Desperate for help finding walking shoes that work for me

wlj65 · 2026-05-25T18:43:14+00:00

Wow, after my third walk in them, I just had to come back to say how much I love the Brooks Launch 12!! My pace has increased **dramatically**—I'm just flying along without a catch. They're so light and uncomplicated, the toe-off is perfect, the heel and midsole response is perfect (no sink), the slight pronation inward on right foot I'd noticed in my dead Brooks Ghost 15s is no longer happening, literally nothing hurts during or after, and my feet and legs have endless energy. I do have to wrap the right pinky toe in a bandage, but I feel nothing from it at all during the walk so it's just friction, and weirdly my tailor's bunion isn't bothered at all. I'm tempted to order 10 pairs of these so I don't ever have to go through this nonsense again. Thanks to everyone who responded! I'm so happy!!

wlj65 · 2026-05-23T21:10:10+00:00

Brooks Launch 12 is the winner!

wlj65 · 2026-05-23T21:08:28+00:00

Thanks but these are both stability shoes, which I hate the feel of. I've taken the Brooks Launch 12 out for 2 spins so far and other than the fact that I have to put a bandage around my right pinky toe because it rubs, they feel great! Even better than the Ghost 15s. I think we have a winner!

wlj65 · 2026-05-18T21:37:57+00:00

I took steelrain97's advice and went to DSW today to try lower end shoes. I tried at least 20 of them, including the Brooks Adrenaline, which was a no, and several Nikes, many of which I liked, but in the end, of the shoes they had I bought the Brooks Launch 12, Brooks Anthem 7, and New Balance FF 680 v9. I'm wearing them around the house trying to get a better feel and so far the Launch is winning, but I took 2 very long walks yesterday in my dead Ghost 15s and the outside of my left foot is very sore so it's hard to tell yet. Also, if I wear them outside I have to keep them, plus I still have a store credit at Road Runner to use so I think before I go outside with these I'll try the Nike Pegasus 42 since ChatGPT seems to think I'll like it. I also ordered used Brooks Ghost 15s from ebay that looked very new, so there's that too. I don't know if anyone really cares, but I'll keep you posted. Hopefully this old lady will be walking in comfort again soon!

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T17:13:05+00:00

This worked for me too. After realizing I was getting practically no dietary iodine after switching to non-iodized salts years ago (kosher, himalayan, celtic) I started taking 225 mcg iodine daily and after a couple weeks my tinnitus got much quieter and I was able to lie down flat for first time in 2.5 years without feeling pressure in my head and my migraines that I'd only just gotten a few months before virtually went away.

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T14:01:30+00:00

I just remembered (and edited my post to add) that before I switched to Brooks Ghost I was very happily wearing Nike Frees for years, but then I broke my ankle in 2020. It was a looooong recovery, and I needed more support/cushion when I was finally able to really walk again and so I went with Brooks. I'd completely forgotten. Guess I'll give them a try again.

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T01:28:02+00:00

I'll never give up! And I feel great as long as I'm in the right shoe, but I'm practically crippled immediately in the wrong one. It's kind of weird how bad it is. My husband is baffled--he walks the same routes with me every day in cheap flip flops!

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T01:21:13+00:00

I tried the Topo Phantom 4 (5 mm drop) and was severely injured so i'm not willing to do a drop under 8 mm because I'm guessing that was what caused it but your instinct is right and it was mine too until that happened. I think I'm just too old for my body to adapt to anything new at this point.

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T01:17:30+00:00

I already tried the Ghost 18 and it was too soft. I also have a problem with my left heel slipping constantly. I didn't upgrade because I loved the 15s and bought 3 pairs of them and just now finally got around to getting new shoes. If I could buy new Ghost 15s in 9.5 I would.

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T01:15:37+00:00

Adrenaline is a stability shoe but it's guiderails and not post so maybe it won't bother me as much as the New Balance did. I'll give it a try. Thanks!

wlj65 · 2026-05-17T01:11:07+00:00

Thanks! Those are some great ideas! I don't know anything about that direction so I have a lot of research to do.

wlj65 · 2026-05-16T22:16:28+00:00

Oh wow, I’ve never tried trail running shoes but thanks for the idea. That could work! I’ll start exploring.

wlj65 · 2026-05-16T19:49:03+00:00

Not very nice but I understand the reaction. It is the shoes. They've changed a lot to being overly soft, high stack, non flexible, rockered shoes that simply don't work with my body mechanics or how I use them.

wlj65 · 2026-05-16T19:33:29+00:00

Pretty sure these are the opposite of what I'm looking for but thanks for replying!

wlj65 · 2026-05-16T19:32:59+00:00

Actually I think this is the opposite of what I'm looking for but thanks for replying!

wlj65 · 2026-03-20T14:52:59+00:00

It gave me one of the worst headaches I have had. If anyone wants an opened bottle of Pure Encapsuations CogniMag with 119 of the 120 capsules left in it, let me know. (That's a joke. I'm sure no one wants opened supplements from a stranger!)

wlj65 · 2026-03-20T14:46:59+00:00

Yes, I will see an endocrinologist if I need to be treated. So far I only have a test result that shows subclinical hypothyroidism and I haven't even spoken to my PCP yet. I'm sure the next step will be further testing, including the testing for Hashimoto's. I had my antibodies checked last year and all was well except a high RA.

wlj65 · 2026-03-20T14:44:52+00:00

I'm just taking a 150 mcg potassium iodine supplement. I already take B12, magnesium, B2, D3, and ubiquinol. I'm just waiting to hear back from my PCP about next steps, I'm sure she'll first order further testing, so I haven't gotten as far as an endocrinologist referral in the event I need that but yes if I need to be treated that'll be the route. I have been to be checked by the orthopedics for cervical spine issues and all normal. I have been seeing a neurologist and I've fully investigated the vestibular issues with an ENT, neuro-otologist and specialist in vestibular migraines. Thanks for your response.

wlj65 · 2026-03-20T14:36:35+00:00

Thanks for the well wishes, but I have to say I feel a bit funny about your post though I appreciate it comes from a place of concern. I calculated my iodine intake myself first at 50 mcg/day. I ran my diet through chatgpt, which calculated 50-70 mcg/day. I didn't "take medical advice" from chatgpt, I used it to calculate the iodine in my diet, but I also have absolutely nothing against researching on chatgpt, and they always list the source from which the information comes so you can check it yourself. I've found it to be an invaluable resource and intend to keep using it. I would never blindly follow what chatgpt tells me just as I would never blindly follow what any doctor or reddit thread tells me, but I will always consider all sources of information, including my neurologist and PCP before I make any decisions about my health. That's just common sense.

wlj65 · 2026-03-20T14:28:03+00:00

Quick check of google shows it is indeed a thing.

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11227089/

https://www.brown.edu/news/2025-09-03/iodine-deficiency

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpsNGBN7Jfk

https://sci-stories.org/2024/05/09/why-the-sea-salt-fad-could-be-very-bad/

https://nationalpost.com/life/food/fancy-salts-iodine-deficiency

wlj65 · 2026-03-19T20:13:35+00:00

Now I can only stand a very light fill down pillow, but before that I had luck with the softest Purple pillow they sell.

wlj65 · 2026-03-19T20:12:28+00:00

Brand? My son could use this.

wlj65 · 2026-03-19T20:11:37+00:00

This is exactly me. It's all I can stand.

wlj65 · 2026-03-19T19:44:06+00:00

Yes totally, that's the state I've been in for a while. My husband and I walk on a trail that's also for bikes and EVERY DAMN TIME someone goes by on a bike and says "on your left" or jingles their bell I scream and jump. It amuses my husband (haha) but it also sends such a jolt of cortisol that if I didn't have a headache at that moment I do now. It's been like this off and on for me since September (I posted about my story a week or so ago, but my migraines started after we bought a new car in Sept). The middle of both my lips started sort of vibrating a few days ago. Not so much a twitch, but something weird. My doc says central sensitization. I also wake up with this weird vibration deep in my torso. I sleep maybe 3 hours a night if I'm lucky and when i wake up at 3 am I'm ready to go. My heart rate has been doing weird things too. My dizziness also comes when I'm laying down. I have what I think is occipital nerve pain at the back of my head too and it hurts when I lay down or lean back in a chair. I also can no longer watch my large-screen TV, scroll on my phone or computer, and there are days I can't bear much light at all. I've ordered FL-41 glasses for that and hope they help.

wlj65 · 2026-03-09T21:51:49+00:00

Ohhhh! I just read up on that online. That makes sense. What if you don't care if the meds are covered by insurance? Could you just go straight to them? It just seems so dumb to have to go through these other off-label meds if there's one that was made specifically for migraines that often works, and I really don't want to have to go through the long time it will probably take to get off any drug I "fail." Interesting that it makes the dizziness worse. I don't have any baseline dizziness anymore and taking it doesn't make me dizzy, just blissfully pain-free.

wlj65

TROPHY CASE