Shoes and Socks:
 

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! :p
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. ;)

another link:
 

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!!! :o

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???:rolleyes: 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!

How to lace your shoes:
 

This is an old thread from the website I like best for overall foot advice and anatomy.

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

This discusses how to lace your shoes to avoid compressing the nerves on the instep, if you have a high one. I have this problem and using this alternative way has made a difference for me, especially for long walking times.

I'd like to add ... there are now "no-tie" laces available in some stores. I found a pair at Famous Footwear. They stretch and loop over themselves instead of tying. This is a good alternative if you can't find velcro closure shoes, and only tie ones. I can't recall if they came in black...I bought the white ones. I only use one on my left foot, as that is the leg I where I damaged the tendons. These new laces allow me to slip the shoe on easily. I think they are made for kids mostly, but they serve my purposes well.

I have found two shoes that I can wear, that are roomy in the toe,
wide enough - and are easy to frequently re-adjust.
The New Balance Velcro (also called 'hook & loop') Walkers, -570 series (573,574,575 etc).
NB makes other 'Velcro'Walkers at a higher price,
but I've not tried them, yet - & Dr Scholl's Velcro Walkers
(I like the 'Macau' Walker)
The NB's are about $65 (free shipping) on-line, from 'Zappos' - www.zappos.com (I get them at a discount family shoe outlet for $49.99- when they have them) and the Dr. Scholl's are about $39.99 at the factory outlet. (They're not at Zappos)

Socks from Footsmart are very nice,
& I have found good diabetic (I'm not) socks on eBay at:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Worlds-Softest-M...l%3FMyEbayBeta
at about $19.95 for 3 pair. There are also cheaper diabetic socks at eBay & you can get them by the dozen for about $2-$4 a pair.
I have used both and prefer the 'World's Softest'

Socks
 

I can't wear closed-toe shoes, and wear open-toed year-round. So, in the winter socks are my thing.

Around the house I wear alpaca socks. They are extremely soft with a loose knit so don't bind. And they are very warm. This site has the best selection and prices:

AlpacaNation

And, since my shoes are open-toed, I wear fun socks when I go out. Here are two of my favorite places to buy them:

SockWizard

SockLady
.

I found the best flip flop so far and I have quite the collection. The brand is "Cobian" I bought it at Sports Athority. It has a very thick and very soft soul and it is also arched quite well. I plan to get another pair....Of course so far this week my feet feel pretty good. I almost forgot I had neuropathy until one cold day I put on socks.

I've also noticed that some of the more upscale stores are beginning to make flips with better souls. Colombia makes a realy nice one. unfortunately there was only one pair left and it was too big

For hiking I wear a sport crock from the "bite collection" I can't find them anymore. I have 3 pair, 2 black and one baige. They are not the ugly looking ones. They are nice enough to wear for dressier occassions with matching diabetic socks.

However I am on the hunt for a comfortable hiking boot for winter.

Here is another shoe/boot thread from this summer:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...100#post693100

and a comment about fingerless gloves:
 

Here is a thread about fitflop shoes:

http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread140239.html

I have something to add about gloves, too.

I've been using fingerless gloves, for my hands at night (I have a cool bedroom) and driving around. I am finding they are helping my carpal tunnel. Sometimes full gloves make my hands numb. But these inexpensive partial gloves are working well for me.

Member Stillfighting, suggested socks with toes in them, and I am purchasing a pair off Ebay, to try those out as well.

OK comfy socks?
 

Someone from here sent me 3 pair of these [w/stripes] when I'd had cancer surgery 5 years ago! I ordered the solids this summer and they are super!
http://cgi.ebay.com/12-Pairs-Soft-Fu...item588b766594
Just before putting them on? Turn them out and clip all the loose threads-they aren't compatable with PN. I still wear the 5 year old socks and the new ones too! Feet aren't too hot or cold in either summer or winter! [ I wear sandals in winter] IF the top is too tight? Thread-wise? cutting the elastic doesn't destroy the socks at all! Comfy and warm are my key criteria... and they aren't outrageous overall. Good luck! - j

My new socks came and I have worn them for 24hrs now.

They do not make my feet "hot" or burn.

They are made for pilates.

This is what they are:
http://cgi.ebay.com/Pilates-Yoga-Spo...item1c17eef4ce

So far so good.

I really can't stand socks anymore, but these seem to breathe and are very comfortable!

Here is another site with various mechanical issues involving the foot that cause pain:

http://www.footdoc.ca/www.FootDoc.ca...atarsalgia.htm

WalMart today:
 

We went to WalMart today, and by lucky happenstance I found
some adjustable slippers! They have a soft tongue, and velcro over the instep to adjust to swollen feet, etc.

I have so much trouble with my left instep and the scar that throbs all the time now, these certainly were welcome.

They are not fashionable, and are black and faux fur with closed toe for winter, but they were reduced from $15 to $10....so were worth it. They had a whole new shipment in it appears so there were many sizes (not too many small sizes).

I think they are unisex, as I didn't see any in the women's section. They were on an endcap and were easily visible as you walk by.

I am happy... such a small thing, but it is a huge thing for me lately.:rolleyes:

Bumping for new members....

some great tips above...


Socks.
Just wanting to mention that I bought some inexpensive compression (approx $10AU) socks. They're knee high. They're not rated mmHG so guessing they're under 20mmHG. The ones in the pharmacy that are really expensive are much higher rating but I wouldn't try those for my purpose unless I spoke to the doctor first. So, the compression socks are great for me in a flare up if lying in bed for a while. They really have helped me quite a bit.

[I might try an arm sock. They make them for lymphedema. I get problems during my neuropathy flares especially in the one arm where some lymph nodes were removed. I might try that although they're not cheap. I see you can get them for hands as well. That's interesting].

Shoes.
Skechers are making some good ones now for neuropathy (or so they say. not sure if they work or not). I would be careful with the height of the soles in you have balance issues as some of them have these hardish plastic or rubber bits in that bother me. They have step-in ones that don't deal with laces. I'm going to buy a pair and will update. My problem is that I don't allow shoes to be worn in the house :o but that's where I'll be wearing them.