JUPITER, Fla. — Posh Beckham gave them up. Zoe Deschanel doesn’t wear them anymore.
Recently, I joined the growing line of women who must hang up their high heels at least, for a while.
After wearing high heels for nearly forty years, my foot pain became unbearable and led me to podiatrist Dr. Virginio Vena in Jupiter.
After an MRI, my diagnosis was confirmed. I have a torn planters plate, small tears in ligaments around my third tow, bursitis and a Morton's neuroma. The prescription was almost more painful than my foot agony: no high heels for at least two months and in place of my perfect pairs, a not so “beautiful’ boot.
Dr. Vena says the boot helps by forcing me to put more weight on good joints, less on bad joints.
He says a woman's choice of footwear will make all the difference in the amount of pain she suffers.
“The wider the heel, the more stability. The narrower the heel, less stability which means more lateral ankle sprains and possible ankle fractures, which I've surgically had to repair."
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Doctor Vena says surgery is for those with the most serious side effects of stilettos, but even lower heels can cause issues like bunions, toe deformities, even hip, and knee pain.
“I like to describe them as a high end, exotic sports car. They look good but by the end of the day, when it is all said and done, you pay the price."
Speaking of paying the price, after two months in this boot, and some positive healing, I wanted to know just how much longer before I could have my high heels back.
Here is what the doctor told me. “It depends on how well it heals will dictate where or not you go back into high heel shoes, ever."
Custom orthotics are the next step in my footwear saga. I will wear them in sneakers and possibly attempt high heels for short periods of time in the future.
Dr. Vena also suggests adding cushion.. like silicone pads, that go under the ball of your food and absorb the shock.
For more information contact Dr. Virginio Vena atJupiter Foot and Ankle
