Socks and Shoes

Socks and shoes have been the bane of my existence for the last 5 years. The hypersensitivity is maddening: Damaged nerves misfire turning normal sensations—like the gentle pressure of a sock seam or the snug fit of a shoe—into feelings of intense burning, tingling, or sharp pain. The altered sensations make it very difficult to feel how a shoe fits which lead to unwitting rubbing blisters and sores that, for me, go unnoticed because the pain signals are muted. 

Here are a few things to keep in mind while picking out shoes:

1. Extra depth and width: Look for a roomy toe box that prevents rubbing and allows toes to spread without pressure points.

2. Seamless interior lining: A smooth, padded inside minimizes friction and reduces the risk of blisters.

3. Flexible, cushioned soles: Shock-absorbing materials reduce impact, while a flexible sole supports natural foot movement.

4. Adjustable closures: Laces or wide hook-and-loop (Velcro) straps allow you to easily customize the fit if your feet swell throughout the day. Also, the adjustable fused tip ortho laces are great.

At the end of the day I am unable to wear closed toe or back shoes. After many attempts I landed on the Hoka Ora Recovery slides. They are injection molded PVA and super flexible. They have a wide rocker heel and wide base which for me is awesome; I have balance issues and these give me extra stability. Finally they are slides so they come on and off in a breeze! 

Socks were one of my most challenging items of clothing, the pressure and pain from stinging and burning! Here are a couple of things you should know:

1. Seamless: Eliminates friction points.

2. Non-Binding: Prevents restricted circulation at the calf/ankle.

3. Moisture-Wicking: Blends of synthetics, bamboo, spandex, or wool are superior to 100% cotton.

4. Snug but Comfortable: Ensure they are not so loose that they bunch, but not so tight that they cut off circulation.

After great effort I found that the 60.5% merino wool / 38.3% nylon/ 1.2% spandex, true seamless toe ,no-peek socks from Amazon were the most comfortable and wearable for me. 

As with anything else we all respond differently, this is what works for me. I have included links in the photos.