Sanita Textured Oil Clog, Brown, 42 EU/8.5-9 M US

I've heard rave reviews about how great clogs are on ailing feet. Even my wife, a nurse, swears by them. I am a chef at a high volume, fine dining restaurant, and I constantly move fast on my feet for 50+ hours each week. I have had problems finding shoes to properly fit and comfort my feet, and usually have to go through 3 different inserts per new pair of shoes until I find the right combination to be barely adequate for my aching feet. I still find it necessary to have to take 800-1200 mg of ibuprofen just to get through the night. I decided to invest in more pricey options, even though shoes in my line of work rarely last more than 9 months without sprouting holes, busting seams, or losing foot support. By my line of work, I don't simply mean the kitchen, but rather fastly walking or running 2.5 to 5 miles, 5 days a week, back and forth (I have used a step counter to estimate my distance traveled through the kitchen). I decided to take a chance on the Sanita Professional Oil Clogs, even though I did not have the opportunity to try them on due to lack of availability at local retailers. BIG MISTAKE! They are more painful on my feet than any other work shoe I have ever tried on. The arch support is wonderful, but unfortunately there is not enough room in the upper to make room for feet curved with arches like mine are. My wife is flat footed, so hers fit more comfortably, but what is the point of great arch support if arched feet don't fit in them? There is ZERO shock absorption. With every step, it feels like my forefoot is slapping the floor. Since my feet are arched, the "tongue" area of the upper cuts into the top of my foot. After wearing them for 2-3 hours the bottom of my arches may be fine, but the tops of my feet kill and the metatarsal/front ball area of my forefoot is going numb. Not to mention, the heels are so high that they add more pressure onto the front of my feet. I understand the break-in period. As uncomfortable as they were, I made sure to wear them around the house and out to a few places for 2 weeks before I even brought them to work. Over the last 2 weeks at work (4 week total break-in period) I wore them for prepping, then switched back into my old shoes for the dinner rush once they started hurting those areas of my feet. Since they are too far used to attempt a return, I am now facing a two-shoe system, just so I don't completely waste the hundred and some dollars I spent on these. My only hope is that maybe they require 2 or more months to break in. **2/5/13 - 3 MONTH REVIEW IN COMMENT SECTION** **9/12/13 - DISAPPOINTING 9 MONTH REVIEW IN COMMENT SECTION**