Many years ago, when I was straight out of college and working more than 40 hours a week in retail, I developed the dreaded heel spur. The medical profession calls it plantar fasciitis, but I called it torture! Desperate, I went to a doctor, convinced I would have to have cortisone injections in my feet.
My doctor looked at my pretty, blue sequined flip flops and told me that a lot of my problem was my shoes. They were cute, they showed off my pedicure, but they were offering me no arch support. To add injury to insult, with every step I took, my flip flops were smacking against my heel. It was adding to the inflammation.
The doctor suggested different exercises for my feet, wearing athletic shoes for work and alternating them every few days… and then he recommended Birkenstocks.
The first day I wore my first pair of Birks, I couldn’t understand what all of the fuss was about. They were ok, but the foot bed of the shoes felt odd. Then I did some research, and discovered that the bed of the shoe takes a day or two to conform to the contours of your foot. So I wore them around the house for a few hours. By day three, I was a lifetime convert!
Birkenstocks not only have a foot bed that supports your arch, they are also designed in such a way that the soles of the shoe don’t slap against the bottom of your foot. They are the most comfortable shoes ever! I have about 8 (ok, more like 14) pairs of them now. I usually try to treat myself to a new style every summer. I even have Birkenstock clogs for cold weather.
Birkenstocks now come in a wide variety of styles, colors, and price ranges. And while some of them can be a bit pricey, they all seem to last a really long time! I still have my first pair, which are now more than 15 years old.
For the record, I followed my doctor’s suggestions. I did the foot exercises and ditched the flip flops, and I haven’t had any pain from my heel spur in years! So if you have foot problems, or even if you just want to prevent them, I highly recommend trying a pair of Birkenstocks. I’m currently shopping for my next pair. ~ Jackie Farley
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