Seen a couple of posts from others suffering horrendous foot pain, like me, but no reference to supportive footwear. Basically my pain came on about 203 months ago, no idea what triggered it. I have Type 2 diabetes and at first was terrified I had developed or was developing peripheral neuropathy. The pain actually started in my right hand - tingling then numbness in my index and middle finger, then also my thumb. Strange burning sensation too. And at times the odd feeling of tingling and numbness at the same time! I know how strange and contradictory that sounds. Then it developed in my right foot, and later also started in my left foot, which is by far the worst of all. It is utterly agonising and although I've never broken any toes it feels as my toes are broken. I can hardly bend them. GP sent me to Physio attached to our surgery, which was a total waste of time.
I should say I have been diagnosed previously with Arthritis which when in flare up can make my knee swell enormously. So I thought maybe it was Arthiritis in nature and had developed in my feet too. The hand I thought might be carpel tunnel. Anyway, having got nowhere with the clinic physio I went private and that physio said it was all connected to the sciatic nerve and nothing to do with diabetes or arthritis. She did a massage down one side of my spine only, didn't even touch my feet, asked me to return in a week or so saying she would include accupuncture. I did have an appointment which they cancelled due to someone having attended their practice who then rang the following day to say they had covid, which meant they had to close for a deep clean so were forced to cancel all appointments for the next 48 hours, which has had the knock-on effect of having to reshuffle everyone who was booked in to different days. I haven't had my new appointment date confirmed yet.
In the meantime I saw a podiatrist locally last week as I've been struggling to cut my toenails, and she was lovely and it was a very good experience except she told me I had fallen arches and was completely flat footed and the Sketchers I was wearing whilst good for cushioning and comfort are completely the wrong type of footwear for flat feet. She advised me to buy trainers or just properly supportive footwear and I have spent ages looking online to no avail. I prefer touch-fasten as I struggle with laces due to the numbness in my right hand. She too said the pain I'm feeling is not connected to diabetes in any way but to being flat footed and wearing incorrect footwear...
Can anyone suggest or recommend walking shoes that are touch fastening and would be properly supportive for a flat footed person such as myself? I've got search fatigue and just want some decent shoes that will help me with my posture and enable me to get out and about again as I used to. The podiatrist said I needn't pay 'Hotters' prices, just get some good trainers or similar, and I've been searching for days and got nowhere. I left a message asking if she could recommend a brand but I haven't had any response yet. I would really appreciate hearing from anyone who suffers similar and has found the holy grail in shoes!