For a long, long, long time, I’ve been an avid wearer of the 5 inch heel. It never mattered that I’m a solid 5’7″ – I fell in love with spikes at an early age & never looked back. Truth be told, I also own my fair share of flats because some occasions call for not being a 6 foot plus amazonian. But during nights out in college, business meetings, & now from “9-5”, I can always be found in a fanciful pair of heels. Important word here being: fanciful, not supportive or good for the heel, but fanciful.
Well, my dearests, the decision to save on poorly made shoes with poorly constructed arch support has finally caught up with me. Some of you have been asking about this picture I posted on Instagram last week. Welcome to my mid-20’s death sentence; Plantar fasciitis. Yes, it’s most common in women ages 40-60. Yes, it sometimes results in surgery. & yes, I now have it. I’ve been told it’s due in part to wearing unsupportive shoes & not stretching those important tendons before getting out of bed & working out. This includes co-ed sports, as I learned the hard way. Just because you’re sipping on a Bud between innings doesn’t mean you won’t get hurt.
Real life, this is the worst pain I have ever felt. Mainly because I use my feet every day & with every step it becomes more painful. For the love of all that is good & holy, wear supportive shoes. These can be worn every day for prevention & the support that you need. If you’re in the same boat as me, I’ve found that these are a good solution for every day wear, & these suckers are a life saver when working out. I’ve found that my super chic boots are incredibly helpful & have also been incorporating some stretches into weekly yoga.
With the appropriate care & caution, you can save yourself from surgery but please listen to me when I say that this is a real thing. Take it from someone who [knock on wood] has never been accident prone & never broken a bone [fingers don’t cound, right?] We’re getting older & can’t afford to shop the Aldo clearance rack anymore. Invest in a solid pair of Cole Haan’s & call it a day. Your feet will thank you. As cute as this little Pinterest nugget is, you’re the one who suffers, you’re the one who will be pissed you might not be able to wearing your cutest heels during fashion week, & you’re the one who is stuck paying the medical bills.
boo!!! I’m sorry to hear this :( Thanks for sharing your story xoxo
Oh I’m so sorry to hear this! I had it back in high school (sports related) and it was awful!! This is a great reminder to take care of our bodies :)
This is totally devastating for a fellow high heel wearer. I am so sorry to hear that you’ve had this issue. Good luck with recovery!
Oh no! I feel for you, that’s the last thing any of us heel-loving girls want to hear! I hope you have a speedy recovery without any surgery!
Wow good luck with your feet issues =\ have you used the Dr. Scholl’s arch supports? Are they comfortable?
Rebecca {at} Preppy Panache
Super comfy. Don’t know how I ever lived without them!
XX Meaghan
I feel you SO HARD on the P.F. I ignored mine, and guess what? My plantar fascia snapped. Just tore. Talk about worst pain ever. It’s been a year and a half and after LOTS of treatment I can finally wear non-sneakers most of the time but I don’t know if I’ll ever make it back into heels. If you need tips and tricks or want a DC-area podiatrist rec, holler at me: I’ve been where you are for a whiiiiiile. Also, good luck!! It does get better, if you work at it (and it sounds like you are).
xoxo,
Becky
Girrrrrl. Hugging you through the interwebs as I type. Woof. Would so appreciate a podiatrist in the area. Thank you!
xx Meaghan
So I was having the WORST DAY EVER and Cathy knew what would cheer me up. Sending me a pic of your feet with the words “sexual seduction” over them. It totally made my day. I feel for you though, my sister has major feet issues too from working in the hotel biz in Vegas. Crappy shoes are no joke. Hope you feel better!!!
xo Jessica
My Style Vita
I wouldn’t be surprised if that picture is now the picture when I call her. Foolz. Wear good shoes, yo. This ain’t no joke.
xx Meaghan
oh i am so sorry! i tried dr scholl’s insoles when i went to disneyland and my feet hurt so bad the next day from them that i couldn’t even walk!
Oh nooo. I’m sorry to hear that – they’re worked wonders for me but I’ve been sticking with the ones specifically made to help with PF. Thank you for sharing your experience with them!
xx Meaghan
Hi Meaghan, I’ve been a reader of your blog for awhile. I had to express my sympathy for your pain. But also, I think at lucky 5’7, you’re gorgeous in both heels AND flats.
I myself am a 5′ tall shortie and shamelessly sport flats for comfort. I just try damn hard to find cute flats.
Get better soon and go easy on the heelz :-)
Thank you, Yanmin! You are too sweet. Just be careful in those fab heels of yours :)
xx Meaghan
Oh how terrible!! You are making my feet hurt just reading this. My dad (weirdly enough) always worried about my feet in high heels and always told me I needed to not wear “those big high heels” all of the time. And I oddly enough listened. So I alternate a lot. I hope you are able to recover quickly!
Nikki
thefashionablewife.com
Best dad advice! Wish I had listened!
xx Meaghan
Those boots do not look fun! I had a mild case of PF in one foot last summer and it was the worst thing ever, I can only imagine what you’re feeling! I ended up getting insoles for my shoes as well – life.saver!
Hope you feel better soon!
xx
Toasted Sparkle
I can’t believe it happened in both – worst luck! Glad you were able to catch it & heal quickly! Thanks for the love :)
xx Meaghan
Ouch! I know how you feel! I have it too! more because of the not stretching before working out and not wearing supportive shoes (not heels) but flats with no arch support! Wish you all the best and hope that you feel better!
Thank you & I hope you’re doing better! It’s no fun at all!
xx Meaghan
Oh no! I had no idea this was a thing but it sounds horrible! I’m sorry you are dealing with this and I hope it gets better soon! I’m definitely a believer in investing in comfortable/supportive shoes!
Thank you so much! It’s so important to know that it can happen to anyone when they’re not paying attention. Always listen to your feet!
xx Meaghan
So sorry to hear this happened to you — SUCH a good reminder to really invest in good shoes and to give those tootsies a break every once in a while — I’m definitely one that cuts corners on heels and need to remember not to do it!
Yes! That has been one of my biggest mistakes. Investing in a few solid pairs is the way to go!
xx Meaghan
UGH this is miserable– I hope you are feeling a little bit better & that surgery goes well. I am 5ft 9 inches and don’t wear heels to work but do often when I go out. I will definitely stick to your tips about buying good heels from now on… XO
Please do! I’ve recently invested in the Cole Haan Nike Air pumps & found them to be super comfy. I’ll never go back! Ok…well maybe not never :)
xx Meaghan
Oh no that is horrible! Hopefully you can avoid surgery?
Since teaching I’ve been surprised at how many of my coworkers have had serious foot issues from wearing heels & standing all day. It was definitely a wake-up call! I have my little collection of flats now, though I still wear certain heels because some outfits just call for it. Buying some Dr.Scholl’s now for them!
Great point. Really important to have great support if you’re on your feet all day!
xx Meaghan
I’ve recently realize that PF is a problem I’m facing right now too! Unfortunately I work in a very professional office where I am standing for probably 6-7 hours of the day, so even though I’ve given up on all my beautiful heels :( I can’t seem to find a great pair of flats that aren’t going to make me look like a frumpy librarian. Do you have any suggestions?
Also, what are you doing other than the night splints? Any specific stretches or suggestions from your doctor?