Over the past several months, on the old message board, there were several threads
regarding Birkenstock shoes. Given the price I hesitated on buying a pair and also
because they are pretty ugly for business attire.
I decided to give them a try because of all of the positive comments. I bought a pair
of the Arizonas and then their inserts for dress shoes.
I'm absolutely thrilled with the results so far. I've been wearing them (either the
Arizonas or the inserts) religiously for one month. The morning pain has been reduced
substantially (I no longer hobble/shuffle). During the day I no longer have any pain
when I get up and walk after having sat for a bit.
The old message board said that it took a couple of months for the results to show.
Also, it took a couple of days to break them in. My heel felt wonderful immediately
but my arches were pretty sore starting out. During the first week I wore them 2
hours and then increased an hour a day.
I'm particularly thrilled that I can wear "normal looking" shoes with the inserts. They
are pricey (about $45-50) but well worth the cost.
Hope this message gives hope to someone else because I sure needed it awhile back.
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Message 107
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From:
Bead (BEAD)
To:
PMatthews1 (PMATTHEWS1)
2 of 13
Posted:
10/1/98 10:00 PM
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104
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Just heard on QVC- a woman with plantar fasciitis called in
and talked about the great sucess she has had with
Birkenstocks. It would be a good idea to check with them as
they sell them periodically at much reduced prices. Good Luck
all.
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Message 112
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From:
Kathy DG (KATHYDG)
To:
ALL
3 of 13
Posted:
10/2/98 1:41 PM
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107
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I watched the QVC show and bought my first pair of Birks from them. I am so
excited to get them! And when the woman called about her fasciitis, I yelled to my
husband to come watch, too! I bought a clog-style. I am getting custom orthotics
made to put in most of my shoes, but it would be nice to slip something on when I get
home, and not have to wear closed shoes all of the time. Besides, clogs are kind of
funky and fashiobale these days. I am not quite ready for sensible shoes all of the time
yet!
Kathy
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Message 143
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From:
beej2 (BEEJ2)
To:
ALL
4 of 13
Posted:
10/5/98 12:34 PM
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You know, I am sort of at a loss regarding the Birkenstocks. I have a high arch and
have tried on many models. It seems to me that my foot must be shaped wrong for
them. My toes are squared off and therefore run into the raised end at the toe. If I get
the larger size the arch support doesn't hit right. Also, I have been told by my
podiatrist that shoes with a one inch rise in the heel are best. So I went out and
bought a pair of Mephisto slip on sandals for home wear. They fit perfectly and have
excellent arch support. I can't say they have reduced the pain but they haven't hurt
either.
I stopped my acupuncture treatments last week because I had 11 treatments with no
success other than making the pain more bearable, and I actually feel worse. I went to
my regular m.d. and he prescribed some heavy duty anti-inflammatory for the next 10
days and stretching exercises which I should do for 5 minutes three times a day. He
apparently had pf and found this worked for him. I have been doing the stretching but
apparently not enough! I also got the name of an orthopedist in Berkeley but can't get
in to see him until November! If the anti-inflammatory and stretching don't work I am
going back to the acupuncturist to at least make the pain more bearable... I am so
depressed about this.
As an aside, I don't mind this board--there are pros and cons to both the old message
board and this site. I vote for keeping this site and also thank Scott again for his
caring and support.
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Message 145
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From:
Barbannj (BARBANNJ)
To:
beej2 (BEEJ2)
5 of 13
Posted:
10/5/98 6:56 PM
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I too had to get a larger size Birk. I also got the one with the narrow foot bed. I
ordinarily wear a medium but this worked. I felt at the store that the arch was in the
wrong place but I was so desperate that I got them anyway. I tried really slowly to
begin wearing them, really slowly. Just in the house or out to the mail box, I used them
like slippers and gradually my symptoms began to subside. Read the message under
Best Shoe for Standing and you will find a detailed message that is very good for
symptom reduction. Not leaning back in the recliner in those Birks will help you feel
better more quickly. Good luck.
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Message 150
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From:
Margie in Atlanta (MARZO)
To:
Barbannj (BARBANNJ)
6 of 13
Posted:
10/6/98 10:30 AM
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145
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I also love my Birks. I bought Arizonas about 5 weeks ago and "live" in them. I only
take them off to sleep or shower. At first I wore them too long and my feet and legs
got really sore. I thought I would hate them...but now I don't want to wear anything
else!! Even when my feet get a little sore it doesn't bother me to walk in them. I used
to think a little heel was necessary for relief but I think that just masks the pain. I think
the Birks keep the pf stretched which helps healing. I also rarely ice my foot anymore
and stretch very, very little. I think I used to overstretch which only aggravated the
problem. My 17 year old son, who "thinks" he is a hippie has been wearing Arizonas
for 2 years and loves them. He has the highest arch I've ever seen so maybe wearing
Birks will help him avoid getting pf...I hope. After wearing this pair for 2 more
months, I plan to buy some other styles and also the footbed inserts. I almost had
EPF surgery in early September. Thank God I didn't. With the Birks, night splint,
Voltaren anti-inflamatory, glucosamine
sulfate, and calcium, I feel so much better than one month ago. I really finally feel that
there is hope to get this damn thing under control. Good luck to the rest of you and
thanks for all the great advice!!
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Message 151
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From:
Lisa (LECHAKAN)
To:
Margie in Atlanta (MARZO)
7 of 13
Posted:
10/6/98 11:17 AM
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MARGIE! So good to see you online. I owe you a message and will get cracking on
it soon. Glad to hear that the combo therapy seems to be working. I am exploring
getting myself a pair of Birkenstock boots - the tacoma or the pasadena. Will let you
know if they feel as good as the arizona. I can tell you for sure that the ontario was
nothing like a birk shoe. Get the birk inserts, though. Great thing is that you can wear
them with most good regular shoes. Warm regards.
Lisa
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Message 152
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From:
beej2 (BEEJ2)
To:
Barbannj (BARBANNJ)
8 of 13
Posted:
10/6/98 12:28 PM
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Thanks, Margie and Barbannj:
I have another question. Don't your feet feel unsupported by the birkenstockss (I
assume you mean sandals when you talk about Arizonas--is that right?)? After
wearing closed lace up type shoes for so long (the only kind that orthotics fit in), my
feet feel unsupported in sandals. I am considering not wearing the orthotics anymore
since they certainly have not been a cure and I don't even think they have helped in
any way at all... You do make a convincing argument for giving birkenstocks a serious
try--thanks so much for the input. If I do purchase a pair, how long would I wear
them each day? Would it be like orthotics--an hour the first day, increasing an hour
per day? Or would you suggest something less structured? Thanks, again.
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Message 157
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From:
Margie in Atlanta (MARZO)
To:
beej2 (BEEJ2)
9 of 13
Posted:
10/6/98 8:04 PM
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152
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Be certain that you go to a good store to buy your Birks. We have a chain of stores in
Atlanta called Abbadabba. The sales people are very knowledgeable because they
only sell shoes like Birks, Mephisto, Dansko, etc. Don't go to a department
store...they won't know how to fit you properly. I would start slowly like you would
with orthotics. You have to learn how to walk in them and they make you walk
slower. All I can say is the first week or so I did not like them. The arch seemed to be
in the wrong place and they did hurt at first. You have to break them in (I don't think
mine are totally broken in yet)...be patient. Now I don't even notice that I have shoes
on. I got Footmax orthotics in early July. By mid August my feet hurt much more and
I quit wearing them. Good luck!
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Message 161
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From:
Bead (BEAD)
To:
Margie in Atlanta (MARZO)
10 of 13
Posted:
10/6/98 9:59 PM
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I have used custom orthodics for 10 years & have been pain
free until the past year when I started having this achilles
heel pain which the doctor says are calcium deposits. Anyway
I love to go barefoot in the house which I have been told is
very bad for me. So I purchased some BirkenstocksBetula over
QVC. They arrived today & I have been wearing them around the
house & so far my foot feels better than it has for months.
Hope it keeps u p. My feet adapted to the Birks rite away
Maybe becaused I'm used to the or
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Message 374
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From:
PMatthews1 (PMATTHEWS1)
To:
Bead (BEAD)
11 of 13
Posted:
10/21/98 7:09 PM
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161
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I've notice a change in achilles heel also. I had a big lump back there that would just
ache. Since going to Birks it is disappearing and I hadn't even realized it didn't hurt
anymore until a few days ago. It's such a relief to finally be getting some results after 3
years of yuck!
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Message 418
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From:
Beckyluvs2travel@juno.com (BECKYB1)
To:
ALL
12 of 13
Posted:
10/23/98 9:26 PM
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104
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I am thinking about getting some more birks. I have the Milano's (Arizona's with
back's) and they don't do much for me
'I recently went to a Birk store here in Chattanooga and the girl working there has PF.
I think she is crazy but whatever.
Anyway, was wondering if anyone has heard of the Nebraska's or Kentucky's? It is
in the new Tatami style. They are hand stitched. The Chattanooga store would have
to order them if I wanted them. Like I said the Birkenstock's are so hard, but
between my flip flop's I love ($6) and running shoes, I have to change sometimes. My
running shoes with Orthotics really irritate me. I'd rather have nothing touching my
feet. I think I have mentioned this before. I think different things work for different
people and I know so many of you guys swear by BIrks. In fact many of you are pain
free. Oh how I wish. If this Ossotron that I am trying doens't work, well.... I guess I'll
have to learn to live with PF for the rest of my life. I am hoping the Ossatron works
though.
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Message 483
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From:
BarbZ (BINGO3)
To:
Beckyluvs2travel@juno.com (BECKYB1)
13 of 13
Posted:
10/28/98 8:22 AM
Reply to:
418
Having never worn sandals without the backstrap I tried the ones that do in the store
and found that the Arizona, without the strap, was much better. Also for winter I
purchased the Memphis totally enclosed Birk and find it even better than the Arizona
sandal. Of course it did cost more, $180+ with tax. We have a new store opening
next week in our town that sells Birks and I'm hoping for a Grand Opening special. I
do know that they put their shoes out for sidewalk sales so I also will be checking
those sales when the time comes. Good Luck.
user-38h1s2r.dialup.mindspring.com 17:59:09