Los Angeles podiatrist, Dr. Kamran Jamshidinia notes many problems associated with wearing high heels. Problems ranging from common concerns like bunions, corns, and calluses to more complex issues like misshapen hammertoes or that excruciating pain in the ball of the foot that seems to grow worse with each passing year.
Still, many women refuse to give up their high heels: A survey conducted by the American Podiatric Medical Association showed some 42% of women admitted they'd wear a shoe they liked even if it gave them discomfort; 73% admitted already having a shoe-related foot issue.
So what's the answer? A caring Los Angeles foot doctor like Dr. Jamshidinia will tell you, if you must wear them at all, take a few precautions, and catch and treat problems early on. Of course anytime you wear shoes that are tight or constrict the natural shape of your foot, it's bound to cause foot pain, and if Los Angeles foot pain isn't treated, it can quickly escalate to damage.
Among the most common problems seen are painful, aching bunions -- those bony protrusions that usually pop up at the base of the big toe and distort the shape of the foot. Furthermore, some women who have bunions also have a displaced bone on the bottom of the big toe joint, which changes the way the foot "tracks" or acts during motion. With this kind of foot problem, choosing to wear high heels will make matters worse. Increased pressure on these bones increases and bunion pain grows worse.
While integrating lower heels into your wardrobe can help some, often the best solution is Los Angeles bunion surgery to straighten the bone.
Wearing high heels on a daily basis is also likely to cause the common problem of corns and calluses. These thickened layers of dead skin usually occur on the toes or sides of the foot and are actually the body's way of defending your feet against assault, in this case, your shoes.
If you're going to wear heels, WebMD.com combined advice from two experts, along with suggestions from the American Podiatric Association, to protect your feet.
1. Get the best-fitting high heel possible. While this may seem like a given, stop and think: How many pairs of high heels cause your feet to slide to the front? High heels that don't fit properly, cause the front of the foot to fly forward, creating more pressure -- and pain -- on toes. Look for narrow heels with a snug but not tight fit to correct the problem.
2. Cushion, cushion, cushion. While a full-shoe insert can help, if you have pain in the ball of the foot -- or you'll be standing in your heels a long time -- invest in silicone metatarsal pads. They look like flattened gummy bears, but they do a super job of shock absorption.
3. Wear a thicker heel for stability. "A thicker heel will give you better balance and may help relieve some pressure by distributing the weight on your foot more evenly. Alternating heel heights can also help reduce problems with the Achilles tendon.
4. Pay attention to the "slope" or "pitch" of the heel. While some 4-inch heels will give you a straight drop down to the flatbed portion of the shoe, others will be a more gradual slope. This may be easier on the arch, and might help relieve some pain in the ball of the foot.
5. Wear open-toe high heels to relieve pressure on corns and calluses. See a Los Angeles podiatrist to have corns and calluses professionally removed and correct the problem that's causing them. But if that's not possible, opt for open-toe shoes to take pressure off inflamed areas.
Many women suffer pain and burning in the ball of the feet from wearing high fashion shoes. Given a choice between wearing fashionable shoes and pain, many women choose pain rather than give up their fashionable shoes and boots. There are many reasons for this: career choice requiring such footwear, peer group expectations, and an emotional and monetary investment in looking the best one can. Orthotics and cushions in fashion shoes seldom give full relief.
According to one professional model: "I love my high heels and I refuse to give them up, but after a few hours, my feet always start to hurt. I have spent thousands of dollars on my designer shoes and boots and always end up kicking them off before the night is over. I tried inner soles and shoe pads but they never fit right, never stayed in place, and they made my shoes too tight."
Sculptra(r) injectable implants replaced the padding on the ball of my foot after the first treatment. Now I feel like I have pillows on my feet." Sculptra, also known as Poly-L-Lactic Acid has been widely used for many years in dissolvable stitches, and soft tissue implants. Now, it is being used in the feet to eliminate pain.
Runners, dancers, and people who have lost their fat pads from injury or infections, plus those with corns and callouses can be helped with the implantable Cushions for Feet.
Cushions for Feet are injectable implants of filler materials such as Sculptra, Juvederm, and other materials that have been used safely for years for facial wrinkles, and loss of facial fat from the HIV virus. These implantable cushions are not covered by insurance since they are characterized as cosmetic procedure. The costs of treatment can vary from about $500 to $3,500 depending on the volume of filler needed. The average cost is about $1,000-$1,200 per foot.
Injectable fillers do not last forever and may need to be repeated at different intervals. Please forward this information to anyone you know for whom Implantable Foot Cushions could make a difference.
The natural condition of your feet and ankles is pain-free. So many people live with pain and problems with their feet because they just think that there isn't anything that can be done. I want to assure you that in virtually every case there IS something that can be done. Believe me when I tell you the you don't have to suffer from foot pain or problems. For your foot health and comfort, Dr. Ron Worley
Both Kamranjamshidinia & Ronald Worley are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Kamranjamshidinia has sinced written about articles on various topics from Beauty Tips. Dr. Jamshidinia at Tower Foot and Ankle Surgery is a board certified foot surgeon trained in all areas of foot and ankle surgery. He is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric SurgeryFor more information visit:. Kamranjamshidinia's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.
Ronald Worley has sinced written about articles on various topics from Types of Cancer, Beauty Tips and Fitness. Dr. Ron Worley is a podiatrist who specializes in non-surgical methods and minimally invasive and laser foot surgery. His office is in San Diego Ca.. His goals are to educate the public on the care of their feet and ankles and to have them walking pain-fr. Ronald Worley's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.