AIBU to ask what shoes help painful flat feet

[Tworoads]

I don't know where else to ask this. My husband has always had flat feet but now he is middle aged and it's got pretty bad - causes sore knees and instep. He has been to the doctor (not very helpful), been to various foot clinics/podiatrists. They have sold him an assortment of expensive insoles that don't work. I have done my own searches on Amazon and have bought more types of insoles (none of them any use to him). Have also bought Plantar Fasciitis socks(day and also the night version). No good.
He's pretty down about the whole thing. I want to help. All that seems to work is foot massage. Much as I love him, I don't want to be following him around doing that all the time! (hope that's not being unreasonable). I think that the right shoes will make an enormous difference.
So, my question is: what everyday men's shoes have you successfully tried to solve painful flat feet. He doesn't need smart work shoes - just trainers or similar will do fine.
Anything, ANYTHING you can suggest will be great.

I read someone who swears she cured her plantar fasciits with heat - feet on a hot water bottle. Mine has got better, but I'm not really sure why.

Have you tried a physiotherapist? It might be possible to sort out the underlying problem with exercises etc. Insoles don't tackle the root cause.

Can he get a gait assessment from a running shop?

There are also exercises you can do to strengthen the feet.

I had flat feet as a child. I used to wear Kickers/Doc Martin type shoes that supported the ankle, as well as orthopaedic insoles. I also used to have physiotherapy, which involved a lot of picking up Lego with my toes. I recently was assessed at Up and Running for some trainers and they said that I had the most well-balanced feet that they had seen for a while - I was amazed, but it must have meant that whatever I did worked.

I do/have all of the following:
Orthotics custom-fitted to the feet (rather than off-the-shelf 'insoles').
Put them inside Asics trainers.
Wear Crocks in the house as slippers.
Use a shiatsu kneading foot massage machine. I have a Carevas one from Amazon that cost around £150 and I use it every night.
Yoga toes to wear in the bath.
Reflexology treatments as a treat.

Has he had custom insoles made?

Agree, get him booked in for a professional gait assessment at a running shop. They will get him on a treadmill and video his ankles / knees as he moves in different shoes to find the best ones. Taking in an old pair of shoes with part-worn soles can help start the process too as they'll show how his foot strikes in the wear pattern.

I'm in the same boat as your DH, years trying custom made insoles via my podiatrist, exercises via my physio you name it i tried it and nothing worked at all.. Plus i have Osteoarthritis and tendonitis in my ankle.
My saviour has been FitFlops, theyre so light and the soul is totally bouncy, i dont have the pain i had when i put weight on my feet and theres a soft but supportive arch support that unlike my previous insoles doesn't make my feet ache after 5 minutes!
Bit pricey, but they have regular sales.. I actually walk normally now instead of limping like an old lady..

Feet problems are often a symptom of other physical conditions.
Is he healthy and fit otherwise? A good weight? Fit?

Oh and i always wore out the outside edge of my soles really quickly which tilted my feet/ ankles even more, but i've worn my FitFlops for 2 years so far and the soles are still totally flat!

I had awful plantar fasciitis for a couple of years and it was completely sorted by wearing a pair of fit flop suede lace up trainers. My husband also suffers from flat feet and struggles with shoes, so I'm following this with interest.

Definitely see a physio. I thought my flat arches were the cause of my knee and hip pain, turns out they weren't! They can do a full body assessment and see if there's anything underlying

I wear croc type shoes indoors too - fleece lined from Lidl. They are 100% the most comfortable shoes I own. My feet are totally flat and I have a bunion.....

Fitflops are the only shoes I can wear with any comfort.

Vionic are very good for painful feet

Birkenstock slippers at home, especially if you have hard floors!

I have struggled with this for the past 10 years and it runs in my family so well researched problem.

You DH needs custom insoles that can give him the specific pressure release /support he needs. They are also softer and more comfortable yet more supportive than off the shelf items. A good pair can cost £200-£400 but it lasts decades so well worth it.

I gave found that specific shoe brands and styles help. ASICS gel range of shoes are a life saver. Again pricey, but game changer. For work I use Hotter boots which have room for my custom insoles.

If you are in London then orthotics-online store at cavendish street are the best people that can help. They can even make custom shoes for him.
www.orthotics-online.co.uk/

From a place of having injured knees due to flat feet and not being able to walk/do stairs...I can do anything I want now including running.

Sadly my DDs are following my footsteps and my teen uses Docmarten shoes. Again they are pricey but it makes a world of difference to her day.

Please PM me if you wish and I am happy to share more details.

I bought some fantastic things called “diabetic sicks”. No, I’d never heard of them either!
Brilliant things, American I think. They’re basically two pairs of socks with a thick, gel inside between the two layers. Not cheap but I’ve found them worth every penny. My feet do t hurt for the first time in years.

Can’t do links, don’t know how. Will look at my ordering history tomorrow and come back,

Diabetic socks, not sicks 🙄

I had this issue and Sketchers have saved my life, I literally never wear any other kind of shoe now. The gowalk ones with yoga mat I personally find the best but memory foam ones are also good. And never have bare feet, even at home have Sketchers slippers or Birkenstock sandals in summer. (Ok yes that’s the other shoe brand I use now!) Also really recommend gel heel pads, especially the ones with a softer blue spot in the centre. I also did have steroid injections for plantar fasciitis which helped me loads. I went to that place on Cavendish St but the insoles were super pricey and unfortunately didn’t help me that much. Definitely lose weight too if there is weight to lose.

Wow! Amazing, all of you!
My husband is not overweight, just a bit chunky. Bad knees run in his family. His mum had a knee replacement and one of his sisters have too. If you watch him walk from behind, he rolls in to the middle so I think that he's kind of out of plumb!
He has had orthotics made for him but they haven't done the trick. I have got him to do some stretches by hanging his heel over the step and flexing up and down (read somewhere that it helps - it didn't).
I am looking at the Fitflops and will certainly get him some to see if they do the trick.
Physio might be worth a go too - kind of treating the whole body rather than just the feet. Yes, it makes sense.
Reading how some of you have got rid of your plantar fasciitis is amazing! And going running now! Good for you! Well done.