Have your feet aged? Foot rant

[cakedup]

I used to wear heels EVERY DAY. I ran for buses in heels. I danced the night away in heels. I baked in heels. Well I never baked back then, but when I used to pop to the kitchen to top up my wine glass, it was in heels.

Fast forward 10 years later. Why the freaking hell do my feet ache so much? I am in my early 40s. I haven't worn heels since DS was born 10 years ago. But even comfy shoes are no longer comfy!!

I was out all day, fair bit of walking about, but I've always walked around loads, never had a car, live in London and like doing long days out. I was wearing CONVERSE shoes. You know those comfy trainer plimsoll type shoes. And I've got blisters! BLISTERS! From wearing CONVERSE?! I mean WTAF??

I bought myself some flat ballerinas the other day, I've worn them twice but just don't think I can wear them again because they felt like they were pinching even though they're not too small for me.

I even had to BREAK IN my flip flops this year. I've always loved wearing flip flops even though my bastard ugly feet are on show but for a few days they rubbed on one of my toes and gave me blisters.

I guess I have odd shaped feet. My big toes go inwards and the bone along that side sticks out, like a bunion, but was told many years ago that I don't have bunions.

I'm just really sad I can't do long days out any more without feeling like my feet have been stabbed a hundred times. And I'm only 42!! I dread to think what it will be like in another 10 years, my day out will consist of hobbling to the corner shop.

Is this right/normal? Have your feet aged? Is there nothing I can do?

Im interested to see if anyone with knowledge comes along with an explanation OP - I've definitely got more and more issues with shoes rubbing and also a sticky out buniony bit as well. I've never been that good with heels though tbh, and recently basically given up on them altogether

I read that completely flat shoes are also bad, and a 1-inch heel is best...

Old feet, right here! Rant away! 43 years old. Since 40, my feet have saved lots...more being, wider...shoes, even comfy ones, don't fit well. I think our feet widen and our arches fall subtly, hence the pain. What you describe though could be plantar fasciitis which develops over years and ends up being very painful. It sounds very much like it.

Saved should read aged! 'More being'! Ugh! More VEINS that should say.I really dislike writing on my kindle fire.

Me too, also 43. I am developing bunions, which I blame on my mother and aunt and their rubbish podiatric genes.

None of the shoes you describe in your post are comfortable or healthy for your feet! Heels, ballet flats, flip flops.

Get some proper shoes and sandals with a cushioned sole and straps or laces that keep your feet in place and can be adjusted for a good fit.

Nice to know I'm not the only one - although I do see women my age group and older still tottering about in dainty heels which makes me quite .

Thing is, I graciously accepted some years ago that I could no longer wear heels. That's fine. But I feel it's only fair that I can wear pumps and ballerinas without issue.

stripytees your post is a bit depressing. So what you're basically saying is that I need to be wearing shoes like this

I've just looked up plantar fasciitis - don't think it's that as it's more the front of the feet and toe area that's painful. Quite liked the idea of it having a proper name though, better than "aged feet".

Oh, and as nosy DS just pointed out, I am 43, not 42

Even something like this would be better than flimsy ballet flats
www.clarks.co.uk/p/26108402

I've been really aware of the importance of good shoes after my mother who lived in heels all through her 20s, 30s and 40s went onto have horrible bunions and after several surgeries her feet have never fully recovered. It's really not worth it.

According to my DH I have ape's feet. They were wide to begin with but have spread a bit. I was outraged to find out that I have fallen arches according the sports wear shop where I got my trainers. I always say that at least I have a good purchase on the ground compare to DH. His feet are narrow and weird looking.

I find my feet kill in the summer because I don't wear shoes which support my feet eg open sandals, flip flops, little pumps. When I get out of bed in the morning I am going, ooh, aah, and hobbling like an old lady.

Boots and trainers are much better for my feet.

I was diagnosed with hyper mobility a few years ago hence the aching feet and I was given orthotics (?) to put in my boots. They felt weird and I haven't kept up with it tbh.

You will have to start shopping for footglove in marksies and next do a comfy footwear range which are a bit funkier .

stripytees I've always been averse to wearing Clarkes shoes but actually they're not too bad. Except I don't wear leather (vegan) - maybe that's another discomfort factor. However they do have a non leather pair of ballerina shoes. Do they measure your feet like they do with the kids?

derxa I'll see your ape's feet and raise you my yeti feet. And yes, I completely understand your outrage, it's just not on is it.

Ditto Pickedmypoison, waking up and doing the ooh aah dance. Surely that's not meant to happen until you're in your 60s? Please don't tell me you're in your 60s

I was diagnosed with something or another some years ago, I thought I had bunions but it was something I can't remember the name of. I was given a plastic mould for each foot to wear in-between my big toe and next toe but it was SO uncomfortable that I just didn't keep it up. The podiatrist didn't exactly fill me with confidence either, he told me to hang on to my x-rays because "we'll only lose them."

Well, I'm 52 and the only reason I'm not very good in heels nowadays is since I broke my leg and ankle a couple of years ago. Not good with anything wobbly, like kitten heels. Have never been able to wear ballet pumps - they somehow throw the big toe joint out and that hurts.
Other than that though, it's fine - so not an age thing, necessarily. I occasionally have to loosen up a bit in the mornings, but I reckon that's weather-related.
Is it true that tight shoes/stilettoes cause bunions? I thought they were hereditary, but only exacerbated by footwear. Dh had them (until operation) but I'm pretty sure he's never worn heels.

You've gone from unbalancing, bone deforming heels to just plain unsupportive Converse and ballet flats. After 4 decades of holding you upright, it seems that your feet need to be treated better.

And if you don't wear leather, at least try to get some arch support into your converse.

Start wearing orthotics in proper shoes and you will be amazed at the difference it makes to your overall posture generally and the health of your feet particularly. I have gone flat footed with age and am in spinal discomfort if I wear shoes without orthotic arches in now. Takes a while to get used to them. The bunions are developing as a result of flat foot and the foot generally turning over/misalignment. It's one of the many curses of being of a 'certain age'.

Yes, birkies, crocs, M&s insolia- wouldn't have been seen dead in these 10 years ago! Now I can't wear anything else. And I cannot find trainers comfy enough to wear all day. And my feet have become really dry despite masses of creams and potions - happened overnight following birth of Ds3. There's a whole lot of clothes I can't wear because of this- some things only work with heels or dainty strappyshoes. It really annoys me.

This lady has written a while book on women's shoes and the damage they do to feet and rest of body - but she also has lots of physio things too. I haven't looked as my feet are good (love of Dr martens as a teen, then became primary and the Sen teacher - trainers usually needed thee, at least flats, and I played capoeira for 10 years which is jumping about in bare feet.) but I've found her ideas for pelvic area etc really helpful. I assume she has ideas for how to help bad feet; it's a hefty book.

She's an advocate of minimal footwear and there's a big list in this link (she goes barefoot hiking)

www.katysays.com/shoes-the-list/

In this link she does say footwear changes should be gradual if you've spent a life time in heels - so change slowly to a lower one.

I have hypermobility too and I think the pain of wearing heels all day or too tight shoes when I was younger made me avoid them those the plague. Only for clubbing when is hammer them! (And ache for days!)

Sorry more spamming!

She doesn't rate flip flops either

I wouldn't trust anyone who goes barefoot hiking

She sounds nuts but she is great

Summer solutions

www.katysays.com/category/feet-n-footwear/

Katy Bowman is awesome and IMO correct. If you want to have happy feet they need to

A) be able to work in the way they have evolved to (so no heels, nothing that constricts your toes)
B) be strong (so no orthotics, no support, lots of barefoot time)

If your feet are currently in bad nick, this needs to be done slowly (think years) but is so so worth it.

another vote for Katy Bowman from me, I am a lifelong high heels refusennik and sometime Vibram wearer.

now 50 and no foot issues

I have the opposite problem OP, I always found heels uncomfortable when I was younger and I've always worn doc martens, flip flops, and wide flattish shoes old before my time! In recent years any kind of shoe either rubs and gives me blisters or hurts my foot somewhere.

So wearing sensible shoes for years seems to have made no difference and I still have aged feet, I'm only 41

I've got insoles from Boots that I put inside my Converse to raise the arch slightly and that seems to work. Also weirdly my feet now feel much more comfortable in heels which is no use to me now I have two small kids to run after and I never go clubbing any more