[oldtimes]

Originally Posted by OrangeBlossomBaby

I've had neuroma for around 20 years now. It used to be bad enough to get it checked by a podiatrist. He said it wasn't severe enough to do surgery (they would simply sever the nerve, but it's a painful recovery), and he wanted me to try non-invasive options first. So I stopped wearing high heels, favored open-toe sandals and sneakers with a wide toe-box. Then I discovered that the discomfort was much less severe when I bought hard-arched insoles (similar to prescription orthotics but not custom, I think Dr. Scholl's even makes them now). I also found that Birkenstocks, with the ridge at the toe base, were incredibly comfortable.

What you need to do (which my podiatrist explained at the time) is to keep your toes from squinching together. If you press the sole of your foot right in the plantar midsole, you'll discover your toes automatically spread a little bit. That's what you want to happen with whatever shoes you wear.

So a firm (hard) arch support, a mid-foot ridge, and a ridge where your toes meet your feet will create a solid foundation to help relieve the discomfort. Also, the flatter the heel, the better.

I agree. You would think soft memory foam shoes would help but they don't. Birkenstocks are very good.