Footwear Recommendations for PsA and Plantar Fasciitis

[Waine]

My PsA has added Plantar Fasciitis to it's never ending array of gifts. It's really a bit of body wack-a-mole. Fix one thing, and another will crop up. Anyway my Dr recommends Crocs, but they're very expensive here, and not really practical for our wet winters. Anyone have any experience with this and perhaps have other recommendations?

[Fred]

I've not had planter fasciitis, but when I first got diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis (which was bad in my feet at the time) physio at the hospital made me some insoles which helped a lot.

Now I have virtually no psoriatic arthritis thanks to my current treatment, I can wear most types of footwear but I do still try to buy good quality. I've found spending more than buying cheap is much more comfortable, I still also prefer hiking boots over shoes as they give better ankle support and I find them very comfortable.

The hiking boots I use are Aigle and I use Cat Footwear for working in the garden, I've also found bamboo socks comfortable.

I've never tried Crocs but I don't like that type of footwear and they don't look like they would help the psoriatic arthritis, but that's just my opinion.

Shame there isn't a shoe shop that would let you try some for a week. 

[Krissie_Wright]

When my psoriatic arthritis started to affect my feet I made the switch to good quality hiking boots.

They have great arch support and the soles are often cushioned, helping with my deformed toes.

I wear Salomon high boots to help support my ankles, they are expensive but they last me 2 years of constant wear outdoors.

[Waine]

Thanks for the advice. His actual words were shoes with a thick heel, like Crocs. And not to go barefoot. I'll look into those two brands locally.

Agreed on the bamboo socks, they are so comfortable and don't cause any skin irritation for me.

[Fred]

Thanks for the advice. His actual words were shoes with a thick heel, like Crocs. And not to go barefoot. I'll look into those two brands locally.

Agreed on the bamboo socks, they are so comfortable and don't cause any skin irritation for me.

Good luck and please do report back.

[Turnedlight]

I’ve had it in the past in my right foot and I have it currently in my left. It took ages for the nhs to get around to a treatment that worked the first time - this time I’m going to ask for it - extra corporeal shockwave therapy I think it was though this was over ten years ago but the idea is it heats up and aggravates the area to stimulate healing and given it was available on the nhs, it’s not quack medicine the only trouble is getting them to do it.

As for shoes I have recently bought little black neoprene things which give you a bit of a gel pad under your heel, they do up with Velcro over the foot and are slim enough to go into most shoes. I have found them pretty good, and they are cheap - alternatively any squishy soft heeled shoe or trainer works.

[Waine]

I’ve had it in the past in my right foot and I have it currently in my left. It took ages for the nhs to get around to a treatment that worked the first time - this time I’m going to ask for it - extra corporeal shockwave therapy I think it was though this was over ten years ago but the idea is it heats up and aggravates the area to stimulate healing and given it was available on the nhs, it’s not quack medicine the only trouble is getting them to do it.

As for shoes I have recently bought little black neoprene things which give you a bit of a gel pad under your heel, they do up with Velcro over the foot and are slim enough to go into most shoes. I have found them pretty good, and they are cheap - alternatively any squishy soft heeled shoe or trainer works.

Thank you so much, I've not heard about that treatment before.

If you wouldn't mind do you have the actual brand or name of the neoprene "wrap" so that I can look for something similar here?

[Turnedlight]

I’ve had it in the past in my right foot and I have it currently in my left. It took ages for the nhs to get around to a treatment that worked the first time - this time I’m going to ask for it - extra corporeal shockwave therapy I think it was though this was over ten years ago but the idea is it heats up and aggravates the area to stimulate healing and given it was available on the nhs, it’s not quack medicine the only trouble is getting them to do it.

As for shoes I have recently bought little black neoprene things which give you a bit of a gel pad under your heel, they do up with Velcro over the foot and are slim enough to go into most shoes. I have found them pretty good, and they are cheap - alternatively any squishy soft heeled shoe or trainer works.

Thank you so much, I've not heard about that treatment before.

If you wouldn't mind do you have the actual brand or name of the neoprene "wrap" so that I can look for something similar here?

Well I’m not sure about the brand because they came from a large well known online marketplace (trying not to break advertising rules here )

[Caroline]

Funny, my approach is quite different.

Depending on the soil I often go barefoot or wear sandals.

For normal shoes I avoid all shoes that have footbeds that are someplaces higher or thicker, that always leads to pain.
So I am going for no footbed, flat slightly soft inner fabric, but not too soft.

High heels are not my thing.

[Fred]

High heels are not my thing. 

Difficult to ride the motorcycle ?