Best Shoes For Nerve Pain
Updated on May 29, 2024
Shop the best shoes for nerve pain
Nerve pain affects a vast number of Americans and can cause pinching, tingling, and numbness in various parts of the body. Thankfully, there is hope for managing nerve pain.
Wearing high-quality footwear that provides adequate width, support, and cushion to reduce pinching and strain is one effective way to help manage nerve pain symptoms. The best shoes for nerve pain are those that offer high-quality arch support, a roomy toe box, and a cushioned, stable footbed—just like KURUs.
What is Nerve Pain?
Nerve pain, also referred to as neuropathic pain or neuralgia, is a condition that stems from a damaged central or peripheral nervous system. This can occur due to injury or an underlying medical condition.
There are several types of nerve pain, including peripheral neuropathy that affects your extremities, sciatica that starts at your lower back or hips and can radiate downward, and postherpetic nerve pain caused by shingles.
Nerve pain can make it incredibly uncomfortable or painful to perform even everyday tasks, including walking, standing straight, and simple exercises.
Neuropathic pain can get worse by wearing the wrong type of footwear, including wearing high heels and too-tight shoes. The best shoes for nerve pain in feet include wide toe boxes, flat or level soles, proper cushioning, and an excellent fit.
In addition, performing stretching exercises such as the soleus calf stretch can help alleviate nerve pain in the feet. In the video below, we’ll show you how to do this stretch.
Most Common Causes & Risk Factors for Developing Nerve Pain
- Peripheral neuropathyCharacterized by numbness or a burning feeling in the extremities, peripheral neuropathy may be caused or worsened by infections, excessive alcohol use, and other hereditary conditions.Peripheral neuropathy
- Flat feet or high archesThese conditions place greater stress on the muscles and soft tissues of your feet, which can lead to compressed or pinched nerves.Flat feet or high arches
- SciaticaA condition in which the sciatic nerve—which runs from the lower back, through the hips and buttocks, and down the legs—is damaged or compressed.Sciatica
- Diabetic neuropathyAccording to researchers, the changes in blood vessels and metabolism with diabetes may cause burning, shooting pain, or sensations of electric shock in the feet and legs.Diabetic neuropathy
- Spinal nerve compression or inflammationThis condition puts excess pressure on the spine and can lead to pain, numbness, and weakness depending on its cause.Spinal nerve compression or inflammation
- Poorly fitting footwearExtremely narrow shoes and high heels can lead to several feet neuropathic conditions, such as Morton’s neuroma, Baxter’s neuropathy, and tarsal tunnel syndrome.Poorly fitting footwear
- Spinal injury or infectionThese include tumors in the spine, slip disks, and spinal stenosis.Spinal injury or infection
Symptoms & Diagnosis
The symptoms of nerve pain can vary depending on its underlying cause. Here are some common symptoms of nerve pain:
- Sharp, burning, or aching pain in the feet and legs
- Pins and needles or a tingling sensation
- Sudden or spontaneous pain, often feeling like an electric shock
- Pain caused by normally non-painful stimuli, such as touch
- Difficulty sleeping
- General discomfort and pain while walking
Upon noticing any of these symptoms, it is best to visit a doctor for proper treatment. For a few tips on managing and reducing nerve pain, continue reading the treatment section below.
Nerve Pain Facts and Stats
- About 25% to 30% of Americans experience nerve pain.
- Older individuals have an increased risk of nerve pain, with 8% of elderly adults (at least 65 years old) having neuropathy.
- An estimated 20 million Americans have a form of peripheral neuropathy or nerve pain, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders.
- Sciatica, a common cause of back, hip, and lower extremity nerve pain, affects between 10% to 40% of the population.
- Men ages 30 to 50 years old have a higher likelihood of developing sciatica.
Treatment
Nerve pain can be a debilitating condition that affects millions. The necessary treatment for nerve pain would depend on what caused it.
Treating neuropathic pain revolves around diagnosing the underlying cause of injury or disease, alleviating pain, maintaining mobility or functionality of the limbs, and improving the overall quality of life.
Here are some of the various ways to treat various types of foot nerve pain.
- General Neuropathic PainExercise and physical therapy: These are often necessary for neuropathic pain treatment. If your doctor prescribes regular exercise as your primary treatment, make sure to wear the best shoes for nerve pain to support your recovery.Doctor prescribed medication: For severe neuropathic pain, some doctors may also prescribe you medication or injections.Comfortable footwear: Cushioned footwear with an extra-wide toe box, shock-absorbent footbed, and adequate arch support can help manage foot pain symptoms.• Other conservative treatment: This includes pain management techniques, such as rest, massage, over-the-counter pain relievers, and supportive footwear.General Neuropathic Pain
- Sciatica-Related Nerve PainLight exercise: Walking and stretching can be beneficial for people with acute sciatic pain. Wearing the best shoes for sciatica pain can help manage symptoms and reduce nerve pain while walking.Hot or cold compress on the feet: Post exercise, this can help alleviate pain and improve overall muscle recovery.Stronger painkillers or medication: While over-the-counter pain killers may help, stronger medications may be prescribed by your doctor to help manage pain symptoms.Physical therapy: Your doctor may prescribe physical therapy to help treat a sciatica problem. This can help in managing pain and moving normally.Shoes for sciatic nerve pain: High-quality, supportive shoes help with sciatic nerve pain. The best shoes for sciatic nerve pain are those with adequate arch support, a generous toe box to avoid pinching, and plenty of cushion for the utmost comfort.Surgery: Surgery is often a last resort when nerve pain symptoms do not respond to other treatments.Sciatica-Related Nerve Pain
- Morton’s Neuroma and Other Pinched Nerve-Related PainWear properly fitting shoes: Cushioned, supportive footwear that fits properly can help manage pain symptoms and help prevent the condition from getting worse.Avoid overly tight shoes, narrow shoes, and high heels: Ill-fitting footwear can cause pinching and pain and worsen nerve pain symptoms over time. Allowing the toes to lay flat and have room to breathe can help prevent or worsen these conditions.Look for shoes with proper arch support: For comfortable walking shoes for neuropathy, look no further than KURU footwear.Morton’s Neuroma and Other Pinched Nerve-Related Pain
FAQs
What causes nerve pain?
Nerve pain can be caused by a wide variety of health conditions, including injury, diabetes, shingles, stroke, HIV, blood vessel diseases, cancer, and neurological conditions, like multiple sclerosis.
Nerve pain specifically in the foot can be caused by pulling, pinching, or compressing a nerve in the feet or legs.
Wearing the wrong kind of footwear can also contribute to nerve pain, including high heels, narrow shoes, overly tight shoes, and shoes without proper arch support. Shoes that lack sufficient cushioning can also make nerve pain worse, especially for individuals that jog, run, or participate in high-impact sports.
What shoes help nerve pain?
Orthopedic shoes with cushioned insoles and adequate arch support are recommended for people struggling with nerve pain or neuropathy. Experts recommend athletic shoes, particularly those that have gel or air soles for maximum comfort.
Aside from those, the best shoes for nerve pain in the feet are those that have wide toe boxes, low or stable soles, and cushioned insoles with arch support, like KURU shoes.
How long does nerve pain last?
The severity or degree of compression of pinched nerves affects how long the pain lasts. The type of treatment undertaken also helps determine the duration of the nerve pain.
Acute pain may improve after several days or weeks of at-home care and pain management. However, the pain may persist in cases of chronic nerve pain or cases with more serious underlying causes.
Are your shoes considered orthopedic shoes?
Even though KURU shoes were not initially intended to be orthopedic shoes, thousands of our customers say they experience relief from various foot conditions.
While our shoes are not currently considered orthopedic by a medical standard, we have received thousands of positive reviews from customers who say their KURUs helped reduce or eliminate their pain.
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Three Layers of Support
At KURU, we pride ourselves on our unique approach to shoe design. We believe that shoes should be shaped to fit the natural contours of your feet, which is why we create every pair in three distinct support layers, not just an insole.
Our revolutionary ergonomic design starts with a curved footbed and adds unparalleled triple-layer support that includes shock-absorbing KURUCLOUD, heel-cupping KURUSOLE, and arch-supporting ULTIMATE INSOLES. The result? Shoes that are so comfortable you’ll stop thinking about your feet.
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KURUSOLE
KURUSOLE is our patented, breakthrough technology that cups and protects the heel while allowing your heel to dynamically flex with …Show More
KURUSOLE is our patented, breakthrough technology that cups and protects the heel while allowing your heel to dynamically flex with each step. KURUSOLE helps your body leverage its natural cushioning system: the heel’s fat pad. It also improves alignment for a healthier gait.
…Show less - 2
KURUCLOUD
KURUCLOUD is one part of our signature three-part technology that makes KURU footwear amazing. If you need better shoes for nerve pain …Show More
KURUCLOUD is one part of our signature three-part technology that makes KURU footwear amazing. If you need better shoes for nerve pain in your feet, you need shoes with KURUCLOUD. This uniquely engineered blend of high-performance EVA foam provides necessary cushioning and effective shock absorption to help reduce foot nerve pain
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ULTIMATE INSOLE
Made of highly durable polyurethane foam, the ULTIMATE INSOLES mold to the shape of your feet to ensure custom fit and comfort in each step. ULTIMATE …Show More
Made of highly durable polyurethane foam, the ULTIMATE INSOLES mold to the shape of your feet to ensure custom fit and comfort in each step. ULTIMATE INSOLES bring dual-density arch support and cushioning to help fight a number of foot pain conditions.
…Show less
KURUSOLE
KURUSOLE is our patented, breakthrough technology that cups and protects the heel while allowing your heel to dynamically flex with each step. KURUSOLE helps your body leverage its natural cushioning system: the heel’s fat pad. It also improves alignment for a healthier gait.
Our Secret
What makes KURU different? Every KURU shoe comes with built-in patented KURUSOLE tech—a foot health game changer.
While other shoes are flat on the inside, KURUSOLE is shaped like your foot to hug and prevent fatigue and pain.
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