Plantar Fasciitis and walking around Disney ...

[Kimberly Hill]

With my PF I have to change shoes several times while at WDW. Even the New Balance sneakers need to be switched with something else for a day to put pressure someplace else for a while.

 

[Sadie22]

Definitely have more than one pair of shoes to switch off. This is not just in case one gets wet, but as the previous poster said, to change where you put pressure. New Balance with higher numbers and the correct fit depending on your foot shape are great. I wear Crocs Rx indoors. I also have some Teva sandals that I wear for partial days in the summer.

 

[Jana49]

I have had PF, too, and my foot doc said to always, always, always keep my arches supported. When I find cute sandals w/o an arch support, I super-glue them in. No one has ever noticed this!

Also, my foot doc said NO MORE treadmill for me, and he suspects that is what caused my PF in the first place.

 

[arcticdisneylovers]

I wear custom orthotics as well. I wore them everyday in my butt ugly brown orthopedic shoes for our trip in January. I guess I'm getting old, I decided it just wasn't worth looking good to suffer a flare up I never had any problems, I was shocked. I expected to be crippled after the first day. Seriously one night I wore my crocs out to supper and my feet hurt afterwards. So after that I stuck to just wearing my crocs around the hotel but I only wore my orthotics to the parks. If you are supposed to wear custom orthotics I would definately recommend using them at the parks, for most people the pain of a flare up is not worth looking good No one is going to be looking at your feet

 

[toniosmom]

I have never tried crocs -- going to look into that. They just didn't look like they would be good for PF. I have Naot sandals bought via Zappos and I love them. There are many styles and they are the only ones I can wear for an entire day. Note: When I receive them, the straps are always tight (width-wise), but they stretch out. Having said that, my feet still hurt when walking in the parks in sandals, so I opt for the sneakers. They seem to work the best for me.

 

[perry007]

I too have PF. At this point 6 plus months after getting custom made orthos, a night splint and a shot in the bottom of my foot, I learned comfort is more important than fashion. I love flip flops but have to say good bye to them for now. My Dr states anytime you will be doing more than a casual walk to wear a shoe with good support like a sneaker. I have found Nike Air Shock sneakers to be great especially with all the walking Disney requires. Good luck finding something that is comfortable to you.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

My dd has plantar fascitis and she wears crocs to walk around the parks and finds them most comfortable.

Interesting, I have plantar fascitis and Crocs would be the very last thing I'd want to wear. I need some substantial arch support, something that puts a little pressure in the back of my arch where it sort of blends into my heel. Soft shoes, flat shoes (think flip flops or many sandals with a flat bed) etc . . . are a recipe for pain.

I went to a shoe store and someone described a pair of shoes as like "walking on soft sand", I shuddered and said "oh, I don't want those" and he asked if I had plantar fascitis!

I could care less about how they look if they don't hurt. I'm on my feet way more during a day at work than I am at WDW where I am pretty lazy. I really like Naot brand sandals, they cost a lot, but they're worth every penny.

 

[Mickey'snewestfan]

I have had PF, too, and my foot doc said to always, always, always keep my arches supported. When I find cute sandals w/o an arch support, I super-glue them in. No one has ever noticed this!

Also, my foot doc said NO MORE treadmill for me, and he suspects that is what caused my PF in the first place.

Jana,

You are seriously brilliant. I keep looking at cute cheap sandals and wishing there was a way to attach the orthotics to my feet so they'd stay on. Why didn't I think to attach them to my shoes!

You should patent this idea -- sell orthotics with a little tube of "special shoe attachment creme" or something! I probably would have fallen for it and bought some.

 

[Tink6666]

I have had issues with PF and I have been wearing shape ups for the past 6 months and LOVE them. The cusion you get on your heel area is great. I was in WDW in April and for the first time my feet did not hurt like they usually do. My DH has really bad knees and He wore a pair also and his knee did not hurt as much either. I am taking both my shape up tennis shoes and my shape up sandals when we go to WDW in 19 days I am hoping the results will be the same for both of us. Good luck to all of you!

 

[RMulieri]

Interesting, I have plantar fascitis and Crocs would be the very last thing I'd want to wear. I need some substantial arch support, something that puts a little pressure in the back of my arch where it sort of blends into my heel. Soft shoes, flat shoes (think flip flops or many sandals with a flat bed) etc . . . are a recipe for pain.

I went to a shoe store and someone described a pair of shoes as like "walking on soft sand", I shuddered and said "oh, I don't want those" and he asked if I had plantar fascitis!

I could care less about how they look if they don't hurt. I'm on my feet way more during a day at work than I am at WDW where I am pretty lazy. I really like Naot brand sandals, they cost a lot, but they're worth every penny.

It depends on the CAUSE of your PF..My Doc recommended Crocs too, and I wear them all the time in the house and I wore them at Disney too.In fact, thanks to crocs and Tevas and exercises, my PF has gotten LOADS better.

 

[Syrreal]

I have PF in my left foot and had to get orthotics last year. I just put them into my Merrells. My doc told me that the Merrell shoes are great for the support etc that they provide. I was wearing them before this for everything except the gym where my silly self was wearing old tennis shoes=PF). They have really cute walking shoes.

I wear Reef flip flops when it's hot and also to walk around Disney. Reef has a lot of styles, and most of them have arch support. I have the Fanning and love it. My feet never hurt even after walking hours and hours in them.

 

[dizmom2mwjk]

I have extreme PF...roll arches on frozen bottles of water, sleep in night splints, have custom orthodics, had shots in both feet, and 3 years ago, had surgery on right foot(worked great!!!)...now am facing left foot surgery. The only thing that works for me is to time my shots so that I get them a week before I go to WDW (extremely painfull to get, but within 15 minutes I have no more pain...SOOOOO WORTH IT)...otherwise tennis shoes are a must...I tried crocs, and they are fine for quick jaunts, but not for all day...I also found that "shape-up" shoes (mine are by Dr. Scholl) help substantially when my shot wears off, as the rolling motion puts massaging pressure on the PF point, and they have extra cushioning, so it eases the pounding...I wore them @ Disney in May, and loved them...

Also, with my custom inserts...rather than super glue, I use self stick velcro... I put the "hook" part on my inserts and the "loop" part on my sandals, then I can interchange them without paying through the nose for multiple inserts...I was worried at first about the part staying on the shoes (it looks odd), but I just don't loan out my shoes, so no one ever sees the strip in the bottom...They stay secure, and no one has ever noticed that they are there....does not work so great with heels...but I don't plan to wear heels that long, anyhow....

 

[danadw]

I have PF on my right foot, and just had surgery over the winter for a broken 5th metatarsil. I have to say Crocs never work for me, too soft, I have to use tennis shoes with an insert. Problem is my feet are so hot. Wish I could wear sandals, but I tried Birkenstocks and those caused blisters, and Clarks are nice, but really heavy. I think I am going to go for tennis shoes/ cross trainers for the parks, and then at the pool enjoy the sandals, And I am bringing my painkillers too just in case

 

[Fall1]

I don't know about walking around Disney, but I have been wearing my new Fit Flops for about 3 weeks now and my feet feel so great in them!

 

[dancin Disney style]

While I do not have PF I do have serious knee and hip issues. So my days of cute shoes are over (and were over around the age of 35). I wear Nike's everyday. Sad to say that have 6 pairs all in different colours and will be buying 2 more pair this summer. I need the shock absorbtion and find that shoes designed for running are the best. They are light weight and have really good air circulation.

OP....I totally understand where you are coming from. I'm sooooo sick of wearing runners that I have even resorted to going to, what I call, the old lady shoe stores in an attempt to find something different. Anyway, don't risk the pain for cute. Nothing would ruin a trip to the world more than agrivating your PF. Wear the shoes that work best for you...regardless of how they look. Comfort, Comfort, comfort.

 

[Nettaboo]

I am looking for a good sneaker for my arches.. I bought some Brooks on a recomendation and my feet hurt soo bad!!

 

[Tink6666]

I have PF on my right foot, and just had surgery over the winter for a broken 5th metatarsil. I have to say Crocs never work for me, too soft, I have to use tennis shoes with an insert. Problem is my feet are so hot. Wish I could wear sandals, but I tried Birkenstocks and those caused blisters, and Clarks are nice, but really heavy. I think I am going to go for tennis shoes/ cross trainers for the parks, and then at the pool enjoy the sandals, And I am bringing my painkillers too just in case

Shape ups have sandals that may work for you. I have apair and they feel the same as the tennis shoes, but they have "holes" in them. (I'm not talking about the tone ups, those are different.) The are a more rugged looking sandal, but comfortable.

 

[Jana49]

Jana,

You are seriously brilliant. I keep looking at cute cheap sandals and wishing there was a way to attach the orthotics to my feet so they'd stay on. Why didn't I think to attach them to my shoes!

You should patent this idea -- sell orthotics with a little tube of "special shoe attachment creme" or something! I probably would have fallen for it and bought some.

Thank you very much!

 

[bnhasak]

I swear by my Crocs. I was in constant pain from PF and also would get horrible ingrown nails until I bought my first pair of Crocs.

I have not had a foot problem since except during the winter when I have to wear conventional shoes.

Good luck and have a fun trip.

 

[santa's surpriz]

Have lots of foot problems, PF and Morton's Neuroma (pinched nerves between the toes-3 surgeries) As far as the PF, something with a slight heel that is cushioned helps me. Nothing that "flips" or "snaps" to your heel. I usually have better luck with higher end sandals like Merrels. If you are into wearing sneakers I am loving the relief I am getting from my Reebok Easytones. That ball of air on the heel seems to mimick some of the exercises on a balance ball I did in physical therapy.