Francis, if I had remembered to tell you about my shoe experimentation, you might see that I didn't miss your point. It's not shoes. I have worn all kinds of shoes. The shoes I wear the most have copious extra room, and it reduces pain but doesn't eliminate it. I have the same pain when riding barefoot, which I have tried but not done often. Perhaps the damage was done by the wrong shoes. In fact, it seems likely. But the damage is done, and it can't be undone with shoes, nor does my choice of shoes affect the pain I now experience.