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Does anybody know what shoes I can get that will feel more cofortable with pn?
Sorry exhausted and punchy, hope it helps
Shoes are a very individual experience. One of the problems I discovered with the podiatrist-made inserts is that the podiatrist applies the pressure to your feet on the mold and when he applies the pressure, it's not normal pressure, based on my weight and shape of my feet; it was his attempt to make my foot fit some preconceived notion of normal. As a result, the insert didn't fit my foot or my shoes/boots and was extrememly painful.
So I went to get fitted for hiking boots by my brother (he worked in a true heavy duty sports/hiking store, not a "find the cutest outift place". He and measured my feet both standing and with no pressure on my feet (my feet went from a US 7.5 to a 9 between sitting and standing, an usually high difference which indicates a very high arch that flattens when I put pressure on my feet and thus wreakes havoc on my kness and hips). He made specialized inserts for me feet which involved layers of material pressed against the bottom of my feet then my foot was placed in a bag and suction was used to suck out all of the air and mold the insert against my foot (one done for each foot). I had those inserts made when I was a young lieutenant on active duty and I retired as a lieutant colonel in Dec 2005 using the same inserts, alternating them with some pre-formed inserts I found in another hiking store in another state (again, for high arches).
The new supports I've found are intended for hiking boots, but they can be trimmed to fit sneakers and shoes, so I can wear them with basically everything except heels (too high in back to fit the heels and I avoid heels anyhow). They cost about $30 per pair, but well worth the cost (and I believe they have a return period as well).
It takes time and effort and a lot of patience to find the right inserts. I find inserts work better than shoes because I can always take the basic insert that comes with the shoe out and put my specialized insert in. It gives me much more flexibility than being stuck with a specific shoe.
Flip flops provide no support whatsoever, or at most a tiny bit of arch support and a little support under the toes so they don't completely fall off. You defintely need something more secure. At a minimum try removing the original inserts from the NB sneakers so you get the full effect of the orthopedic inserts or try the orthopedic insert in your Sketchers sneakers (without the original padding). You may find they're more effective than the inserts with the padding.
I hope you are able to find something that works. And do try out a hiking store, a place with people who know what they're talking about and sell the heavy duty equipment, boots and all sorts of equipment that you can try on the spot in your own shoes (and spend a good hour walking around the store checking them out; a couple of minutes rocking back and forth is not a good enough trial).
Good luck and I hope some of these suggestions help.