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 have those exact sketchers pumps and they look smart for work and are very comfortable.

These are incredibly comfortable, have a fantastic wide toe box that straightens out toes (this is really important for foot health) and go in the washing machine on a gentle cycle:

https://repetto.com/en/collections/sneakers-activewear-collection/products/ruban-dance-sneakers-petal-pink-v087r-047-en

I did this for years - getting insoles etc. to try to help with the pain. Then I found a brilliant doctor who did shockwave/ soundwave therapy on my foot. It was a 15 minute session one a week for 4 weeks then years of agony were over.

I can't help with the shoes other than what has already been suggested but I do recommend the device that someone as posted above. Also when my was bad I had weekly physio on my feet and special insoles and this all helped massively.

I have also had PF for decades.

I usually wear fitflops - trainers, boots and most recently their mary jane styles. All pretty comfy even walking quite a lot. And their flip flops round the house.

I recently got some vivaia flats as well. Still quite comfy but recommend adding in a gel heel pad.

(I also wear zero/minimum drop trainers at the gym. They have consistently been the best fo rmy feet above thickly padded styles)

1. So to pp saying that flat shoes are the "worst thing" for PF - tell that to my feet! 😆
2. And to pp calling referring to sketchers - there's no t in the brand name (mandela effect).

I don't have any Sketchers pumps

I have these pumps and they are great.

Sorry, I quoted the wrong person!

Someone probably has already said this, but I’ve found a slight (like wedged - not high) heel is important. Defo not totally flat shoes. I average 12000-16000 steps a day for commuting and the day job and have sworn by DMs for the last three years.

@singthing can you recommend a gel heel pad?

My physio used to do occupational health work with NHS staff, and they noticed that Sketchers were a common factor in PF issues amongst clinicians, so I’m avoiding them.

I rid myself of planar fasciitis by being totally uncompromising about footwear, and wearing PhysioWarehouse insoles (the medium ones, about £30) inside my Asics novoblast, so I had cushioning and great arch support.

i told work it was a medical issue (no lie!) and those were the only shoes i ik could wear

nobody really cared i do not think

hope yours heals up soon it can be agony

i can wear normal shoes again now

Podiatrists hate ballet flats. They make you claw your toes to walk.

I have been wearing Ecco shoes for years but don’t like the summer ones. I recently bought these shoes and they are honestly a dream comfort wise. Insoles are removable and washable. https://www.soletrader.co.uk/ilse-jacobsen-tulip-shoes/ijtulipb?sku=IJTULIPB112704&srsltid=AfmBOoqQgU9jx_dZQi2V3v9MABVJKzr16ELzmH04QYBRcZsupdO97kwtINQ

The ones I have are from Boots own range. They are green and have an additional firmer sort of 'plug' in the middle. I can't see them on the website now though unfortunately. I think they cost something like £15-20 a set.

I have tried loads and have consistently come back to these ones. The main part is well made (mine are years, if not decades, old!) and the extra middle bit adds support where others sag a bit.

DD suffered badly with PF and had these in black for school. They were the only thing that she could cope with. As comfy shoes go, they’re ‘not too ugly’ her words, now aged 22.

https://www.hotter.com/shake-ii-shoes-black-1123?_gl=1l8m8m9_upMQ.._gaMTQzMDE3NTY2OC4xNzc5NTQ1NDI2_ga_CB191CFRZ6*czE3Nzk1NDU0MjMkbzEkZzEkdDE3Nzk1NDU1MDEkajQ3JGwwJGg2MjgwNDIxOTQ.

Beware if you also have high arches. These are cut high and may dig in. I often find this with ballet shoes.

I usually wear Tods loafers, but more recently tried Skechers Slip Ins when I had a bad flareup of PF. They are really comfortable and I haven't had a serious flare up since. That was 18 months ago.

I've just branched out into Sole Bliss. It took me a while because they're really expensive, but I find them amazing and well worth the money.

I had PF but it eased after I started exercising, lost weight and stopped using seed oils and much less UPF. As for shoes, I now stick to Birkenstocks mostly, some New Balance trainers work depends on the model though. Flat ballet shoes are a total no go.

Camper shoes with ortholite foot bed are amazing

I’ve linked these as an example but lots of styles

Price is a draw back but comfort and quality amazing and they are guaranteed for 2 years.

I have some work shoes I wear most days still going even longer than that and just need to be wiped over.

https://www.camper.com/en_GB/women/shoes/dea/camper-dean-K201866-001

sketchers! Probably a lot better budget wise too & they do a wider fitting if needed which will help the toes.

you can get insoles that go in normal shoes but ti be honest I found switching to sketchers helped more.

there are exercises you can do, roll a bottle ot tennis ball under your foot. Do stretches on the first step off the stairs - look this one up via google cos depending on arthritis it might not be a go. But its basically using the step to put the front half of your foot on then balancing to stretch the back

walking and being consistent with it despite the pain also helps.

the pain can and does go away & honestly getting out of bed and not having searing pain in your feet is under rated!