My shoes may be boring, but at least they’re comfortable

I feel like I wear the same three pairs of shoes to work all the time. I don’t know if anyone else notices, but I do. Sometimes I feel self-conscious about it, but the shoes are comfortable. I’ve had issues with plantar fasciitis in the past, and I get blisters easily because of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS), so I usually choose comfort over anything else.

Ever since I was diagnosed with EDS at the age of 22, it made sense that my softer skin would be more sensitive to things rubbing against it. Forget wearing shoes without socks, and I dread breaking in new shoes. As a result, I tend to rotate through the same few pairs of shoes that are broken in and comfortable. Once they’re too broken in, though, they start to lose their arch support. That can exacerbate my plantar fasciitis.

I’d dealt with this issue off and on for about two years, and nothing really seemed to help. I probably caused it by trying to stabilize my weak ankles, but once I’d stopped doing that, it was still hard to get the inflammation under control. I finally made some progress when I tried kinesiology tape as a last-ditch effort to feel better. I managed to get to a point where I’m pain-free most days.

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Unfortunately, shoes that fit well and have good arch support tend to be boring and expensive. While comfort is my number one goal, it doesn’t mean I want to wear boring shoes that don’t match my clothes.

A pair of Haflinger wool clogs are my go-to shoes in winter, while Skechers are soft and good for preventing blisters. But they don’t always have great arch support. Finding shoes that meet all of my needs has proven challenging.

That’s why I wear only a few pairs of shoes so much. As a teacher, I’m on my feet a lot, but I also want to look professional. It seems like a constant balancing act between being appropriate for work and being comfortable and supportive for my EDS. I won’t even go down the rabbit hole of how foot pain makes me walk funny, which in turn can cause a pain flare in my hip or back.

Administrators at my school couldn’t care less what shoes I wear, as long as they’re neat and presentable. I’ve decided that some things just aren’t worth worrying about in the grand scheme of things. So, off I’ll go to work tomorrow in my trusty clogs or boat shoes, which are comfortable yet boring!

Note: Ehlers-Danlos News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Ehlers-Danlos News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to Ehlers-Danlos.