My Favorite CRPS-Friendly Shoes
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CRPS is a pain in the ass, sometimes literally. My CRPS is from my hip to my toes, after my first diagnosis of chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS) in my calf, the original problem (In case anyone is wondering, I want to clarify that I did have CECS and it wasn’t a misdiagnosis. The CRPS was a later problem).
After my third and final calf surgery in hopes of fixing the CECS, I was doing well. I had made it to private yoga lessons to slowly acclimate my body back to working out and was actually looking at how I was going to get back into firefighting.
And then it was really painful to wear shoes. What followed was not so much a regression as it was an entirely new and painful ball game. I didn’t trip, I fell face-first.
Shoes that had seemingly fit fine before suddenly felt like I had to squeeze my foot into it. Like Cinderella’s stepsister trying to force her foot into the glass slipper.
Up until this point, my pain was concentrated in my calf. On top of this weird shoe-and-foot thing, I now felt quad pain that felt like somebody was pressing a weight on my thigh, like my femur was about to snap. Overall, the pain was spreading. So, my uneducated guess is that this was when the CRPS started to make itself known. Unfortunately, this was the spring of 2022 and it wouldn’t be until summer of 2023 that I received the CRPS diagnosis and then fall 2023 when I received my spinal cord stimulator. (And the whole thing started fall 2018.)
And once the shoe issue started, it escalated quickly. Wearing shoes was constantly painful. I had a stress fracture in this foot before any of this started, and it kind of felt like that. But nothing showed on X-Rays. It was painful to wear socks (Hell, I have to be cognizant of what socks I wear. Columbia is pretty good for me and men’s Reebok).
This shoe-wearing struggle was a nightmare and became an expensive one real quick. Like the very expensive custom orthotic inserts I got which primarily made me realize the problem was not the width of my foot or previous issues I’d had with plantar fasciitis…a pricey realization.
Even now with my improvements and SCS implant, shoes are still difficult because my foot is super sensitive. If I have my legs hanging off the couch or the arm of a chair and someone bumps into them - you know, like the equivalent of a hand pat - it was like my foot was being shocked. I don’t really have a word for the strange sensation I get when I put sandals on, especially with straps.
My foot is super sensitive to touch (my leg is too. I hate skinny jeans for this reason). Typically, I have to buy shoes two sizes bigger than what I would wear prior to the CRPS issues otherwise its stuffed-in-the-slipper and almost always in wide. Besides the fact that wide-width shoes can be difficult to find, it is especially annoying because before, a lot of times I could buy kids shoes for cheaper because I have small feet. And forget about fashion - it is all about function and feel. Which isn’t always fun or sexy. But I am pretty confident that you’ll never see me in a pair of stilettos now.
So this has been both an extensive and expensive search. But recently, I gave a new pair of boots (from a brand I basically live in) an extended try by going shopping at a vendor’s market and a mall. This is something that can be really difficult for me and I even thought about bringing my cane. But I had been encouraged by this shoe already, so I really wanted to put it to the test.
With the exception of walking stairs which is my personal hell still, I experienced little leg or foot pain, to the point that I don’t think if I had brought my cane, it would’ve made much of a difference. I was doing pretty good and was on my feet for about two and a half hours (not constantly but you get what I mean) which can be a lot for me. I was really surprised how well I was feeling, and the shoes were the only change.
What stood out to me was the thick sole of the shoe.
Hey Dude
I was already a Hey Dude fan - they were going to be included here regardless - I wear Hey Dude Wendy’s almost everyday. My go-to in winter are the Hey Dude Wendy Warmth shoes. But these boots provided a different level of relief for me. And I really think it was the thick sole that made that difference.
If you’ve ever seen a diabetic shoe or shoe for neuropathy, they have thick soles because it helps provide cushioning and shock absorption. CRPS is a neurological condition affecting the nerves typically in a limb. So the common factor here would be nerve problems. Shoes with a thicker sole provide more cushion and shock absorption, and help prevent pressure. Diabetic-friendly shoes also feature a wider toe box for extra room for toe movement, while lightweight and cushioned features help facilitate mobility and stability. So this isn’t exactly a scientific determination, but something I will definitely keep in mind for my future shoe shopping (hello, platform Converses! Fingers crossed).
(Also - Prevention.com has a nice article on shoes good for neuropathy if you’re interested!)
But back to the Hey Dude’s. They are comfortable, flexible, and also have fun collaborations - NCAA, holidays, Mossy Oak, Spongebob, and even Coca-Cola, which is a pair I really want as Coke is probably my worst vice. The Wendy’s loafer is my go-to for spring and summer.
The material is also lightweight, which is beneficial with how sensitive my skin is. Slip-ons, as will be a pattern, are also a plus. However, they aren’t super supportive - not much of a surprise considering how lightweight and flexible they are.. But I have also found that my expensive orthotic inserts can fit well in these shoes and that provides more support.
Definitely will be buying more Hey Dudes - especially since I’m seeing platform styles with the Austin Lift and Hudson Lift collections. Where’s the Star Wars collab?
Skechers
One of my other absolute favorite shoe brands is Skechers. Skechers boasts its “comfort technology,” and they deliver. People all around really leaned into comfort fashion during the pandemic when we were all stuck at home, and I think Skechers really thrived there. And that was good for me when I suddenly couldn’t wear shoes. Another plus is that I have much more luck finding wide width shoes when I’m looking among Skechers.
Other perks with Skechers include its lightweight, Air Cooled mat insole, and breathable cushioning.
Some shoes, like Skechers Women's Go Walk Joy Sneaker, are slip-ins that make life a little bit easier. The material is more flexible, so it isn’t tight on the foot. This shoe is actually the best. In fact, it is Amazon’s #1 bestselling in women’s walking shoes.
Another favorite is the Skechers Women's Go Walk Joy Upturn Shoe. I actually have two pairs of these so I can alternate them.
I’ve also had good luck with Skechers sandals and even some of their boots.
Crocs
Remember when I said function and feel, not fashion? Surprise, I was talking about Crocs. Yes, they are absolutely ridiculous looking. But they are undoubtedly the most comfortable shoes for my diseased foot. Crocs definitely benefited from the comfort craze during the pandemic. And what is crazy now is how many variations of Crocs there are! I have the classic clog, fur lined, sandals, flats, “work” clogs, etc. Coming home and putting on a pair of Crocs is almost like the kind of relief you get when taking a bra off at the end of the day.
These fur-lined Crocs are “Amazon’s Choice.” Mine too.
I was 100% a “never Crocs” but I never expected that I would be in a situation where I couldn’t wear shoes.
And Also…
Other shoes I’ve had good luck with are Birkenstocks’ Arizona Soft Footbed Suede Leather sandals but, oddly, I can’t wear their clogs. Teva is another brand I’ve found good sandals to wear, these Hurricane XLT2s are kind of like the ones I have, but not exactly. It’s weird because my skin is so sensitive to things like straps but these don’t bother me too much.
Another brand I’ve heard good things about is Hoka; I’d like to try a pair of those.
Ten years ago I never would have thought that I’d be writing a blog post about shoes. But, again, I never thought I’d be in this situation when it comes to pain.
