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

[Leah2005]

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.

@PurplePansy05 thanks for the support.

In a year or two, when you have seen the podiatrist, got orthotics, had cortisone injections into your bursa, tried every foot pain arch support and gel cushion and insole known to man, and seen a foot surgeon, who shakes his head sadly... get back to us on how great that support was.

You can get your feet surgically altered to fit your shoes better www.mymed.com/aesthetic-medicine/CINDERELLA-SURGERY

@RiverSkater - I thought I’d tried everything, but not heard of stretching for that long, will look it up. Thank you 😊

@feenie thanks for the tip. I've ordered some. I've also had pf which lasted 2 years so I literally feel your pain. You will just realise one day that's it's gone away - it's very strange. My feet have always been hassle.

OP I am really not trying to join a pile on but your thread is genuinely upsetting. Why are you doing this to yourself when it causes you so much pain? Other than wedges I would honestly say embrace the flat shoes!

I only wear mid height heels where the sole under the foot has a slight platform, usually a hidden one. I'm 5ft 7 but have size 7 feet at the end of quite thin legs, I prefer the look of the slight heels as flats make my feet look huge with dresses etc and I actually find it very difficult to find nice dressy flats that have good comfortable structure and nice design, other than just ugly flat flimsy Primark flats.

I watch women in high heels on the TV and think ... what the hell? They look completely ridiculous, teetering around in obvious discomfort.

They are the work of the devil - a male devil!

Ditch 'em!

I found this.

Found out I was born without fat pads in my feet. There was nothing to stop the heads of my metatarsals from trying to grind their way through the skin.

I developed thick, painful calluses, any number of problems with my toes and neuromas which required a steroid injection.

Wear sensible shoes now or you'll end up in orthopaedic shoes later.

Wedge heels are much more comfortable.

This thread has inspired me to sell my collection of heels that are cluttering up the wardrobe. I've always taken off my shoes as soon as I've got to a wedding or wherever. I went barefoot at my own wedding once I got to the reception. I'm only 5'3" so heels make me experience life as a taller person but it's not worth the pain. I own a pair of vintage cowboy boots that I adore and that's as high as I'll go now. Apart from my Italian leather knee high boots that I'll keep incase of a miracle night out/hot date. My idea of a hit date is an early night with a book and a huge bag of Maltesers though so unlikely but I'll still keep them.
OP, ditch the heels.

@HereticFanjo genuinely upsetting? What are you upset about? I wear flat shoes and trainers for probably 99% of my time. I would sometimes like to wear a bit of a heel when I go out for dinner etc. Save your tears for more important issues in life.

I have a couple of pairs of heels somewhere that might get worn to a wedding, but I’ve not been to anything like that for a while due to covid so will probably buy something new for the next wedding anyway. The only “day to day” heels I have are a pair of brown ankle boots with a reasonably high block heel. They don’t hurt my feet at all and are actually really comfy, so I don’t care if they aren’t fashionable, just like I wouldn’t care if someone thought a dress I was wearing was unfashionable. Plenty of people wear things I don’t like (and plenty wear things I think look ridiculous), but I assume they like it, so who cares.

OP, I think if a relatively low heel, on a shoe that fits properly, is causing you pain after walking for more than a few minutes then I don’t think anything will really resolve that. Wedges might help I guess, but given that you end up in pain after just a few minutes I doubt they’d help enough to allow you to be pain-free. I’d stop wearing them if I were you.

Genuinely don’t get this thread and why people are being so unpleasant about someone choosing to wear heels? I love trainers, flat chunky boots, flip flops and flat sandals, can walk for miles in my le chameau wellies - I mainly wear flats for home and work. However I love heels too. I’m tall and slim and they suit me - love a pair of classic stilettos with black skinnies and a silk shirt - appreciate not the height of fashion but quite classic. I love block heel boots both ankle and 70s style knee length too. I can walk easily in heels, maybe because I’ve always worn a mixture of flats too. Heels look great and people saying they are dated clearly have very narrow vision as I see them everywhere on nights out. Maybe in London where it is imperative to look like you’ve made no effort and don’t care but everywhere else they remain a going out look. Look on any website and there are plenty for sale. People just like to come on forums and say they are outdated because they personally don’t like them or can’t wear them. I can’t help you OP re foot pain as I can wear them just fine and my feet are fine too but at 45 I’ve always worn flats for the majority and saved heels for going out and sometimes for work if need to look smart. Good luck. Ps I note that Lila Moss wore a black mini with tights and high block heel ankle boots this week and she looked fab - very fresh so clearly they are still “acceptable” amongst the young too. I love trainers and will always wear them but they are starting to look very done now too.

Sorry to clarify the above trainers don’t look “very done” but more ubiquitous- trainers and dresses have been around a while - it’s a look a like but I don’t think it’s any better or worse than heels. Likewise I love chunky boots and dresses but I’m taken right back to my late teens as wore the same then. But equally I also remember block heels being a a big thing for nights out too in the mid 90s. So maybe it’s the same now with 90s looks back in.

Genuinely don’t get this thread and why people are being so unpleasant about someone choosing to wear heels?

Did you not actually read the opening post?! Where the OP said:

I'm not even talking particularly high heels. The balls of my feet get very painful

I can manage to get from car to restaurant but walking more than a few minutes kills me.

From bitter experience: If you are at the point where your feet hurt that badly after a few minutes walking in heels and party feet gels don't help much, you are really on the cusp of the point of no return.

There is no magic product/solution. Other than to avoid heels.

@lovelabradors so if I do wear a mid calf length wrap dress, (don't want to wear shorter) what do I wear on my legs if I wear a chunky boot? (don't want to have bare legs). Loads of people telling me off for pandering to the patriarchy but not then giving me good suggestions which I am very open to.

I see your issue op , I'm short too and if I wore a midi dress I'd feel 'unbalanced' without heels.

The only solution I've found is to wear above knee length skirts instead. That way I can wear flat shoes.

I am , however , with the masses , in that I won't wear anything that hurts me!

I think knee length looks better on petite women.

I would take your dress up and wear it with ankle boots.

@Leah2005. Tights I guess! I like thick tights but again have noticed finer denier - like 20 seems to be creeping in to fashion again. I’m quite sure wherever you wear will look lovely!

Maybe I’m lucky but I’ve never experienced pain wearing heels, the worst foot pain I’ve ever had was after a pair of walking boots. I’ve since had the same pair of exceptionally comfy hiking boots for 20 years as I’m too scared to change them in case new ones hurt, they are blissfully comfy for hill walking and long distance hikes. I’m hoping they go on forever with a bit of care.

[quote Leah2005]@HereticFanjo genuinely upsetting? What are you upset about? I wear flat shoes and trainers for probably 99% of my time. I would sometimes like to wear a bit of a heel when I go out for dinner etc. Save your tears for more important issues in life.[/quote]
OK OP that's actually a relief to read! I still don't really understand why you would voluntarily be in pain but each to their own and at least you're not in agony every day. I'm probably projecting a bit thinking about some older women in our extended family who didn't feel they were allowed to leave the house without contorting their poor, suffering hooves into stilettos! 😬

genuinely upsetting

Is hyperbolic even by MN standards

This is is the style board. There are plenty of heals that are still very fashionable and they won’t be going anywhere.

Painful heels surely fall into same category as shapewear, underwire bras, very tailored clothes, highlights, waxing etc. all come with a degree of discomfort/pain.

@Leah2005 opt for elegant and simple flat footwear,plenty of choice these days. Loafers, slip ons, mules,boots with gently tapered toes...

Look to french fashion styles for inspiration.

@PegasusReturns

genuinely upsetting

Is hyperbolic even by MN standards

This is is the style board. There are plenty of heals that are still very fashionable and they won’t be going anywhere.

Painful heels surely fall into same category as shapewear, underwire bras, very tailored clothes, highlights, waxing etc. all come with a degree of discomfort/pain.

Yeah see I don't do any of those things other than highlights which are all foils and pain free. Clearly I am a comfortable wimp by S&B standards 🤔🤭

If the actual (outside) sole of the shoe is very hard, and depending on the style, you might be able to get rubberised soles attached, which could help to cushion your feet.
I had some worn out boots which I had soled and heeled and they were much more comfortable with a new sole which was slightly thicker than the original.