Ideas for sensible shoes?

gracie83

This is not as stupid as it sounds promise! I went to my doctor the other day as I really struggle to walk due to pain in my feet and he told me to just wear sensible shoes and pop a pain killer if I am going for a long walk. (helpful!) Anyway when I got home mum said well did you ask him what he meant by sensible shoes as you wear sensible shoes anyway! I don't wear high heels, the highest heels i have are maybe 1 1/2 inches not really 6 inch towers. I live in trainers, sandals and sensible wide fitting shoes (normally footglove etc) and I am in agony!

So obviously my idea of sensible shoes are not sensible enough so what should I be looking for! I am playing with the idea of really structured walking boots or a really supportive pair of trainers maybe or are their more orthopedic type shoes out there on the internet which are better?

Basically if anyone has found a really comfortable pair of shoes which would help a flat footed, really bad ankle roll, one recovering damaged tendon, oh and a new bunion growing then please let me know! I need to be able to walk!

shazrobo

hiya, i suffer from painful feet too, and i practically live in my crocs, as does my mum, who also suffers with foot problems. don't know if you have tried them?

lostinrates

I guess it might depend on what it causing the pain. If its soft tissue pain (I get sore tendons) trainers might make it worse becuase the extra give makes the soft tissue 'work harder'. With horses, one of the basic tests for lameness is to see whether its worse on hard surface like concrete, or soft surfaces like an areana for just that reason

Skint_Catt

I would have thought the 'footglove' shoes are sensible. You may have to go back to him (while wearing a pair of these) and ask what he thinks? I wouldn't have said crocs would be supportive enough for your ankle.

C xx

love2shopforbargains

There is a shop called Achilles Heel in Glasgow that do various tests etc to get the best fitting footwear for you. Admittedly this is mostly for running but they also do shoes for walking. I am not sure where you are from but maybe there is a shop like this near you that you could go to and get a proper feet analysis.


HTH

geri1965_2

I can't recommend Merrells highly enough - they are the most comfortable shoes I've ever worn! I now have five pairs. I also like New Balance walking shoes, but they are not as good as Merrell.

If you do have a look at some Merrells, have a look at the Chameleon Arc stretch or the Siren Ventilator - those are the most comfortable two that I have.

http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/p-869-merrell-chameleon-arc-stretch-canteen.aspx

http://www.fitnessfootwear.com/p-482-merrell-siren-ventilator-desert-sage.aspx

foreign_correspondent

I wonder what the reason for your painful feet is though? - I would be asking for a bit more of an insight than 'wear sensible shoes' as it sounds like you do already! I find Hi-tec walking trainers very comfy and I have wide-ish feet and walk a lot!

Bayblue

This is puzzling because it does sound as though the shoes you wear currently are sensible, gracie.

Have you thought about investing in a visit to a good chiropodist? I had foot problems and decided to give one a try. I was sceptical when I first went, thinking that they only really helped older people, but he really was very helpful, knowledgeable and even talked about making insoles which mould to my feet. I didn't get them because I have high arches and hate anything touching the middle bit of the sole, but the treatment and advice was still worth it. I'm about to take up exercising so I'm going back next week.

Give one a go, and if you still have the same level of foot pain then you must go back to your GP.

dizziblonde

I buy a lot of my shoes from the Scholl shop. I have the reverse of you in that I have incredibly high arches meaning it feels like I'm wearing high heels most of the time because the pressure of my weight is pressed right down on the very ball of my foot and base of my toes. Because that part of my foot hurts so much, what I tend to do is to lean back on my heels - meaning they hurt like mad as well! Add to that the fact I'm on my feet most of the day at work running around - and I'm pretty much in permanent discomfort. I also walk slightly on the sides of my feet - meaning I'm always going over on my ankles and twisting them as well - if there's a wonky paving stone - I can find it and twist over on it!

The only things I've found that works are - I got a pair of insoles from Scholl that rebalance my feet quite drastically and they make a difference, I tend to live in trainers or Birkenstock type sandals as much as I can, and for work shoes I tend to dip between things from the Scholl shop (they're not all their own brand but from what the girls there tell me it's styles they've bought in that are sensible on your feet), Clarks (although the last pair of Clarks work shoes I got didn't last and impress me), M+S Footglove, and various supermarket loafer type shoes I can put my insoles in. Summer sandals tend to be more comfortable than winter shoes (but risky for your toes when working with children - small boys seem to make a beeline to land on my toes!) - and at the moment my work shoes are a rapidly dying pair of Hush Puppies I think I picked up in Makro for about a fiver a few years ago and am running into the ground while I wait for the winter styles to get back into the shops.

belfastgirl23

I'd say unless you already have a diagnosis you really should go and see a podiatrist. I also have flat feet and a foot that rolls inwards. Orthotic insoles and leg exercises have helped a LOT! You don't need to suffer.

If you have already trodden this road (oops I just noticed the pun) then I'd suggest going to a good running shop and getting fitted for proper trainers. This can make a big difference!

Good luck, it's horrible having leg and foot pain.

Savvy_Sue

If the pain is in the heel, there's a name for it. Which I can't remember right now, although that's probably just as well because I wouldn't want to be giving medical advice ...

I saw a chiropodist for other things, mentioned the heel pain and she demonstrated some simple exercises for stretching my calf muscles and that improved it!

Before seeing her, my GP had referred me to physio, and when I got there they confirmed that the exercises were good.

So, asking for a referral would be worth while!