Price of Fashion, Common Foot Disorders in Women

Shoes will always have a soft spot in a woman’s heart. High heels in particular will always be a must for any woman’s wardrobe. But this ungainly looking shoes are designed to enhance a woman’s appearance and does not provide any real benefit in terms of keeping our feet healthy. It does not provide ample support and can even be a cause of foot injury.

Many women have grown accustomed to wearing high heels and can wear this all day without feeling pain or discomfort. But this does not exclude them from suffering common foot disorders and deformities. Over time, women might feel a slight discomfort.  This could eventually lead to chronic foot pain and toe deformities.

Pain is a possible sign of foot injury. It should never be taken lightly. Consult a podiatrist when this occurs.

Morton’s Neuroma

This happens when a nerve in the ball of your foot becomes inflamed. This becomes irritated because nearby bones and tissues constantly compress the nerve. Constantly wearing narrow shoes directly places more pressure on the nerve and worsens inflammation.

High heels in particular shifts the center of gravity to your forefoot. This produces more pressure on the foot structures especially on the toes and forefoot, pressure that is beyond its normal limits. It can cause swelling and injury. Over time, it can cause foot deformities such as hammertoes or bunions.

Bunions

A bunion is a foot deformity where a bony outgrowth can be seen at the side of the great toe. This starts as a small swelling, tender to the touch. This hardens over time and the joints loses it flexibility. Nerves become irritated especially when wearing high heels. Conservative treatments are available for reducing pain and providing immediate pain relief. For more serious cases where the deformity is more pronounced, surgery is recommended for long term relief of pain and to correct the deformity.

Hammertoes

Another foot deformity that can occur through constant wear of tight fitting shoes. This can be caused by shoes with small toe boxes. Again, it is the pressure exerted by the walls of the shoes on the toes. Just like bunions it can be corrected with simple shoe choices when identified early.

Foot disorders or injuries are fairly simple to treat if diagnosed early. Conservative and non-surgical treatments are available. Contact James C. Ricketti, DPM and let us address all your foot and ankle needs. Our board-certified podiatrist will tailor treatments based on your individual needs and with our state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment options, we’ll help you get back on your feet in no time! Call our office today at 609-587-1674 to make an appointment at our conveniently located Hamilton, NJ office.