What’s Your Advice for Shoes for Rheumatoid Arthritis Feet?
Shoes for feet that are old overnight thanks to Rheumatoid Arthritis?
For years, my feet were a big part of my Palindromic Rheumatism or (palindromic Rheumatoid Arthritis). I’d wake up some mornings and it would feel like I’d walked on those feet all day. It was always like I was finishing a marathon that had never started.
The Rheumatoid Arthritis became full-blown feet first. The joints at the base of my toes swelled so that the toes themselves pointed in odd directions. Overnight, there were bunion-looking deformities on all four of the outside toes. The older ladies at church said, “Well, welcome to the club.”
The quest for Rheumatoid Arthritis shoes
As I described in my onset story, the first day it was only one foot, so I limped. When the other foot joined in, I crawled. It didn’t matter if no shoes fit – I could not walk. There was something like rocks inside of my skin at the base of each toe.
Nothing relieved the pain, but the podiatrist made splints to try to straighten the toes and prescribed a certain shoe. Eventually, I drove the hour to the city to pick up the shoes. I went into the store in some worn out running shoes with the laces removed, over top of the splints.
At the shoe store, I gave the boy the doctor’s recommendation. I tried to put on several shoes, but it was too painful to stand. He looked at me as if I had four heads on my shoulders instead of four kids wandering around his store – and a baby in a stroller. I left empty-handed, tearful, practically crawling to the car.
A couple of weeks later, the feet weren’t as swollen, so I bought the shoes the doctor requested – only in a men’s size so that it would be roomier and touch my foot less. I’ve decided that the best shoe for me now that I have Rheumatoid Arthritis feet is whatever shoe is not touching my feet.
What kind of shoes work for Rheumatoid Arthritis feet?
I got lots of shoe advice and questions when I had to buy shoes this fall (pictured) so that I could dress like an adult and get on an airplane. Usually, I work at home in Florida. So, I don’t even have to wear socks. And I have these very stretched out super-cushy Bare Traps for ball games and the rare grocery story trips. But I keep trying to replace those since they’re loose enough now that they cause me to fall.
There is not huge foot swelling nowadays because of the treatments I take for RA. But my feet continue to change and they always hurt. Finding shoes has become the proverbial search for the Holy Grail.
Photos: Stacks of shoe boxes in the closet have shrunk, but I keep many, hoping eventually a treatment that works for me will let me wear them again. Pictured are the shoes I managed to put on for the ACR trip.
My best Rheumatoid Arthritis shoe advice is to alternate shoes each day.
What is your best Rheumatoid Arthritis shoe advice? And your favorite RA shoes?
Recommended reading:
- My Onset of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- Palindromic Rheumatism Is Not a Rare Form of Rheumatoid Arthritis
- What Is the First Symptom of Rheumatoid Arthritis?
The shoes shown here are the ones I could wear 20 years ago. Now that my toes have curled under, I can only wear shoes with soft fabric/suede uppers. They are hard to find, because I have to wear extra wide shoes because of other damaged to my feet.
My feet have been a major issue too. I found ahnu shoes to be wonderful. I have been wearing the Chrissy shoes for 4 years. I’m trying kuru next. The sole in the ahnu shoe put less pressure on the metatarsal area although it is snug at the toes. With the metatarsal relief, was ok.
I have had JRA for 40 years. I like Naot and Asics. Some people might be interested in knowing that if you have a health spending account and a doctor willing to indicate that you get relief from wearing Dansko or other expensive brand, you could get reimbursed for the extra cost of the shoes. I used to buy Danskos and print out an ad for 20$ “regular shoes” dollar shoes and get back whatever I paid minus the 20$.
These are the kind I wear. Got the same kind at kmart and put insoles in them and they’re as perfect as shoes can get for me. they touch my joints/ankles, but they’re super cushioned around the sides. I couldn’t find them at kmart, but I found the exact same style at Big 5. I like them also because they are wide, with plenty of room. http://www.big5sportinggoods.com/store/details/harsh+Stone-Mens-Skate-Shoes/5345132930055/_/A-4872974#.WiNTdUpKuUk
I wear a lot of New Balance (great wide and extra wide selection) shoes due to the RA and Neuropathy. I don’t wear a lot of dress shoes.
Crocs and Birkenstocks (sandals and clogs). Luckily I live in Mississippi and can wear clogs to my job.
Hi, no RA dx, but something is wrong and I have been searching for shoe options for years. I need a lot of toe room and cant bear any foot compression. I have found luck with Allbirds (wool upper is soft and accommodating, fairly wide toe box) and especially Fitflop styled like the Novy sandal (no toe thong). Thanks for the suggestions here, and best to all.
After having RA since 1984 shoes have always been a bit hit and miss. After bilateral forefoot arthroplasty, I now find that Crocs are my go to shoe but I am now wearing the most outrageous Dr Marten boots with orthotics and I use the excuse now……. if the shoe fits buy them.
I am 63 years old. RA began 7 years ago. I was also wondering how do I do the big things when I am not capable of little things?
We need to Finish repairs in our home, sell it because we can’t afford to maintain it, or afford the constantly increasing real estate taxes. What I received in discount due to being handicapped has already been increased in the tax base within two short years. and I am at the point where I Know I need to stop babysitting. My body cannot do this anymore. I want to stop but then how do we live? We have to sell, but how do we get all this done?
How do I get my big old house ready for a sale? Buy something smaller and easier to maintain? My husband acts like I have forever, but my feet are destroyed, it’s difficult to walk on them, and now it Is spreading to my hands. Why does he minimize the inevitable. I can’t clean my house anymore, he does everything which is wonderful, but what about me? I have lost myuch function. I,m not as brave as most of the comments I read on the website.
I can’t play the piano anymore. I can’t play the music I loved. Little by little I lose a piece of my life. And nobody gets it.
I am discouraged. I noticed there aren’t any support groups for people with RA/RD and yet don’t we all need someone to talk to? A human face, or someone that understands? Someone with a face instead of a computer screen.
Life is getting difficult. If RA was a color, and our feelings inside could bleed, people would be horrified.
We are hidden on a website, just like our disease.
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I hear you. Your comments are wonderful. I also have RA for 7 years. We saw what was coming and my wife who was gardening daily and I decided to move to a condo before we could not. I had to stop my business. The daily grind to maintain a house was simply a pipe dream. I was an avid DIY guy, so it was hard to give up the tools and the ideas, hobbies and daydreams. I’ve never said this, but the pain of giving up the dreams or what I can do anymore hurts the most. I cannot drive for long anymore. We used to jump into the car and just drive for 2-4 hours. Now a 30-45 minute trip hurts so much, I take extra prednisone. I do not want to take extra pain meds when I drive, so I am always in a lot of pain where ever we go. Slowly I am adding hobbies back. I am trying wood carving, but my hands….I am up to 20 minutes before I stop. If I do not, the pain and recovery time becomes 1-2 days. I budget my hands and limit grocery trips. I am trying different grocery bags, but again, they hurt my hands so much. Look for a condo and move before you cannot.
Hoka One One Shoes have solved my foot problems. I can walk four miles now.
I cannot tie laces, fingers cannot move like that. I found clogs types and this shoe by Prophet are working for me. Propet Men’s Washable Moc Walking Shoe. The support is there, lightweight and I can slip it on and pull the back up easily. OOFOS Ortho Comfort Clog Shoe is my daily go to and walk in the house for now. I also need to mention socks, I try not to wear them because they hurt my hands to pull them on, but I mostly wear diabetic socks. The loose weave really helps to put them on. 7 years ago, I was still tying my shoes and wore normal socks. It all depends on the progress and where the disease has hit you the worst. 64 year old male, diagnosed 7 years ago and tried all the biologics. No treatment for now.
OOFOS Ortho Comfort Clog Shoe, almost all Prophet shoes and clogs. Slip ons are a must now. Tying shoes is gone. I won’t have someone tie them for me. I need decent arch and foot support. I have been diagnosed with foot neuropathy and no one will confirm it is part of my RA, but it is. No diabetes and no family diabetes. No real foot issues until my RA. I also must mention socks. I had to move to diabetic socks because they are hard to pull on and tight socks (almost any) hurt my feet about 10-15 minutes. Foot pain with RA in not discussed enough. It sucks and puts me in bed even when I feel decent.