Flip Flops
 

Hello, my P/N in my feet has got worse over the years at first numb and some pain but now after 16 years my toes have got worse. Not all toes just a few on each foot kind of tender spots on the middle bottoms of the toes. I have had this type of pain in the past but it was like around the nails and would go away after a few weeks. My question is, i wear flip flops alot as they feel good on my feet but now i am reading that flip flops can cause people with P/N more foot problems. Does anyone have any info. on this? Thanks...

Hi Dexter
I don't have PN - but here in Florida we wear flip-flops year round. I was finding the regular kinds making my feet uncomfortable, and read about how they are not healthy to wear regularly.
I have started wearing Okabashi flip flops- which are US made and ergonomically designed and I would highly recommend them! My feet are more comfortable than they have ever been and I have the Maui style for around the house and the Splash (with an ever so slightly elevated heel) for going out.

Thank you, i will look at these. I just don't want to put my feet in anymore trouble than they are in, so if wearing these is an issue with causing more damage i want to stay far away from the type i have.

Well my 2cents for whatever it's worth, I've NEVER grown to wear flip flops. I need and want support and for the numbness and feet issues I live with for probably the last 10 yrs since hip replacement mess, I use topical creams and ointments on my feet, do this morning and night, and wear socks all the time....and sturdy shoes...

The regular flip flops without proper arch and heel support do apparently mess with our feet.
The Okabashi's are specifically designed for maximum support in all the areas most needed, with the extra bonus of non-slip soles!

My daughter in her big days of these type shoes word FitFlops and they have nice arch support etc but now with her damaged feet from Cipro class of abx drugs, she needs to wear enclosed arch shoes...

Flip flops (Jandals in NZ) are available in a range of styles.

I wear them in summer and don't have PN.

Flip Flops
 

I would advise against using these type of shoes. Neuropathy develops usually due to micro-vascular damage in the legs and feet. Therefore, because of the vascular damage, cuts and sores heal slower. The longer it take to heal, there is increased chances of infections. A diabetic shoe is best for anyone with neuropathy, diabetic or non-diabetic. The flip flops just don't provide enough protection.

I recalled there was really great information on this forum regarding shoes. Also in the Sub-Forum PN Tips etc.. I went looking for my own needs and found a lot of the threads I remembered from way back by using the forum Search feature. Some have broken links unfortunately, but one member in particular, Wing42, had posted on a number of threads about shoes.

example : https://www.neurotalk.org/117751-post31.html

You can run a forum search and come across a lot of older threads where it was discussed in depth.

https://www.neurotalk.org/search.php

I live in very hot climate but have a lot of trouble with shoes mainly because my feet just feel like heavy numb weights a lot of the time and the rest of the time they're so painful I can't walk at all but I have acreage so need to be out working as much as possible.

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[I don't usually post on PN forum for myself but for reference I want to say... My neuropathy was caused by treatment for metastatic melanoma that I was only able to tolerate for a week. It was first line treatment combo Mekinist and Trametinib Targeted Therapy. I have the BRAF gene mutation. Neuropathy was up to the knees in both legs and appeared almost overnight. Now on a different met mel treatment called Keytruda (a miraculous Immunotherapy) and thankfully my neuropathy has receeded a year later and is mainly only really bad in my feet and ankles ... like socks. Oncologist suggests it will go completely but I can't see that happening. It hit a plateau and has been at that stage for about 6 months without relief.]

I haven't worn a pair of shoes in many years. I ONLY wear flip flops, as putting on socks or a pair of shoes sends me through the roof in pain.

After many trials, I have found Vionics as a superior choice. They are about 70 bucks online (also found in specialty shoe stores, just Google Vionics). I wear them everyday and they last me about 2 years, which is incredible. They keep their excellent arch support the whole time.

I recently went to a podiatrist to remove an ingrown wart on the bottom of my foot and the Dr. Mentioned she was glad I found Vionics, because she felt they were the best there is.

Hole this helps!