[cindi1965]

Finally shoes that are cute and my feet can have support when they swell and hurt...I can ALMOST see my feet in Croc heels...I so miss all my shoes, but with the glittery Birks and fun styles of the Crocs..I see a glimmer of hope that I can look "cute" inspite of my ugly bumpy legs!

[catra121]

I miss all my old shoes too. I went through my closet and gave away 38 pairs of shoes and 17 bags of clothes that I can no longer wear because of the RSD. Made me so sad to give away my pretty shoes. Just got a new pair a few weeks ago by the brand Naot. I'd never heard of them before but they are SO comfy...like walking on clouds with no break in period. Because they are mary jane style they give me the support I need (with a strap I can adjust based on how swollen my left foot/ankle is) but are open enough that nothing is touching the most sensitive areas. WAY more than I have ever spent on a pair of shoes before but since I currently have all of 2 pairs I can wear at the moment including these I think they're worth it. Sort of funny though was when I read some online reviews and people complain about where the strap is...but it works perfect for me because any higher on the foot/closer to the ankle and I wouldn't be able to wear them.

[alt1268]

cindi,

I love my size to big crocs. it has been the only thing I have been able to wear for 2 years now. But I sure do miss my other shoes. Sometimes I just open the door and look at them.

[nw31705]

Originally Posted by alt1268

cindi,

I love my size to big crocs. it has been the only thing I have been able to wear for 2 years now. But I sure do miss my other shoes. Sometimes I just open the door and look at them.

Hello everyone, I try so hard not to even think about shoes because they are no longer comfortable. My RSD started in my right great toe and now is progressively becoming full body. I have a pair of orthopedic shoes that I wear for work, but they too hurt. The only shoes I am able to wear are those that have the back out and they have to fit a certain way. All shoes hurt my feet. I use to love shoes so much and now I can't wear them.

[alt1268]

Nw

Have you tried a size to big crocs? Crocs by nature are wide. But maybe if you got a size to big they wouldn't rub. (the winter ones) the other one's have open backs.

[catra121]

I have such a hard time with open back shoes. Most of them hit my ankle right where the pain is the absolute worst. I tried going a size up but then I can't keep them on my feet...and lord knows I don't need anything else to make me MORE clumsy and off balance...lol! I'm also afraid of something bumping me in the open back...guess I've been run into by too many strollers, carts, etc and I just don't trust people anymore so I like the protection. So I tend to prefer shoes that are like ballet flats because I get the protection around my foot but it's open on top so nothing touching the worst area. The mary jane style has worked out great because I could get it a little large and the strap keeps it on my foot.

Like everything else with RSD, I think it's one of those things you just have to play with and try a lot of different things before you find something that works. I can't tell you how many times I have tried to explain to other people how sensitive my ankle is and why most shoes just do not work...but I think they just can't wrap their heads around how much pain is involved. I felt so bad when my parents got me a new pair of New Balance running shoes the Christmas after I first got RSD. I tried to put them on so many times but I just cry trying to put my foot IN the shoes. I've thought about taking them to a shoe repair place to see if they could take all the padding out around the top...then I might be able to wear them. But so far I haven't ever gotten around to trying that.

I have to say that since giving away almost all my old shoes I at least don't feel so bad everytime I look in the closet at all the things I can't wear anymore. That's like a cruel sort of torture...

[kathy d]

Hi Cindi1965 and All,
I gave up all my shoes too since I've had RSD which started as trauma in my right foot and spread EVERYWHERE so I have been full body for almost seven years. I kept all my shoes for about two years and then found out our homeless shelter nearby needed things for the kids and families there (as it was right before Christmas). So, I packed up everything I could not wear (even my sponge bob flip flops;.( ) and donated all of them to the homeless shelter. I have small feet (women's size 6) and I had alot of boy's boots that my son had grown out of but I was able to use for work so I gave them to the kids and all my other nice shoes to the women...along with some work clothes that I was not going to wear. Since then I have given away my entire wardrobe since like we all know when you find something that is comfy you just keep wearing it lol. But it made me feel better that I did that and know it is going to a good cause. It was hard to do to give up the heels that I loved but there is no way I could wear them and I could not see just keeping them. I figure like mentioned above some day when I am healed I can just go buy some new ones since I will have a great job then:.)

I have found the generic Crocs (called Airwalks) that I found in Payless Shoe Stores work the best for me. Crocs have a bar that sits under the toes and causes me lots of pain so I found the generic ones and they are better and cheaper than the real thing. They even make them with fuzzy linings for in the winter and come in all kinds of colors too. I buy them the end of the season and they are even cheaper!! Works for me.
Best of luck to all.
kathy d

[catra121]

I gave away most of my clothes too. Betweem the weight gain and (more importantly) the sensitivity now that the RSD has spread to my upper body and I could not handle anything that fit close to the skin there was just no way I could wear most of my clothes. I'm okay with it...I really had way too many clothes anyway. Now I just add an item here or there and I cannot buy anything without trying it on because it's just too hard to tell if a shirt will hit me in the wrong spot or not unless I am wearing it. People were very generous this Christmas and I was able to pick up some stuff after Christmas with the gift cards and money they gave me. So I very slowly start to feel like a more normal person as I find clothes and shoes that work for me besides sweats and oversized tshirts. Not that I care what other people think...it just makes me feel more normal and therefore happier.

[alt1268]

I dont have rsd of the upper extermities yet. But I can't imagine giving away all my clothes. I can't even get rid of the ones that don't fit. lol

[catra121]

Originally Posted by alt1268

I dont have rsd of the upper extermities yet. But I can't imagine giving away all my clothes. I can't even get rid of the ones that don't fit. lol

This is how I always was before the RSD...never got rid of ANYTHING...much to my boyfriend's dismay...lol! It was so many bags that I gave away and it was honestly partially a relief (though there were a number of items that were actually difficult because they were my favorites) just to have finally unloaded so many things that I really should have gotten rid of years ago. So now we actually have enough room in the closet for all my boyfriend's clothes...lol!

At any rate...I really hope you are never in the position of having RSD in your upper body. One leg is more than anyone should have to deal with in any lifetime.