwear store with free shipping. These have memory foam soles, and don't hit my instep too high.
They are no longer on the website, but in stores they can still get them I guess??? Item 30864
I have 2 spares now to fall back on! They are only in men's sizes. These have been very good on my feet and I have much less pain at night too!