I'm new to running
and have had orthopedic troubles all my life. Discovering barefoot style shoes has made an incredible difference for my walking! I spent the summer walking extensively and was amazed at how my feet no longer hurt.
The transition to learning to run has been more difficult. Looking forward to some good insight and useful advice from this new community :)
My advice is: spend lots of time walking first. Get really used to walking on trails and uneven terrain in bare feet and/or minimalist shoes. The transition to running will come easier once you have a good base to build on. At least that is how it worked for me.