My physical therapist recommended a brand of shoes called PW Minor. This company makes shoes especially for people with foot problems, including shoes with extra depth so that AFOs can fit in them. Are they comfortable? I don’t know because I don’t have any sensation in my feet, but neither do I have any new problems with them. Their website is at [url]www.pwminor.com[/url] .

My feet hurt no matter what. I’m not able to wear flip flop or sandals because my numbness makes it hard to keep them on my feet.

Now that I’m no longer in AFO’s I have switched to slip on rubber soled flats. so far they are all the same pain wise. I really miss my stylish heels. Sigh.

I’m new to GBS (1/1/09 onset.) I keep hoping I’ll hear good news, but my neurologist thinks I need to accept that I won’t be wearing my designer shoes anymore. Sigh.

At least I’m not comfined to tennis shoes anymore! I had to remove my links to my favorite shoe companies, because it just makes me sad.

I’m very happy you found something that helps with the pain.

regards,
Noni

I wear new balance. I now have CIDP(GBS first) I wear an AFO on the left leg. When I do my pool exercise i have another pair of New balance for that becoause i dont wear the brace in the pool and cant stand to be bare foot.

Whenever there is something symmetric as it sounds like this is with two patches on the outside of the heels where the skin is sensitive, often it is good to think about shoes as a possible cause in addition to all the other mentioned above. I know that you just had the Oscars dance/party and that you were trying to get new shoes to wear that looked nice. Do you think that they rubbed against your heels and that you did not feel it because of the neuropathy? Does it look like bruises? People can also have allergic reactions to new shoes or, as Dawn says, there could be a combination reaction with immunoglobulin and new shoes. If there is any possibility of it being an allergic reaction, a hydrocortisone cream might be better. The nerves that feel pressure and thus pressure pain are not the same as those that feel light touch so one possibly could feel one and not the other. there are different nerves for sharp, pressure, light touch, temperature, and vibration, I think–at least several different ways to sense things.
WithHope

I was an avid tennis player before I came down with CIDP; used to go through at least one pair of New Balance tennis shoes each season (yes, loved New Balance also.) When I was inpatient at Mayo my husband had to go out & get me a pair of shoes for rehab, so of course he bought me New Balance in a 9 1/2, my regular shoe size. Once I had to start wearing braces, I found that I kept getting toe infections as they were too short. I went to Payless & bought a plain white tennis shoe for $12.99 (size 11) that has now lasted me for 4 years, and that includes doing a lot of walking at our cabin. They come up higher in the back & hold my braces in place very well. I just started on the second pair (identical to the first pair) & that is all I wear for the summer.

I do have one pair of plain black SAS shoes that I wear now until around May, they are also 4 years old. I used to have so many shoes, now I could care less. I am just thankful that I can walk, I can wear pretty clothing to make up for the shoes. I am proud of my braces, don’t try to hide them in the summertime, as no one knows all that I have suffered to get to this point; proud of my paisley cane as well! Others don’t walk in my shoes…
Pam

Hi Tim,

I care for my daughter, who has had cidp since October ’05. She has the same problems with her feet as you. I found these to be the only shoes my daughter can wear – she has been barefoot for over a year as shoes have been a BIG PROBLEM. We found many styles at a local department store – best thing she likes is that they are lightweight, and breathe. Also, no shoelaces to tie. I know they are not professional looking for the office, but the black ones matched with black (diabetic) socks don’t stand out too much. Many of the nurses at the infusion center wear them. To get quick relief from the burning pain that prevents my daughter from sleeping at night, we discovered that wrapping her feet and/or hands in cool wet towels gives immediate, temporary relief – you might give it a try. Here’s the link for the shoes –

[url]http://www.comfortableshoes.com/manufacturer-view.cfm?Manufacturer=80[/url]

You have found a great board – there are many caring members here that can give you additional information based on their experiences.
Hope some of these tips are of help to you.

cd

it’s only birkenstocks for me!! w/ wool socks in winter! ha….i look ‘odd’, but really don’t care……take care…becky in wv….

Hello Jeff,

I have had the same question.

I got GBS last September. I had coped best bare foot (or sock-footed), and wore athletic shoes and Danko closed-back Clogs for going out – with the help of a Millennial crutch or two. I could not leave shoes on for more than five hours or so.

I started wearing NIKE SHOX. I can walk straighter, and now walk without the crutch – although carefully. I can wear these shoes all day. I don’t wear socks with shoes so as I seem to have more ‘touch’ with the ground without socks. My feet feel too warm with socks, also.

I cannot wear any sandals, for I’ll fall.

Three of my teenage kids wear Shox. I am now wearing them EVERY DAY. I walk better with these shoes than walking bare-footed.
(We buy on eBay.)

I’m open to more shoe recommendations.

Hot baths before bed help relax my feet for sleep, and kicking the sheets off my feet throughout the night keep them cool.

What a drag – but could be much worse, right?

Kindest Regards,
Tamara

[Have you noticed that Dr. House wears Shox on the TV show, House? He has a ‘bum’ leg.]