5 Best Shoes for Chemo Induced Neuropathy [2024 Updated]

Last Updated on April, 2024

Feet under fire after chemotherapy? No need to worry; you’re in the right place!

Neuropathy, in general, is a nuisance and getting that as a side effect amidst ANOTHER major issue only irritates you more. But I know the effect peaks whenever you keep your feet on the ground.

That’s when you need shoes.

But you know already that ordinary shoes can only make things worse. So, After trying and testing countless shoes, we’ve handpicked the crème de la crème of footwear for your delicate toes.

How did we do that? We teamed up with a devoted set of medical experts. They brought their medical knowledge to ACTUALLY evaluate the quality, and we found the BEST shoes.

So, put your best foot forward and join me as I explain why each of these shoes brings the utmost comfort and support into your life.

Let’s start.

5 of the Best Shoes for Chemo-Induced Neuropathy

1. Orthofeet Tacoma (For Men)

The shoe is made with a soft and stretchable upper that conforms to your foot’s shape; that’s basically getting a customized shoe for the regular price. 

The shoe comes in blue and black across 13 sizes from men’s sizes 7 and 14. 

The seamless interior can and will eliminate pressure points that ultimately reduce comfort. Not only that, but the shoe’s interior is also plush, with an anatomical arch support with a contoured footbed. The combination of these features gives you superior comfort and stability.

The shoe’s extra depth design provides ample room for orthotics, custom inserts, and extra toe space — which gives a chance for you to modify the shoe for other conditions as well.

The outsole of the Orthofeet Tacoma is made of durable and slip-resistant materials that provide increased stability and traction on various surfaces. The heel of the shoe is cushioned to help reduce shock, which in turn improves walking comfort. 

In addition to these features, thisroomy shoe has a deep and wide toe box. This crucial feature prevents your toes from rubbing and developing blisters. The padded collar is the cherry on top that brings extra comfort.

Orthofeet Tacoma has a flexible outsole, a heel cup and counter, and a rocker’s bottom. The combination of these features helps you experience little or no shock when walking with the best stability. 

Its antimicrobial lining allows you to keep your feet fresh and odor-free. What more can you ask for?

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2. Orthofeet Quincy (For Women)

The patented orthotic insole is one of the key features of the Orthofeet Quincy. It provides arch support, a deep heel cup, and additional cushioning by design. That helps you relieve foot pain and improve overall foot comfort. 

The Dryflex™ fabric in the insole resolves perspiration issues, while the Poly-U foam eliminates odor. Let’s not forget the anti-microbial fabric and foam as well. That reduces bacteria multiplying way more than regular synthetic fibers.

Similar to Tacoma, the insole is designed to accommodate custom orthotics. That lets you have that customizable space for more feet conditions.

The roomy toe box is another feature seen in almost all Orthofeet shoes designed for neuropathy. Having enough space reduces pressure on the toes and averts the risks of developing blisters. 

Quincy shoes come with extra padding around the heel and ankle for women’s utmost comfort. This lets you wear the shoe for extended periods of time without having to worry about ankle aches.

Orthofeet is a company recognized for its attractive designs. Even if this shoe is designed to help you deal with a medical condition, it doesn’t look so different from a stylish women’s slip-on shoe. From the shape to surface designs and even the outsole, Orthofeet’s Quincy positions itself as a stylish women’s shoe.

You can buy the shoe in 15 sizes, from women’s sizes 5 to 12. The shoe also comes in three width sizes such as standard (B), wide (D), and extra wide (2E), ensuring superior comfort. Although Quincy’s black design is the most popular, you can also find it in brown and navy.

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3. Propet Women’s Tour

That immensely reduces friction that prevents blisters. After all, who doesn’t love extra cushioning inside a well-fitted shoe?

I don’t need to tell you how important it is not to have foot blisters when you have neuropathy or cancer.

What about its sole?

Tour Walker’s herringbone tread rubber sole is made of a durable and non–slip rubber that provides excellent traction. It also provides your feminine feet with excellent arch and heel support. 

The combination of these two features guarantees that you will not fall by slipping or losing balance, regardless of how numb your feet are.

You’ll find it relatively easy to clean the shoe’s upper as it is made of breathable leather and lasts for a very long time. It’s not merely the ease of cleaning; it also provides ample ventilation. It’s imperative to hinder moisture build-up when you wear shoes. It’s one of the main reasons to increase odor and chances of developing blisters.

Did I tell you that you could remove the footbed? Having a neuropathic shoe whose footbed can be replaced helps you in two ways. It allows you to use custom orthotics suitable for unique foot conditions. On the flip side, you can replace the footbed instead of the entire shoe.

That’s smart design thinking that saves you a little fortune.

The overall design decisions and material selection have allowed the Propét Women’s Tour Walker shoe to absorb more shock when walking. But I would not recommend this shoe for running as that’s a different topic.

In conclusion, the Propét Women’s Tour Walker is one of the best shoes to wear to battle neuropathy caused by chemo.

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4. Dr. Comfort William-X

You’d also notice the dual-layer foam insole included to absorb shock and help distribute weight evenly across the foot. Shock absorption is a must-have feature for neuropathic shoes, but you don’t get to see the weight distribution capacity of most soles; that marks the William-X special.

Dr. Comfort recommends the shoe for a wide range of foot conditions. Some of these are diabetes, chemo-induced neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, hammer toes, bunions, and even arthritis.

This 100% leather shoe is also constructed with extra depth. Words can’t describe how comfortable this is for people with edema, internal braces, and AFOs when you already have neuropathy. 

Credit should be given to the protective toe box, as it prevents your sensitive toes from stubbing. There’s enough room for even hammer toes. So, if you don’t have hammer toes, it basically means your normal toes will be more than fine.

Did I mention how the shoe has room for custom orthotics? That lets you customize the shoe however you want while keeping the best features. 

The shoe is pretty impressive, and as a man struggling with neuropathy caused by chemo, you will be grateful for the comfort the shoe brings.

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5. Skechers Go Walk

Another feature that makes the Go Walk shoe special is the memory foam. Your feet will gently sink into the foam once, and that’ll give you a custom fit. The foam’s cushioning is strong enough to absorb shock. That’s why you can walk or even run very comfortably. 

The upper of the Go Walk is made from a soft and breathable mesh. The primary benefit of this mesh is that it’ll keep your feet cool and dry. If not, the built-up moisture will most definitely damage your feet in a matter of time.

The lace-up design allows you to adjust the fit to your liking, ensuring a snug and secure fit. It’s imperative to choose well-fitting shoes for neuropathic feet. If not, the shoe’s beneficial features cannot help you to their maximum capability.

What about the outsole?

Skechers Go Walk’s outsole is made of durable rubber. The brand ensures its buyers that the shoe will provide good traction on various surfaces. Not only that, you can wear it all day long and even when you’re working out — guaranteed versatility!

The shoe comes in multiple sizes from 7 to 16 in the brand size, mainly in two colors: gray & navy and black & blue.

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What is Chemo-Induced Neuropathy? How is it Caused?

Chemo-induced neuropathy is precisely what you’d expect it to be.

It is neuropathy caused by chemotherapy treatment when the chemotherapy drugs toxically affect the peripheral nerves. These drugs can damage the protective covering of nerve fibers (myelin, and the nerve fibers themselves. This leads to numbness, tingling, weakness, and pain in the hands, feet, and other affected areas.

The severity of the chemo-induced neuropathy depends on the type and dose of the drugs and the nature of the patient. 

Guide to Choosing Shoes for Chemo-Induced Neuropathy 

How did we choose these shoes in the first place? Below is that ultimate guide that even you can follow to find the best shoes for chemo-induced neuropathy.

• Prioritize the comfort factor

Be sure to look for shoes with a soft, cushioned interior with a wide, roomy toe box. This helps you accommodate swollen feet effortlessly. 

• Double-check the support capacity 

Choosing shoes with good arch support and a sturdy sole is vital as it ensures stability and balance.

A non-slip sole is also crucial for increased safety.

• The breathability of the built materials

The breathability of the built materials prevents moisture build-up and keeps your feet cool and dry. If not, there will be odor issues which increase the chances of blisters.

• Avoid getting unfitting shoes

You can get either slip-on shoes with adjustable straps or laces, but the critical point is not to get shoes that do not properly fit. If they don’t, your mobility and overall comfort will be severely affected.

• Consider the brand reliability

Shoes for chemo-induced neuropathy are typically more pricey than regular shoes. So, it’s better to prioritize established shoe brands, so you know your feet will be perfectly fine. 

• Extra features

Some shoes for chemo-induced neuropathy are loaded with features that elevate comfort and safety factors. This could be by patented features or typical design practices. But getting shoes with better features always brings the most value to your investment. 

How to Improve Neuropathy After Chemo? 

The first method is focussing on exercising. This could be gentle exercise such as stretching and light walking as that improves circulation and reduces neuropathy symptoms.

You can also invest in physical therapy as that can help you with balance and coordination as much as reducing pain and increasing mobility. If physical therapy feels too much, massage therapy should suffice.

Drinking prescription medicine is probably the easiest method to improve neuropathy after chemo. You can drink pain relievers such as acetaminophen or antidepressants, or even anticonvulsants based on your physician’s recommendation. 

Acupuncture is also one effective method, significantly reducing pain.

Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) uses mild electrical currents to stimulate peripheral nerves and reduce pain — that’s another method to improve neuropathy.

But while you do all this, it’s imperative to maintain a balanced diet, quit smoking, and reduce or eliminate alcohol consumption. The collective effort of these methods should surely help you improve neuropathy after chemo.

In Conclusion 

Finding shoes specifically for neuropathic feet caused by chemo is not easy. But each day without proper shoes only damages your feet more. But all your neuropathic problems resolve when you buy and walk in these shoes. Not only that, the condition of your legs will improve as well.

Orthofeet is a very dominant brand in the field, and Orthofeet Tacoma (for men) and Quincy (for women) are our top picks. As you saw, the reason is none other than their performance abilities.

Now that you know what to buy, it’s just a matter of getting it done.

Everyone at Extreme Health Guides, including myself, wishes for the fastest recovery and the best comfort for your neuropathic feet. Until next time!

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