looking for help with summer shoes and pillows please

[Bagpuss2021]

Hi you lovely people. calling on your invaluable advice.I am struggling with my RA in my feet. I would like to buy some comfortable summer shoes. if anyone knows where to purchase I would be most grateful. Some sandals look comfortable in the pictures, but are they comfortableto walk in? Also struggling to sleep at night with RA in my neck and both shoulders, so started looking into getting a specialist pillow, now I'm inundated with pillow adverts, but no idea which one to get. I have tried to get some advice from my RA team, but as of yet not heard anything back. Any advice would be most welcome. Enjoy the sunny weekend everyone Thanks in advance. 😀

[recorderplayer]

Cosyfeet offer a good range and excellent quality

[Madmusiclover]

Hi Bagpuss. Pop ‘sandals’ ‘shoes’ ‘footwear’ into search. Lots of previous recommendations. Not sure if that would work for pillow though….🥴

[calflo]

I have been having problems with my neck since last July and I’ve tried dozens of pillows, including orthopaedic memory foam ones too. I eventually used a very thin one which had bumps on one side and plain on the other side. I also tried sleeping without a pillow and this seemed to give me some relief sometimes! I’m sorry I’m not much help but it was trial and error for me.

Hopefully you will find something that suits soon x

[Angelicscripts6]

Cotton traders do some great footware they also have a Widefitting shoes sandals trainers 😊

[pino99]

Emma pillow was the answer for me after trying lots of different types. It has three layers and you can use as many as you want, combined in different ways. I use two of the layers and neck pain is a thing of the past.

[Scottishlad]

I can't help you with shoes but can give you some thoughts on pillows. First consider do you sleep on your back or side or like me, do both.

I now use pillow with a groove in the middle which keeps my neck straighter when I'm on my back. The higher wings keep my head up when I turn over on to my side.

You my need to experiment a bit.

[bpeal1]

Hotter shoes are expensive but I find them very good. If you haven’t done already ask your rheumatology team for a referral to podiatry and ask them for some custom made orthotics.

As for pillows I think that is a very individual thing, depending on which joints are hurting and your sleeping position. One of the poster above said they found a thin pillow best, where as I find the thickest memory foam pillow the best with a thinner normal pillow on top at right angles best for me. I went to a bed shop and tried out some pillows by lying on their beds with them. My husband was a bit embarrassed but I didn’t care - I wanted to make sure it was comfortable.

[Hopeful1 in reply to bpeal1]

Yes RA referral to podiatry worked for me. Also praise Hotter. Pricey but last forever!

[Deeb1764 in reply to bpeal1]

I so read this wrong been looking for ages for shoes by HOTTER called Bagpuss! Came back here to read the answer again and its Bagpuss who asked the question. Love a bit of brain fog!😂🤣😁

[Bagpuss2021 in reply to Deeb1764]

sorry for the confusion, Bagpuss is me

[Thingybob]

Clarks trigenic shoes and sandals are good. Lightweight and really flexible. I think they do wide fit too 🙂

[Leics]

I can’t help you with the sandals and shoes but have you tried a v shaped pillow. When I had surgery on my shoulder I found it took the strain off my neck and shoulders as it is supportive around the neck and each shoulder is cushioned too and slightly raised. They’re not very expensive. I’m pretty sure there have been loads of posts about pillows and especially footwear.

[Bagpuss2021 in reply to Leics]

thanks

[Evie3]

Been there done that…..have a shoebox full and have tried every pillow known to man..lol. It is just trial and error really as we all have different probs. However I shop at Pavers and Skechers. Having had foot surgery I am now a 1.5 in one foot and a 2 in the other plus a wide☹️. My best pillow is a dunlopillo ….as I have had neck surgery one pillow is sufficient. Hope you get sorted🤞

[Fruitandnutcase]

I’m afraid I stick to ECCO walking shoes or just their lace ups these days.

You could try an outdoor store for walking sandals. They are very supportive and the straps are usually adjustable- they are very ‘clunky’ though.

Pillows are a nightmare - for me they are worse than shoes - I’ve tried / bought what must be every pillow known to man and now I use a John Lewis ‘no mite’ down filled pillow. I sleep mostly on my side and I shake a lot of the filling to one end and use the flattish bit at the other end under my neck / head.

In my younger days I never saw myself turning into someone who would take their own pillow on holiday with them - or live in clumpy shoes for that matter although white trainer type shoes with everything can be stylish.

[Velvet13]

hi Bagpuss, I’ve found the most comfortable shoes which are smart casual are made by SoleBliss, there like walking on air, soo comfortable visit their website, expensive but definitely worth ever penny. For the more casual look I like Skechers trainers, hope this helps because I know from experience how debilitating ra in feet can be.

[CagneysMum]

I’ve tried different cushions without much success so I now keep a couple like these on the bed that I can use as a supplementary cushion under my neck, on top of my regular pillow. Also good for putting under my knees when they are feeling sore or uncomfortable. Hope you find a solution. x

dunelm.com/product/silas-10...

[dippyd09]

hello, I have a real problem with my neck have ad for a long time. I’ve tried so many pillows but eventually bought Dunlopillo Super Comfort Speciality Pillow. It’s been a godsend. I can get really comfortable with this. It wasn’t cheap but it has proved worth every penny. I’m looking for sandals too as my feet are absolutely killing me so I wish you luck and perhaps I might find something on here! Take care.

[ageddancer]

Hi, what a problem this is for us all. My experience is firstly to have some special orthotics made for your feet. This makes a bit difference especially if they are well padded. These are expensive but a good investment in ones self. I live in Norfolk and I have a lovely man who makes them with a leather top for me (just over £100.00 per pair) I also use them in some sandals and for me DB shoes (also called Easy B) they have sandals that have removeable inners allowing you to replace them with orthotics (using some velcro pieces to keep them in place). My feet are wide across the toes and I have a hammer toe and Hotter doesnt work that well for me. Easy B have shoes that have a much deeper toebox and lots of widths/depths.

General footwear for me is trainers, New Balance and Saucony work for me I buy them in one size larger to take the orthotics.

Pillows : tried them all including Tempur...... but for me I now buy a twin pair of soft Dacron pillows that I can place where I want and often in a V position, these are cheap and easily replaced. "Arthur" ends up costing us money to get what works for us as we all have different needs. Hope with all replies you can find some help.

[Angjoplin]

I can't help with pillows. But for sandals I would recommend Vionics and Flyflot. I have wide swollen feet and find shoes a nightmare. Flyflot clogs are a god send. Vionic sandals are orthopaedic but watch out to get some that aren't to hard on the soles.

[mrsb]

I live in Keen Sandals over the summer, I have a variety of styles 😇🩴

[Harrypotter2930]

I get my shoes summer sandals from pavers but I buy the flyflot brand they are amazing, and flyflot do shoes and boots too so soft and comfy but also great choice of styles x

[Hidden]

Teva sandals. Goose filled pillows (4 for a king size) and a large V shaped one for reading in bed grannygetsagrip.com/product.... Also try sleeping flat down on your stomach…

[springcross]

Another vote here for Hotter Bagpuss. They are so comfortable and yes, they are expensive but worth every penny and do last for years.

[Retirednhs]

D&B shoes and Widerfit give you a good variety of shoes with a wide variety of styles and widths and can be bought online with a no charge return and some good shoe shops also stock wider fitting shoes and those brands.

[Moomin8]

groovepillows.co.uk

I swear by these groove pillows. Pricey? Yes. But, in my opinion, worth every penny. I have bought some for friends as well.

As for summer shoes, I'm in the same boat as you. I have bunions on both feet (just posted about this topic) and my feet are also extremely sensitive! I'll read your post with interest 😉