Shoes for arthritis in big toe joint

[Liloos]

I have arthritis in my big toe joint and need some new shoes. The podiatrist recommended fitflops for summer and seeing as I already wear their flip flops I thought I'd try some of their other shoes. I've tried these trainers, but they were too tight across the widest part of my foot. Can anyone recommend anything similar? I would really like something a bit smarter than trainers/walking shoes, but don't know where to look....

I should have said that the soles need to be rigid without a lot of give to support the toe joint

Not a shoe reccomendation per se but I also have arthritis in the same place and whilst I used to wear fitflops etc I now use a carbon fibre insole instead

Because its rigid your toe joint cannot bend which reduced the pain, and means that so long as your shoes have a relatively flat inside sole and preferrable a removable insole you can wear a wider range of shoes

It means I can now wear shoes and boots again instead of just trainers

Not similar to your photo but Sole Bliss are so comfortable, I have a pair of their Hero trainers and they're like slippers.

solebliss.com

Birkenstocks.

If you've not worn them before, wear them in over the course of a week or two. If they are not rigid enough for you, you can put a rigid insole under the footbed. I remove the footbed completely (I put it in my wellies) and replace it with my prescription orthotics.

Thank you everyone. For those who use rigid insoles, can I please ask if you know the level, IE grade, of your arthritis? I only ask because the podiatrist didn't suggest insoles and I'm wondering if mine is not bad enough/too bad for that to be able to help 🤷‍♀️

Fitflop do a trainer version of the one you linked, might be more forgiving than the leather version. I have wide feet and that style is fine in trainer fabric.

Dr Martens, Hoka, Fitflop Rally, a lot of the Fly London boots/shoes...

Fly wedges work for me as it provides a rocker sole so my toe doesnt need to bend also crocs sandles (with straps)

Ive never had a podiatrist suggest the carbon fibre insoles to me, I found them to be fairly unhelpful with their suggestions tbh

It was a random GP who suggested them to me when i was moaning about my arthritis once

These are what I use

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B0BBGNZK3P?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_mob_b_asin_title

They aren't cheap but i just swap them between shoes and they have been practically life changing to be honest because I have been able to wear a wider range of shoes and they work even better than rocker soles for me, there is no give at all. My feet have never hurt so little

Hope you don't mind me reviving this thread OP. @dimllaishebiaith , did you find that using the insole affected how you walk? I have hip problems on that side and I don't want to make anything worse! I've also found online carbon insoles that only extend under the big toe, do you think they would be better or worse that the ones that go the full width?

That's a well timed question as I had some hip problems last week, but specifically on the day I didn't wear the insoles

I wore some boots without the insoles last week and because I was walking off centre slightly to alleviate pressure on my big toe which was painful without the insole I ended up in a lot of pain in my hip

It made me realise that I have had significantly less hip pain, because I also have a hip problem, since using the insoles probably because I am walking more "normally"

I haven't tried the ones that only go under the big toe, I'm not sure I see the benefit tbh and I would be concerned they would rub more

That's really helpful, thanks! I've just ordered some, it's a bit of a guess for sizing, but fingers crossed. A couple of days ago I ordered some horrifically expensive carbon plate trainers, so hopefully the insole will do the trick and I can send them back!

Physio here just as an aside if you have hip pain on the same side then this may be contributing to your foot symptoms. Often the hip muscles are weak on the same side. If you haven't considered it already then it may be worth thinking about a physio or biomedical podiatrist review to look at the whole leg. It won't take arthritis away but it can help manage symptoms. Good luck

Thanks Louisa. I've had a couple of physio appointments in the last couple of months, and I've been given exercises to strengthen something that I can't remember the name of. The foot consultant and podiatrist recommended the carbon insoles nearly a year ago (the foot problem came before the hip problem). I think I'm at the point where I have to throw everything at it.

I don't know of any shoes I'm afraid. You'd need to check with your podiatrist, but would a toe splint help to stop the joints moving, yet allow the rest of your food to flex?

I get some off amazon that say they are for a size 7 but are quite a but shorter than a size 7 shoe but work perfectly, they don't seem to need to be the exact size

I just saw what you said about your hip problem coming after, I hope these do work for you. The boots I wore the other day used to be what I considered my most comfortable footwear before I found the insoles. I can't believe just how much pain I used to put up with in my foot, knee and hips before I used them. I hope you get the same relief!

I was just about to start a similar thread! My feet are agony at the moment and 12 months after the initial injury and 10 months after the arthritis diagnosis I am still waiting for a podiatrist appointment.

My biggest problem is fitting the toe joint into trainers, so I need some give in the fabric. I do like stylish trainers so any suggestions? My New Balance 237s are good!

Sketchers ? Some are very stretchy in the uppers . Some have arch support.