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!

So I've decided not to bother with the Vivaia flats, it's bound to be a waste of money and I'll end up with painful feet. Thanks everyone for talking me down! Glad to see they work for some people though.

Instead I took a trip to the local Hotter on Sunday and found some loafers that seem comfortable, so I'm giving them a try. They're not actually as frumpy as I was convinced they'd be, and whilst they're not going to be winning any gorgeous shoe awards, they're perfectly sensible for the office and I'm happy with them (for now at least!). I've had Hotter shoes before and found them really comfy (looking at you, Tourist II sandals) so I'm hoping that will continue, though my feet weren't this bad before. We'll see.

Thanks all for the Skechers recommendations, I still want a pair but it seems the ones I want have been discontinued! I'm hoping I'll find a pair on vinted if I keep a watchful eye out. I've realised they need to be Arch Fit so I can remove the insole and use my own orthotic, sizing remains an issue though as Skechers run big (I'm measuring 4.5 in current styles but that was too small in the style I want - crossing fingers that 5.5 will be a good fit with my orthotics). I've also got a pair of recovery slide Crocs on the way to me to use as house shoes, another style that won't be winning any fashion awards but if they're as comfy as all the reviews say then I don't care!

Other than that, I'm thoroughly sick of thinking about shoes 😂 I can't begin to articulate how envious I am of women who can just throw any pair of shoes on and get on with their day, it's legitimately a super power. After all this palaver of ordering online and sending back and selling on, I'm on the verge of setting up a fickle foot shoe shop - it would be so much easier if I could just try on several pairs of suitable shoes in person!

Thanks also for those recommending shockwave therapy - I've found a local clinic who could do this and I'm seriously considering it as an option. I'm going to try giving up breastfeeding first and see if I get any improvement after my hormones settle, along with losing weight - I'm the heaviest I've ever been outside of pregnancy and I'm definitely overweight, it's been impossible to shift but I'm going to have to give myself a kick up the arse because I can't enjoy myself when my feet are so sore. Thank goodness for 30°c heat being such an appetite killer 😎

A gentle word of encouragement to GET THE SHOCKWAVE NOW! My PF started after I'd lost 2 stone, you can imagine how appalled I was!

How are you getting on with the device? Are you seeing any improvement yet? Appreciate it might be too early to say.

Thanks @singthing

I bought that device too & it didn't help.
My foot specialist said its useless & doesnt do anything, its a big con & should never have been sold.
It did make me feel like I was doing something to help myself though.

@Cantonet argh that's disappointing! I hadn't bought it yet but I'd let myself hope that it might be the cure! Anyone else had any more luck with it? I wonder if it's one of those things that work for some but not for others.