aargh! 'Comfortable' shoes???

[TiredyMcTired]

I've been told I have plantar fasciitis, and among the other advice I've had, I've been told I need to wear comfortable shoes that provide cushioning, support my foot and preferably have arch support or room to add arch support.
I'm in lots of discomfort so I want to follow the advice, but I can't wear trainers to work and would prefer not to wear trainers when I'm on holiday. Has anyone got any recommendations for decent footwear that is both reasonably stylish and supportive? Or if you've had plantar fasciitis, which shoes worked for you? I don't want to spend the summer in clunky shoes

[BuntyBlue]

I don't have pf but do have foot issues, so have to wear sensible, supportive shoes.

I struggle to be honest, but have had some success with sketchers, they do a massive range and very comfortable, the sizing is big though. Also have a look at the Shuropody website, they do some ok styles. Good old Clarks is serving me quite well too.

Good luck with your search and I hope you become pain free soon, foot issues are rubbish.

[BuntyBlue]

Oh and if you do get orthotics, I have bought a few pairs of loafers in a size bigger than usual, that they work well with.

[Ohchristmastreeohchristmastree]

Yokono shoes are great - they do loads of styles, heights and colours. I have got two pairs of tan sandals this year and they are both great.

[pinkskyinthecity]

About 5 years ago, I was diagnosed with low arches and I had to throw away all my ballerina flats and the birkestocks I wore that day I hobbled home for 45mins instead of the usual 20mins. In Winter, I wear Fitflops Mukluks mostly, some kind of shoe with a decent heel, lace-ups like brogues, Geox chelsea boots and other boots. In this weather, I wear Teva sandals, lighter shoes with a heel and some Boden plimsoles. I can't get on with Converse anymore. I've just ordered a new American sandals called GH Bass 'Joanne' and 'Ida' and am awaiting them to be shipped. Took me awhile to sort out what I like and what cushioning I can get, but found the UK brands aren't to my liking so ended up ordering from the US. In most of the shoes I wear, I have the insoles that I got from the NHS and paid for duplicates directly with a supplier. Did you get insoles?

Indoors, I wear granny'slip-on slippers that I buy from Pavers. I think you can get something similar to that German shoe shop Detriech or something of that spelling. Other slippers i wear Zara birkie-style slip on sandals.

I can get away with wearing sandals that aren't that cushioned and without an insole, but only for short distances. On the odd ocassion it has been known, I may be drunk and not notice the pain when I wear high heels! (blush)

[TiredyMcTired]

Sorry I've not been back on sooner, last night was a bit of a panic as father in law taken into hospital.

Thanks so much for the recommendations, I'll be searching the brands you've recommended and I am going to try to get out to our local shuropody & clarks today. I think we have a pavers in town too so will have a look.

I've looked at fitflops, seem to be very cushioned, but I'm not sure if they have enough arch support?

[ChishandFips33]

I have PF, RA and Morton's Neuroma so my feet are delicate and agony!

I wear Orthoheel slim fit insoles in most of my shoes/boots which tend to be flats or very low heel - the insoles mean I size up on shoes but make a massive difference! Go to Boots and try all the pairs - they need wearing in but you should notice an instant difference

The soles of shoes make a difference - if they are slightly chunkier and made from rubber it helps

I wear: crocs clogs for slippers at home and another pair for the garden

Crocs wedges (leather upper/cork heel) and crocs flip flops

Gumbies wellies - I don't need my insoles

Ecco gladiator sandals - no insoles needed with crocs or Ecco as they have arch support

Karrimoor walking sandals - arch support and adjustable straps :-)

Clerks are good too - brogues have been good as the laces add to the support

Its all been trial and error for me but when I find a comfy pair, I buy in every colour and buy back ups!! I was in ugly shoes for far too long and not being in pain is worth every penny!

Good luck

[maggiethemagpie]

They're fugly as hell, but 'hotter' shoes are very comfortable.

[Beautifullymixed]

Crocs indoor for slippers.
These have been a godsend and as soon as I step inside - they are on my feet. Bliss.

Crocs flip flops are brill. Modern looking too.
I love my birkenstocks, and treat myself every year. Only Madrid though, and glossy patent fashionable colours.
Trainers, nike juvenate at the moment. Like cushions.
My PF has been kicked into touch for a couple of years now.

[DubiousCredentials]

Look carefully past the granny styles and some Hotter shoes are fine. I have these and they are really comfy and often complimented.

[AuntieStella]

Clarks have brought out the old Polyveldt shoe again

www.clarks.co.uk/p/26113985

Very comfortable and supportive.

Brogues from there (the styles with a decent depth sole) could be a shoe for work.

[DameDiazepamTheDramaQueen]

Clark's and sketchers are good

[TiredyMcTired]

Wow, thanks everyone! Some fantastic recommendations, and lots for me to look for, I'm hopeful that I can get some foot wear that will help now
I was looking at crocs chishandfips, as there are some great looking flip flops and even pumps, so I think I'll try them too
Clarks polyveldts!!!! I know they are comfy, but I have horrific memories of my mum insisting I wear them when I was at school in the 80's because they could fit the plastic heel cups I had from the chiropodist for my flat feet! When everyone else was wearing pixie boots and looking like Kim Wilde, I was stomping around in my polyveldts looking like my Dad

[TiredyMcTired]

Wow, have just checked out Clarks though and I have to eat my words! There are a gorgeous pair of shoes called Tustin, which are actually really quite a fab take on the polyveldts! And in the sale! Love a bargain I do!

[TiredyMcTired]

www.clarks.co.uk/p/26117548

[pinkskyinthecity]

TiredyMcTired - Did you get insoles to use from podiatry?

ChisandFips33
I wear Orthoheel slim fit insoles in most of my shoes/boots which tend to be flats or very low heel - the insoles mean I size up on shoes but make a massive difference

When I was at the podiatry clinic, I was advised foot exercises as I suffer with bad aching pains first thing in the morning if I don't, so for a few mins. twizzle my feet and then, arch my foot back and forth so that I'm stretching the muscles before I get out of bed. If I don't do this, I'd be hobbling down the stairs, step-by-step taking my time. (It doesn't help if I need the toilet in the middle of the night!). I do this daily now but the pains are still there after all this time, but the podiatrist did say PF could be cured eventually... Hmm, 5 years on and it's still with me though.

[Absolutelynothingelse]

These are the most comfortable shoes you will ever wear

www.clarks.co.uk/p/20312837

[ChishandFips33]

I had that advice too - I tried all sorts (even sleeping on tummy with feet hooked over end of mattress to stretch the muscles/tendons) but nothing helped - the insoles were nothing short of a miracle! I literally hobbled to boots close to tears and returned more or less walking freely with little pain

[bobbinpop]

Ecco shoes are worth a try

[pinkskyinthecity]

ChishandFips33 - does that mean you don't need to exercise anymore? Some footwear, I can get away without wearing insoles ie. sandals but over long distances I wouldn't be able to walk more than 5 miles at a slow pace. Today, I wore my plimsolls and as they're a size 3 which is half a size too small, I got away without feeling much discomfort. I knew I wouldn't be walking too far.

[OhTheRoses]

Orthotics are great. You need shoes with removable insoles. Hotter, Ecco, Clarks all do some. You also need really old fashioned shoe shops with great stocks of things like Romika, Gabor, etc. Try Shirtlands or Johnson's. Shoon are good too. There's a relatively unfugly slip on sandal with built in orthotic.

My physio advised against fitflops while feet, knees, backs are on recovery stage.

This is rather sad but the best thing I have done is to put an orthotic in a pair of Hotter slippers. Don't forget how often you wear your slippers and I really helps first thing. Was diagnosed three years ago and just righting itself now.

[TiredyMcTired]

Thank you, so much for all this advice, I really appreciate it! I have bought some Orthaheel inserts and some vasyli ones from my Physio (but they won't fit in my slightly narrower shoes).

I like some of the Hotter styles, and have also discovered a range of shoes called Vionic Orthaheel, some alright looking sandals in that range which all have support.

I'm a bit horrified at the 5 and 3 year timescales though, how awful for you to have that pain for all that time

Out of interest has anyone with PF ever used a night splint and did it make a difference?

When I get my new shoes I'll be back to post photos

[ChishandFips33]

Pinksky no I don't feel the need to exercise since the insoles. I wake on a morning able to walk normally so gone are the days of the old lady morning shuffle!

Tiredy I considered night splints but found the insoles before I explored that avenue - I guess it really is an individual journey

My DH pulls my toes and does lovely foot rubs (for relief of the neuroma pain), bliss!! I was chuffed when the foot surgeon said he recommended this to keep everything in line and hopefully avoid surgery as long as possible

[FashionLover1]

I would try these

[leedy]

I had PF for nearly a year though have been more or less pain free since last year, hoorah!

For me, Birkenstocks were amazing (even though my GP was dubious about the lack of cushioning in the heel), I have very low arches and the extra firm arch support gave me massive relief, much better than the supportive insoles I tried (though I did find out I could get similarly firm orthotics made if I'd wanted). Lived in the sandals until I discovered that they also did shoes and trainers. Once I was improving slightly I could also wear some trainers (Nike Roshe were good). Fitflops were awful, ditto anything that didn't have an obvious arch support/had a very flat insole.

I did also do all my podiatrist-recommended exercises, loads of calf-stretches, and eventually got a cortisone shot into my heel when those didn't clear it up on their own, which (though not immediately) made a massive improvement. Also got a night splint but my pain more or less went before I had a chance to try it properly (I still have it in case it comes back...). I'm still wary of unsupportive shoes, but haven't had any serious pain in a long time.

[knowler]

I've got PF and my birkenstocks are very comfy too because of the arch support. I do however find FitFlops good - I think this is because my problem is not so much low/dropped arches, but the heel pain and FitFlops are good at spreading the pressure across the foot rather than all on the heel. (And they're not just flipflops, they do loads of 'proper' shoes/sandals). I also love Sketchers and bought some sketchers slippers for wearing round the house as barefoot is just a no-go.