Fitted for shoes and I hate them

bttrthanevr

I was fitted for shoes on Saturday...I think the advice I was given was good. I have moderate to severe overpronation and almost flat feet so the fit person at the run specialty shop put me in Asics GT3000's with arch support orthotics. The problem is that before I didn't feel my shoes or notice them...but now my feet feel all stiff and weird. I've only worn them around the house for a few hours, so I could return them. I was getting shin splints (not terrible but noticeable) and some minor pain in my knees with my old Nikes. These shoes are supposed to help that. Should I run in them, and give them a shot or take them back? anyone have any perspective on this? They were really expensive...ugh!

KathleenKP

My running shop lets you return them even if you have run outside in the mud. They really mean it when they say they are fitting you for shoes.

kae_blah

I was fitted for running shoes that made my toes feel numb. It was a few weeks before that went away but I figured as long as it wasn't pain I would put it down to my feet adjusting to 'proper' form.

rduhlir

http://forums.runnersworld.com/forums/shoes-stuff/shoes/pain-breaking-new-first-running-shoes

likitisplit

I was fitted for shoes that made my toes numb. My run store let me bring them back and sized me up. If you can, try them on the treadmill. I'd lean toward giving them a whirl anyway - you really should be replacing your shoes regularly anyway

bostonwolf

I was fitted for running shoes that made my toes feel numb. It was a few weeks before that went away but I figured as long as it wasn't pain I would put it down to my feet adjusting to 'proper' form.

Could have been the way you had them laced.

SRH7

I was fitted for running shoes that made my toes feel numb. It was a few weeks before that went away but I figured as long as it wasn't pain I would put it down to my feet adjusting to 'proper' form.

Could have been the way you had them laced.

True. I have very narrow feet and as a result used a special lacing technique to get them super tight - then I got dreadful pain in my ankles. Someone on the forums suggested the blood could be pooling in my feet, I loosened the laces... hey presto, no more ankle pain.

SRH7

I was fitted for shoes on Saturday...I think the advice I was given was good. I have moderate to severe overpronation and almost flat feet so the fit person at the run specialty shop put me in Asics GT3000's with arch support orthotics. The problem is that before I didn't feel my shoes or notice them...but now my feet feel all stiff and weird. I've only worn them around the house for a few hours, so I could return them. I was getting shin splints (not terrible but noticeable) and some minor pain in my knees with my old Nikes. These shoes are supposed to help that. Should I run in them, and give them a shot or take them back? anyone have any perspective on this? They were really expensive...ugh!

First thought - orthotics push your feet into positions they are not used to being in, so it could be your body adapting.

But... nobody selling orthotics should advise you to go out running on them straight away without easing yourself in and letting your body adjust (usually by wearing for 20 mins at a time in shoes around the house then building up the time you wear them before even considering running with them). If you are overpronating you may have been doing this since you were a child - that's a lot of adjustment for your body to make.

Get some ice on your legs, put your feet up and have some ibuprofen, paracetamol or asprin (if you are able to take them) and see how you feel tomorrow. If your legs are still not right, take them back. Any running shop worth their salt will have a refund policy if it is deemed they have not fitted you with the right shoes.

I have severe overpronation and wear custom orthotics in my normal shoes (as well as ongoing physio as the foot problems have left me with osteoarthritis in my knees). I was fitted with minimal shoes at a specialist running shop last year despite me taking a list of advice from my podiatrist and physio (they recommended neutral cushioned to mild stability shoes with removable insoles so I could put my orthotics in - definitely not minimal shoes).

The minimal shoes were not deep enough for my orthotics and had little cushioning. End result, my knees and ankles swelled up and I struggled to walk, let alone run, for a month. They were covered in mud but I took them back and got a refund, no quibble.

The funny thing about orthotics is that my podiatrist has conceded that I will never get my feet into exactly the right position they should be in as I've been walking that way for so many years. As such, we have worked out a compromise level over several months - my feet are less twisted but they will never have a proper arch. It could be that the shop is trying too much, too soon with your feet by trying to force them where they will never go.

And, if you don't use orthotics in your day-to-day shoes and are doing fine, do you really need them in your running shoes? I would suspect that if you have no daily aches and pains in your legs and knees then maybe you don't need them. A motion control or stability shoe may work just fine. Or you could try using the ones you have just bought but with their normal insole rather than the orthotic insole.

As for me, I took my refund and went to a discount sports shop and tried on every neutral and stability shoe they had (with my orthotic) and bought the pair that were comfiest - for me that was Asics Kayano. Sometimes you yourself know what feels right more than any assessment by a third party can ever do.

Never be afraid to ask for a refund - your health and wellbeing is too important

Julie_Donahue

When I was fitted for my shoes (and inserts) last week, he said they normally recommend 2-2, 4-4, 6-6, 8-8 (2 hours on/2 hours off, etc) to build up to longer wear. Since I've been wearing 3/4 inserts (new ones are full shoe), he said I might be able to go a little faster. I started with 4 on, 4 off. And my feet really hurt the first day. (I actually forgot to bring my other ones or I would have traded sooner!) But after about a week, I'm finally feeling comfortable in these shoes.

bttrthanevr

Wow! Lots of good ideas that make sense to me. I love this forum/discussion group!

It makes a lot of sense to me that I should work into the orthotics and stabilizing shoes gradually. (I'm surprised the store didn't tell me that? They have a great reputation.) I did call today and they said they would take the shoes back or exchange them no problem and even ship me a new pair at their expense since I live three hours from the store.

I think I will also try a size up. I didn't have a lot of extra lace to work with to loosen the laces and the arch orthotic makes my foot taller. The shoes feel snug right over the top of my foot with the supports in...

I think I will also look for orthotics for my daily shoes and work into wearing them all the time...or whenever I will be doing a lot of walking...my knees do get sore and stiff after a long day of shopping/walking. I often get pain in my inside ankle or in my arches too.

Thanks everyone for your help!!!!

SRH7

Wow! Lots of good ideas that make sense to me. I love this forum/discussion group!

It makes a lot of sense to me that I should work into the orthotics and stabilizing shoes gradually. (I'm surprised the store didn't tell me that? They have a great reputation.) I did call today and they said they would take the shoes back or exchange them no problem and even ship me a new pair at their expense since I live three hours from the store.

I think I will also try a size up. I didn't have a lot of extra lace to work with to loosen the laces and the arch orthotic makes my foot taller. The shoes feel snug right over the top of my foot with the supports in...

I think I will also look for orthotics for my daily shoes and work into wearing them all the time...or whenever I will be doing a lot of walking...my knees do get sore and stiff after a long day of shopping/walking. I often get pain in my inside ankle or in my arches too.

Thanks everyone for your help!!!!

:flowerforyou:

fastfoodietofitcutie

I've been fitted for shoes twice and hated both pairs I purchased. I wore them but they were never as comfortable as the old shoes I had. I went back to just buying what I like and am comfortable. Hopefully, I'm not ruining my feet in the long run but feel getting professionally fitted is highly overrated.