I know . . no one comes here to read about my aching feet but this is something that might help someone else . . though I’m no doctor.
A while back, a reader had recommended some inserts for my shoes. I ordered them and they helped some but after wearing them for a few months, I began having hip problems. Old age – one thing gets better and something else goes wrong, right?
I stopped wearing the inserts unless I know I’m going to be standing a lot – like four hours or more. With all the cross stitching, there’s been a lot more sitting than standing.
Tuesday Vince opened the door and yelled “Come here!” I said “Let me get my shoes on.” You know how I am. I couldn’t find my flip flops. I actully have a pair of Crocs flip flops that don’t feel too bad on my feet. I couldn’t find my pink Crocs that I wear in the garden and I couldn’t find my tennis shoes. Usually the flip flops are wherever I take them off . . in the middle of the floor in the way. The pink Crocs stay in the garage and the tennis shoes are almost always in the closet. Nope . . nothing was where it was supposed to be. I knew he was going to be getting frustrated that I hadn’t gone outside yet so I went into the closet to see what else I could find and I found these.
I picked them up, thought “cork”! I have no idea when or where I bought these shoes but obviously, they have never been worn. I put them on and thought . . these are HARD! I know – they look like boats but honestly, I wear a size 7 shoe.
I guess Sole is the brand. I ended up wearing them all day Wednesday and all day yesterday and when I took them off last night and walked across the wood floor to go take my shower, I had no foot pain. Usually when I have no shoes on and I cross the carpet and take that first stop onto the wood floor, I want to scream. No matter how slowly or how carefully I put the right foot down, it’s painful. After that first step, it’s never comfortable on hard floors but it isn’t terribly painful.
This morning I googled “best shoes for women with plantar fasciitis”. Several brands came up over and over. Sole was not one of them but I’m pretty pleased with my results after only two days of wearing them.
Vionic was one of the brands that came up often. Probably 5 or 6 years ago I was seeing a podiatrist for foot pain. A few years before, I had fractured a metatarsal bone and from time to time, that area hurts. Anyway, I went to a podiatrist in Abilene and she did x-rays, had me take physical therapy and recommended I wear Vionic flip flops “if I had to wear flip flops”. She was fine with the tennis shoes I was wearing but probably no podiatrist likes flip flops. When we were in Texas, I’d go out with the dog, go check on the chickens, go get eggs, go pick rosemary, go move the spinkler . . I was in and out 100 times a day. We didn’t wear the same shoes inside that we wore outside because of tracking in grass burs so I would slip on flip flops to go outside, then take them off on the porch and put them in a box so I didn’t track grass burrs in. I wasn’t going to stop and lace up a pair of tennis shoes every time I went outside.
The Vionic flip flops were fine but they were a little pricey for stepping in chicken poop and mud after having watered the garden so they didn’t get a lot of use but . . the metatarsal problem hasn’t caused me much problem lately. All that to say, I am somewhat familiar with Vionic shoes.
One of the websites I came across had all kinds of shoes listed that were recommended for plantar fasciitis – best running shoe (no), best dancing shoe (no), best heels (no). Finally came to best shoes for every day use and it was a pair of Vionic tennis shoes so I ordered those. I was going to order a pair of leather loafer looking shoes (not Vionic but recommended) and then I figured . . I so rarely wear dress shoes, I have plenty I can wear for a couple of hours twice a year so I didn’t need those. I ordered a pair of Vionic house slippers. With winter coming, I’ll need something to keep my toes warm AND if I have shoes on when I’m with Boots, he’s less likely to bite my goes.
By the way, the the pink Crocks AND the flip flops were at the downstairs garage door, which we’ve never really used til Vince got his shop and cleaned out the downstairs garage. I guess I wore the Crocs and left them down there, then wore the flip flops and left them down there. The tennis shoes were in the basement bedroom. I took a nap down there Tuesday and I guess I wore them down there, took them off when I went to bed and didn’t bring them back up.
It’s funny that I’ve had those cork shoes for no telling how long, never wore them and only wore them when my regular three pairs of shoes were missing and now I love them!
Christina says
Hi Judy
I invested in a pair of vionic short boots last year, in lockdown I never went anywhere to wear them. I thought that was a waste of money until I saw them being sold and light bulb moment happened. Apparently you can remove the insoles and use them in any shoes you have.yay.
I have worn them in several pairs of shoes and even my granny slippers. Less pain in the old hip since doing this. So it wasn’t a bad investment in the end.
Elle says
I live in Birkenstocks when I don’t have my PF custom orthotics on.
Yea you for finding these at just the right time!
Laura says
Everyone is different, but for my plantar fasciitis New Balance tennis shoes and Skechers cushioned slip-on shoes are most comfortable.
Laura says
Oh, and the orthotic inserts were basically useless.
Chris says
I have those same flip flops and they have helped with my plantar fasciitis and my knees. (Is this the time to tell you those things sell for around $80+??)
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I must have bought these at TJ Maxx or something because I don’t usually pay a lot for my shoes these days – especially in Texas because I’d wear them outside and they’d get full of grass burs and then I’d leave them on the porch and the sun would ruin them. Here, it’s different and I don’t mind paying more for shoes. I may have had these Soles for 5 or more years. In fact, they still had the little plastic gizmo on them that keeps the two together. I wish I’d looked at it before tossing it. I assumed they were some cheap shoes I’d bought and stuck in the closet.
Chris Miller says
Definitely not cheap! I’ve had one pair of mine for probably seven years, and bought two more because they’re hard to find these days. Sole also makes insoles that Dan’s foot doc recommended when he hurt his foot hunting. Also not cheap but I bought a pair to put in my trendy boots for winter. 🙂
Cindy F says
I wear Birkenstocks inside for house shoes ever since I had plantar fasciitis issues. A couple of years ago it flared back up and a friend recommended Vionic. I need to order some winter type shoes so I guess I need to check out what Vionic has that’s cute and weather resistant and of course it’s been awhile so I need new Birkenstocks too….aii yaii yaii….lol.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I have heard others recommend Birkenstocks so if these Soles ever wear out, I’ll bet a pair of Birks. It’s so weird to be walking without my heel hurting.
Tracy says
I have a (two actually) pair of Birkenstocks called “Oswego” that look like slip on canvas shoes. I wear them all the time, as I can’t safely go bare foot around my home either. I don’t wear the sandal type as I need my heel held by the shoe, to avoid pain.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
I need to look for those because, especially when I leave the house, I prefer to have real shoes on. Thanks.
Jocelyn says
I guess you know that Birkenstocks are cork. They are hard, but for some reason they are comfortable. Although I don’t have any foot problems my house is all,(ALL) tile and I cannot walk on them in bare feet. Hurts my back and my feet. I will have to look at the Vionic.
Pat Anderson says
I had major plantar fascitis in my right foot for at least a couple of years…so bad that we went on a cruise and did no day excursions because I couldn’t walk. I went and had a massage and I don’t know what she did, but she pushed on the sole of my foot and after that massage, no pain. I tried to find that massage therapist again but she had disappeared. I wanted to thank her cuz to me, it was a miracle! All this to say, you might want to try it if you have more trouble!
judy.blog@gmail.com says
They have a massage therapist/reflexologist who works with a chiropractor here and she’s been recommended by several people. After what you’re telling me, when I have problems again, I’ll see her. Thanks.
Cheryl Behning says
My hip started to give me problems I went to therapy. But the biggest thing was to never sit longer than 30 minutes. I set a timer…..
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Between the dog and the husband and the washer/dryer and cooking . . I’m doing good to get to sit 10 minutes at a time. Sometimes late at night after Vince has gone to bed and Rita has given up for the night, I can sit for half an hour. If I could sit for longer intervals, I’d get a whole lot more stitching done!
montanaclarks says
I still wear the inserts in my walking shoes all the time but I also wear Vionic shoes–I have several pairs–house slippers, flip flops and a pair of short boots. I seldom wear flip flops as they make my back hurt–like you said, if it’s not one thing, it’s another!
TuNa Quilts says
I used to have problems with plantar fasciitis but I’ve been wearing Birkenstock’s for the last 12 years inside and out. I own 10 pair all but one were bought in Germany.
Nelle Coursey says
I have had success with Orthofeet! Check them out. They have all kinds of shoes for men and women. I think they were designed by a podiatrist.
judy.blog@gmail.com says
Thanks! I will do it.
Carolyn says
I am behind in my blogs, don’t feel that u have to answer. For my plantar fasciitis I wore inserts (powersteps) for over a year. Also rolled a frozen water bottle on my arch twice a day. Picked up things w,my toes and moved them to a small container, and stretched my hams strings with a belt/ strap before bed and in the AM. It took forever.. I was to.d to never go bare foot on my tile floors.