Smart work flats for plantar fasciitis - Vivaia Izabel?

[HedwigHedgepig]

Another thread about searching for some unicorn shoes - and I could really use your help please, fellow MNs!

I have painful feet following pregnancy - namely plantar fasciitis, some additional issues at play too but that's the biggie right now. PF has been ongoing for a year now, I live in my Hoka trainers and even they're not cutting it like they used to. I'm going back to work soon (public facing office) and I need some smart flats that aren't going to murder my feet. Doesn't seem like that big an ask, and yet...here we are.

I've been drawn to Vivaia Izabels - does anyone have any experience of these, are they decent for PF sufferers? What's the width like?I also like the Iasmin loafers.

https://www.vivaia.com/products/XRPD01010/Izabel?gid=10027744

https://www.vivaia.com/products/XRPD01204/Iasmin?gid=10027824

Honestly, the price makes me baulk but this is the cost of having hooves like mine, there's not much I can do about it. That said, I'm loath to drop hundreds of pounds on a single pair of shoes that I'll only know are suitable or not once I've worn them past the point of being able to return them.

I'm also open to other suggestions that work with PF. I'm specifically looking at closed toe flats with arch support. Heels are out of the question due to arthritis in my big toes, which also requires a roomy toe box. My feet are regular width usually but I can take wide depending on brand. I walk to work (15/20 mins each way) in all weathers, so would need something comfy and water resistant if possible. Bonus if they have removable insoles (but not essential). I'd like something stylish 🙂 but I know I have to take what I can find with these criteria.

I would love to hear your suggestions please, there must be a shoe out there for me. Thanks if you've read this far, I appreciate it's a bit of an essay/list of demands!

I can't wear inserts in anything apart from boots and trainers (even lace-up shoes) because my heels are so narrow the added height under them makes the shoes flop off my heels. I think I might look for some fitflops and vionics on Vinted, good suggestion.

FitFlops were the best for me when I had PF, and they usually do a couple of ballet pump or loafer styles which are smart enough for most jobs.

It's like a Green Party Vegan get together in here with those hideous things.
😆

Think I have largely tried everything including a plantar cure device. What has really helped is losing two stone and starting pilates. The regular stretching and weight loss I suspect has made the most difference.

I have fit flop trainers, ecco trainers for work as they are smart, and vionic trainers [two wide] and mostly live in Brooks running shoes with orthopaedic inserts if I'm not in the office. I've had steroid injections in one foot after about a year of physio and shockwave therapy. That sorted that foot but the other one kicked off then. It was all coming to a head and the jabbed foot was starting again when I started pilates and started to lose weight so thus far I have avoided a second jab and most days I get up now and it is ok.

You need to be careful with Fitflop. They destabilise your posture in order to work muscles but left me with sacroiliac joint issues.

Fitflop and vionic are good for Plantar Fasciitis. Don't walk barefoot and do calf stretches multiple times a day for a month at least.

I have had many bouts of PF which was not great when running a restaurant! I found that ECCO shoes had the support I needed (my favourite lace ups are now on their last legs but are 5 years old and we're worn for 12 hours, more on Friday and Saturday, for 3 of those years). The do all sorts of styles and although they seem expensive they do last!

Can you get the PF fixed? I had 18 months of the most debilitating PF, walked with a crutch etc etc, had 6 sessions of shock wave therapy and it was gone!

I also also rate Fit Flops for PF and also, slightly more randomly, Ariat boots if anyone needs any dog walking boots or the like. They are like slipping your feet into (arch supportive) clouds when the pain is making you want to strangle someone 😵. I got mine at a local saddlery. I went in 'just to try some on' and had to buy them. Almost orgasmic relief from the pain!

I had quite severe plantar and it ruined a lot of days out for me. Tried the usual ortho insoles , stretches . Then my podiatrist asked if I would consider acupuncture. Four needles which hurt like hell but within minutes I felt a tingling and two days later , it was completely gone never to return .

Oh good. Yes let’s have excruciating painful feet instead. Far more important than comfort and being able to walk around with minimal pain…..

Treat the P.F. first ( shockwave/taping) & then invest in some customised insoles that can be moved from shoe to shoe. I can wear any platform trainers now with my personalised insoles.
Oofos are the best shoes for PF I live in their platform flioflops & slides. I've been pain free for the last year after really bad p.f. that was impossible to shift.

Sounds fabulous!

I also recommend fit flops. I had severe PF in both feet - at the same time, after an ankle injury, lasted years and was agonisingly painful. Decent physio (and insoles) helped a lot.

I suffered for years and then it just went. I found fit flop shoes the best. I didn’t find vivaia that good
ive got these and they’re very comfortable
https://www.fitflop.com/uk/en/shop/delicato-soft-leather-mary-janes-p-E3D#090

Vivaia is totally the best when you can't wear trainers, but I've got a bunion

I got PF after wearing ballet flats and, given how fashionable they are right now, I wonder how many more will be suffering. I recovered by wearing FitFlop loafers with built in arch support and a deep sole. I suppose what I mean is a structured shoe or sandal rather than something really flat

Those shoes are absolutely awful. Get yourself booked in for some Shockwave therapy, it really works.

Just put Superfeet Green insoles into flat, supportive shoes of your choice.

ETA: flat but with a small heel. Not completely flat like ballet flats. More like a loafer. Also do lots of calf raises.

I know this isn’t your question, but I found this video of exercises and it made such a huge difference for me so quickly, sorry I can’t help with the shoe question!

m.youtube.com/watch?v=AyRVlslcjv0&ra=m

I'm pretty sure ballet flats destroyed my feet.
I'd avoid honestly, especially forking out 100s

No idea about shoes, but rolling my feet on a spiky ball helped

Flats and plantar fasciitis don’t work, you need a minimum 1 inch heel, to be honest I cleared mine by wearing 4 inch wedges most work days in summer and 3 inch courts in winter and took about 2 years of this for it to heal.

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My Birkenstocks Montana are the only shoe which currently doesn’t set mine off. I replaced my Birkenstock sandals recently with a similar style from Moshulu (they also do cork footbeds) and today is going to be their first outing, so I’m hoping they’ll also be the right sort of support.