Do High Heels Fuel Bunion Pain?

It’s easy to love high heels. They can make your legs look longer, make your outfit look better, and make you feel more confident. Unfortunately, they can also cause more harm than good.

High heels are a widely accepted beauty norm. But, whether you love them or wear them grudgingly, your feet still pay the price for it in the end. 

In this blog, Michael Tran, DPM, of AllCare Foot & Ankle Center in Arlington and Dallas, Texas, takes a closer look at bunions and how wearing high-heeled shoes can make them worse.

Bunion basics

A bunion forms when the big toe points inward and the bone at the base of the big toe juts outward. This structural defect usually develops slowly over time.

Anyone can get a bunion, but several factors can increase your risk of developing one, including genetics and arthritis. And, unfortunately, wearing tight, high, or otherwise ill-fitting footwear can make this progressive and often painful condition worse.

When you wear narrow, tight, or pointy shoes, there isn’t enough space for your toes to spread out. This can disrupt the balance in your foot’s structure. As your toes shift out of alignment, this can exaggerate anatomical defects, such as bunions and hammertoes.

High heels are particularly notorious for disrupting alignment in the foot, because they force most of the pressure onto the toes and balls of the feet. This imbalance can accelerate structural issues, such as bunions, making high heels an enemy to big toes everywhere.

Living with bunions

While bunions don’t necessarily cause pain on their own, inflammation can develop due to pressure or friction placed on the bony protrusion. Here’s how you can keep the pressure off and your feet feeling good.

Wear the right shoes

One of the best choices you can make if you have bunions is to ditch shoes that are too high, tight, or narrow, such as high heels. But don’t despair! You don’t have to sacrifice your fashion sense for your feet.

There are plenty of shoes that can feel comfortable, support your feet, and look great at the same time. Just take a look at this list of bunion-friendly footwear. The main goal should be to look for shoes that distribute your weight evenly and allow your feet to spread out normally.

See a foot specialist

In addition to picking better shoes, you should also see Dr. Tran, ideally at the first signs of an issue. Dr. Tran has the treatments and expertise necessary to slow or stop this progressive condition. At first, he may recommend conservative measures, such as exercises and orthotics. 

If your bunion pain doesn’t improve with conservative measures, Dr. Tran can treat your condition surgically. He offers traditional and minimally invasive bunion surgery options. No matter your situation, Dr. Tran can help you live well again.

Do you have a bunion or want to see if you do? Get the care you need by booking an appointment online or over the phone with AllCare Foot & Ankle Center today.