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Original poster

High heels hurt the ball of my feet - any relief ideas?

112 replies

Leah2005 · 29/10/2021 08:18

I'm not even talking particularly high heels. The balls of my feet get very painful and blistered. I generally don't wear them but would like to for evenings out. I can manage to get from car to restaurant but walking more than a few minutes kills me. Does anyone have any recommendations for an insole perhaps? (party feet gels don't help much). I feel like I need something to stick to the bottom of my foot to provide cushioning.

OP posts:
FlibbertyGiblets · 29/10/2021 23:15

Flatform boots will give you a bit of a height boost. I am a shortie, too, abandoned heels many years ago when I thought I had given myself a Morton's neuroma (sp)

FlibbertyGiblets · 29/10/2021 23:16

How about wedges rather than heels?

Feelingofftoday · 29/10/2021 23:20

@PurplePansy05

I would really love more posters to answer OP's question rather than explaining to her and some of us upteen times why not to wear heels and how dated they are. I am pretty sure we get it. Please note we still want to wear them sometimes and that's our choice Thank you.

I look for to more practical tips Grin

?? It's a PSA to tell OP that heels are dated and a bit silly.

Why would you want to willingly look like a daft old lady?

TuftyMarmoset · 29/10/2021 23:22

Platforms rather than heels? Fundamentally heels are pretty much always going to cause some discomfort because it's just an unnatural position to put your feet in, it throws off your posture and the balls of your feet have to take much more weight than they are supposed to. I suppose losing weight could be a mitigant but that's a bit extreme!

Original poster
Leah2005 · 29/10/2021 23:24

@Feelingofftoday that honestly made me laugh out loud. Would you really think I look like a daft old lady in a pair black heeled boots? That is funny. So what should I be wearing with a dress to go to a naice restaurant?

OP posts:
Spongeboob · 29/10/2021 23:25

Platforms! Get gothy with it! So comfy, no pain. You adjust to the height easily.

Original poster
Leah2005 · 29/10/2021 23:28

The heels I do wear are Clarks rather than manolo so I'm not talking sky scraper stilettos. The last time I wrecked my feet I was wearing chunky black boots (they are however cheap and I suspect that doesn't help). @PurplePansy05 thanks for the support. I didn't think I'd posted on aibu but I was beginning to doubt myself. Smile

OP posts:
PurplePansy05 · 29/10/2021 23:34

Feelingofftoday - because I'm allowed to look and wear whatever I want to and ask for tips.

RiverSkater · 29/10/2021 23:37

@Feenie

I wore these for a few years and they were great.

Now have awful plantar fasciitis which will not bloody go after over a year, so think on, as my mother would say! @

Have you tried the two minute calf stretch for that? It's a game changer, look it up on you tube!
Feelingofftoday · 29/10/2021 23:39

@PurplePansy05

Feelingofftoday - because I'm allowed to look and wear whatever I want to and ask for tips.
Cool, cool Wear whatever you like of course Wink

An yes, @Leah2005, black heeled boots are very old ladyish. Especially with a dress, dear oh dear ... (or should that be dear old dear?)

TaraR2020 · 29/10/2021 23:42

The celebs have filler injected into the balls of their feet for comfort which is all kinds of crazy...Think you can get memory foam insoles which sounds far less trouble.

I'd also look at the shape of the shoe, op, are they crushing your toes? Or do you wear tights wear the seam slips underneath your foot?

Try a lower heel with an insole and one that fits better, sounds like yours aren't the right size.

milkyaqua · 29/10/2021 23:45

There is no other practical tip other than to stop wearing any heel, boot, or shoe whatsoever that causes this sort of pain. This is a warning signal from your loyal feet.

Ignore at your peril, or it may become a permanent feature of your day.

The fact heels are out now is a bonus, really.

Original poster
Leah2005 · 29/10/2021 23:46

@Feelingofftoday so what should I be wearing then?

OP posts:
VienneseWhirligig · 30/10/2021 00:08

Tape your toes, or rub ibuprofen gel into the soles of your feet. Or both.

Pieceofpurplesky · 30/10/2021 02:01

Loafers or laces combat boots are the in thing for 21/22 according to a quick Google

rrhuth · 30/10/2021 05:41

@VienneseWhirligig

Tape your toes, or rub ibuprofen gel into the soles of your feet. Or both.
Shock

This is madness. Of you have to medicate to wear something, and that doesn't make you stop, what the hell is going on?

GemmaRuby · 30/10/2021 05:45

Wear them round the house for short periods of time to get used to them/break them in.

Suprima · 30/10/2021 05:46

If wearing a chunky black boot hurts your feet, I would see a podiatrist

Maybe look at specialist footwear companies?

It’s not normal to be unable to wear a slightly heeled Chelsea boot

PurplePansy05 · 30/10/2021 07:16

It can be absolutely normal if your feet slip to the front because it's 0.5 size too big 🙄

mynameiscalypso · 30/10/2021 08:11

I was always under the impression that a bit of a heel is good for your feet/posture and totally flat shoes aren't great for you.

thedevilinablackdress · 30/10/2021 08:22

Why would you want to willingly look like a daft old lady?

Delightful ageism there 🙄

VienneseWhirligig · 30/10/2021 08:41

@rrhuth
This is madness. Of you have to medicate to wear something, and that doesn't make you stop, what the hell is going on?

Don't get me wrong, I'm all for comfort and wear heels maybe once every couple of years for special events, but this is the only way I can do it without being in agony. The taping is actually quite clever, it is something to do with the weight distribution when you balance, if you immobilise one of your toes it can make a massive difference to the way you stand, thus being more comfy. The ibuprofen gel works for me more generally (I have plantars) so is essential with the heels. Why the judgment?

BlackSwan · 30/10/2021 09:02

I can't believe you're being shoe shamed.

This is meant to be a style and beauty board. Heels are here to stay.

Try these, they're great & on sale: Gel Cushions

Whereismylatte · 30/10/2021 09:32

Wedge ankle boots can work with a wrap dress at this time of year. The wedge distributes the weight across the foot a bit more evenly. I also saw a nice pair of chunky heel sling backs the other day.

Heels being "out" is a sure sign that in 18 months they will be back "in".

Style is more than fashion (although it plays a part in looking put together, of course).

Trends are fine but you have to stay true to yourself- sometimes you just want to dress up a bit.

It really isn't that controversial, there's been a load of meaness on s&b today- which is just wrong. There are no bonus points for calling out other women and putting them down based on what they want to wear.

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 30/10/2021 09:43

I can't believe you're being shoe shamed

The OP didn't ask "are these shoes fugly"

She asked "I have some shoes that hurt and give me blisters"
How can I over ride my bodies natural pain response and wear them anyway .

Why would you ?
Doesn't matter what the shoes look like , that pain shoes in your face .