My 2 cents on COMFY SHOES/Birkenstocks...plus some LINKS!

[Guest guest]

I've noticed a lot of talk about shoes here lately & thought I'd put my

2 cents in. I am limited in my shoe choices because of wide width, high

instep, on & off plantar fasciatis & just all the general aches & pains

of fibro. When my PF started years ago (one of the first windows into

what was to become fibro for me), I discovered the wonders of

Birkenstocks & haven't gone back since. Yes, they are hard at first &

it does take some time to break them in but once you do they're

conformed to your foot & provide perfect support. I actually broke my

first pair in during my first bought of PF & I'll admit it wasn't fun.

I did my physical therapy & tried to keep my feet stretched out as much

as possible & eventually I got used to them. Because Birkenstocks keep

your feet in proper alignment, your tendons don't have time to get tight

& constricted...at least that's how they've worked for me. Since I've

been wearing Birks, I hardly ever have a problem with the PF...except of

course when I try to wear pretty shoes that maybe have a little bit of a

heel, then sometimes it acts up...but it's because shoes that keep your

feet angled down like that allow the tendons in your feet, ankles &

calves to constrict & tighten up...then when you take them off, you're

pulling & stretching those tight tendons out too fast, they get

irritated & there's your PF! This has just been my experience.

As for the $$$ of the Birkenstocks, here's just a little thing that I've

done in the past. Find a store in your area that carries them & try on

a few pairs to see what your size is (remember they go by European

sizing & they have the narrow width w/the filled in footprint & the

wider width with the outlined footprint on the footbed), write it down,

then go home & buy a pair on ebay! There are even some online shoe

stores that sometimes have them on sale. Also, most online shoe stores

offer free shipping & free returns, so you could always try them out

that way. Here are some links to some stores I've shopped at before:

Grounded Soles http://www.groundedsoles.com/index.html>

Shoe Mall http://www.shoemall.com/home.jsp>

Zappos http://www.zappos.com/>

FootSmart http://www.footsmart.com/Default.aspx>

Comfort Shoe Shop http://www.comfortshoeshop.com/catalog/>

Birkenstock Central

http://www.birkenstockcentral.com/?AID=58140&PID=232054>

Shoe Buy http://www.shoebuy.com/>

Birkenstock Express http://www.birkenstockexpress.com/>

Simply Birkenstock http://www.simplybirkenstock.com/categories.php>

I know Birkenstocks aren't going to work for everybody, especially if

you have very sensitive, tender feet & need a softer shoe. They just

really have worked well for me. BUT, if you've been thinking about

trying them, my advice is, DO! And I hope you find them ON SALE!!!

Happy shopping...

~Kandi

[Guest guest]

Thank you much! I am saving for a pair but I have to find a pair that isn't

open toed so I can wear them all year round. Looking most likely at the clogs.

" Kandi J. Kieffer " kandijoyouliveinadreamworld@...> wrote: I've noticed

a lot of talk about shoes here lately & thought I'd put my

2 cents in. I am limited in my shoe choices because of wide width, high

instep, on & off plantar fasciatis & just all the general aches & pains

of fibro. When my PF started years ago (one of the first windows into

what was to become fibro for me), I discovered the wonders of

Birkenstocks & haven't gone back since. Yes, they are hard at first &

it does take some time to break them in but once you do they're

conformed to your foot & provide perfect support. I actually broke my

first pair in during my first bought of PF & I'll admit it wasn't fun.

I did my physical therapy & tried to keep my feet stretched out as much

as possible & eventually I got used to them. Because Birkenstocks keep

your feet in proper alignment, your tendons don't have time to get tight

& constricted...at least that's how they've worked for me. Since I've

been wearing Birks, I hardly ever have a problem with the PF...except of

course when I try to wear pretty shoes that maybe have a little bit of a

heel, then sometimes it acts up...but it's because shoes that keep your

feet angled down like that allow the tendons in your feet, ankles &

calves to constrict & tighten up...then when you take them off, you're

pulling & stretching those tight tendons out too fast, they get

irritated & there's your PF! This has just been my experience.

As for the $$$ of the Birkenstocks, here's just a little thing that I've

done in the past. Find a store in your area that carries them & try on

a few pairs to see what your size is (remember they go by European

sizing & they have the narrow width w/the filled in footprint & the

wider width with the outlined footprint on the footbed), write it down,

then go home & buy a pair on ebay! There are even some online shoe

stores that sometimes have them on sale. Also, most online shoe stores

offer free shipping & free returns, so you could always try them out

that way. Here are some links to some stores I've shopped at before:

Grounded Soles

Shoe Mall

Zappos

FootSmart

Comfort Shoe Shop

Birkenstock Central

Shoe Buy

Birkenstock Express

Simply Birkenstock

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