I need some help with finding a good pair of shoes/inserts for my trip.

[Disney_Belle]

I'm hoping someone can help me out here...

We are going to WDW in 36 days wooooo :sohappy:

But anyways lol - Last year I developed plantar fasciitis in my feet, and it can cause quite a bit of pain in my arches. I have it pretty much under control seeing that I use a night splint and stretches that I do. However when I went to WDW last year on my honeymoon, when I woke up in the morning I could barely put my feet on the ground because it felt like the arches were just going to rip it hurt so bad. When I was walking around they didn't bother me, but it was late at night after a day at the park and was always at its worst in the morning.

So what I was wondering is if anyone has any suggestions for shoes/inserts to help this. I know its a pretty common problem so I'm hoping someone can help me.

I have a pair of crocs, as ugly as they are, they are really comfortable and seem to help with the pain, althought I don't use them for long distances (usually just around the house and stuff) but I don't know how they will work in WDW. I know everyone is different but I'm just looking for some advice from people who may have experienced the same thing if there are shoes or inserts, etc that helped you???

Thanks!!!

 

[DisneyMarg]

One more vote for crocs from a fellow sufferer. Plus a few more tips...
1) I agree with the "never go barefoot" suggestion.
2) Thorlo walking socks (med weight) provide a surprising amount of support. I highly recommend them with the aforementioned crocs
3) Don't wear any shoes which are stiff, where the soles don't bend when you walk. Some high support athletic shoes are too stiff and just make the PF worse.
4) No more high heels. Sorry.
5) My mother (God rest her soul) massaged my feet every night when my PF was at its peak, and this really did wonders for healing it. If you don't have a mom to do this for you, it's worth doing for yourself.

I think that most people who say crocs don't provide enough support haven't tried them. I agree that you would THINK they wouldn't be good, but they are. They are the only shoes I can walk in all day and not have my feet hurt at the end of the day. I highly recommend them.

Be sure to get brand name, real crocs. Knock offs are not the same thing. Fortunately they are fairly inexpensive and lightweight. Buy a pair and try them out.

Good luck!

 

[Disneysue]

Podiatrist talked my into $140 New Balance sneakers

I got mine for less than $50

 

[Disney_Belle]

One more vote for crocs from a fellow sufferer. Plus a few more tips...
1) I agree with the "never go barefoot" suggestion.
2) Thorlo walking socks (med weight) provide a surprising amount of support. I highly recommend them with the aforementioned crocs
3) Don't wear any shoes which are stiff, where the soles don't bend when you walk. Some high support athletic shoes are too stiff and just make the PF worse.
4) No more high heels. Sorry.
5) My mother (God rest her soul) massaged my feet every night when my PF was at its peak, and this really did wonders for healing it. If you don't have a mom to do this for you, it's worth doing for yourself.

I think that most people who say crocs don't provide enough support haven't tried them. I agree that you would THINK they wouldn't be good, but they are. They are the only shoes I can walk in all day and not have my feet hurt at the end of the day. I highly recommend them.

Be sure to get brand name, real crocs. Knock offs are not the same thing. Fortunately they are fairly inexpensive and lightweight. Buy a pair and try them out.

Good luck!

I actually bought a pair of crocs over the summer, and they have made a HUGE difference in my feet. I used to wear them just around the house, I never go barefoot, and I put them on first thing in the AM when I get out of bed. I have started wearing them more now, I just didnt know how well I would handle them after a day in the parks, but I guess the only thing I can do is see what happens! lol.

My cousin Samantha, who also has plantar fasciitis, says that is only thing that has helped her really. She has special ordered inserts and everything, but the Crocs are what made the difference.

Thank you everyone for your help!!! I really appreciate it

 

[PanfanAL]

the New Balance with the roll bar is the best shoe for your foot. I am not a doctor, but I used manage a store that sold these shoes and I received a lot of training on them. Crocs are comfy, but they provide no support. The New Balance has a graphite orthotic built into the mid sole of the shoe. My store worked with a lot of doctors in the area, along with a company that built orthotics. In mot cases these people could by this shoe for $80-100 , and not have to buy a $300 orthotic. But the main thing is to let your feet tell you what you need to wear. Most of the time you ladies have a tendecy to buy what looks good, not what feels good. That is why women have so much more feet problems.

 

[KC82271]

I got mine for less than $50

Prior to all of the PF problems, I also wore the $50 New Balance - but the podiatrist told me that the $50 Kohls version are really the "generic" cheaper version of New Balance. After spending all the money on the "real" ones, and still having problems even wearing them and the orthodics for 6 months, I feel the $140 was a waste of my money. Next pair will be the Kohls "generics" - who cares.

 

[catne]

another vote for Z-coils

o.k., z-coils are about the ugliest shoes you've ever seen. And they feel very strange when you start wearing them. But honestly they absolutely allowed my plantar fac. to heal...and you will notice nearly immediate improvement. They are expensive, and you have to go back & get the arch re-formed every few months (they do that for free) but the shoes do not wear out, and they work. Overall, it took a good 6 months to heal my Plantar issues and I still have some pain but I can now wear "normal" shoes with good arch support (I can use "over the counter" arch support inserts like those made be Dr. Scholls...they are not the gel soles, they're stiff & specifically say they are for arch support & heal pain.)

Whatever you do, do not go barefoot or wear shoes with no arch like flip-flops. That will aggravate the problems.

 

[foslizedtresap]

MY favorite

My favorite shoes to wear are Chacos. Although I don't have plantar fasciitis my close friend does and she's the one who got me to buy them. She wears Chacos in the warm weather and birkenstocks in the cold and she has had almost no problems with her feet. I've found they help my feet too, I have tendonitis in my right foot that can become quite unbearable when aggrevated, but in wearing Chacos I never had any problems wiht it.
A warning though. Chacos have a heavy sole, although I've read they've made a new "lighter" sole. When you first begin to wear them they are a little weird, high arch, the strap system takes time to get the right fit, and the heavier sole. But after about a week you'll feel like you've worn them forever. Now, I did have a sore spot on my foot for a few days, but it went away and I've never had it since.
They cost around $90 and up (although I bought mine from groundedsoles.com during winter and got mine for $40), but the price is worth it. They will resole them for free for the rest of your life, so they never wear out.

 

[rsoxguy]

Aesics sneakers. Well ventilated, good heel and sole support, but very expensive. Feet are worth the price.