Podiatrists Reveal The Impact Of Wearing Uncomfortable Shoes — Even If It’s Just Once

Bunions, tendonitis and hammertoes, oh my.

I used to repeat the common saying “beauty is pain” (and sometimes I still do, for the right pair of shoes).

However, I was rudely awakened last year when I felt an intense, aching pain in my foot that made walking difficult, and I’m a fairly active person in her 20s.

My doctor and I concluded that the issue was probably a particular pair of shoes I like to wear — cute white sneakers that aren’t wide enough for my feet, as much as I try to pretend they are. She also urged me not to wear heels, saying she never did.

This discussion raised a question: Is wearing uncomfortable shoes more harmful than I realized?

“Wearing uncomfortable shoes isn’t as serious as a heart attack,” said Dr. Jodi Schoenhaus, a board-certified podiatrist and owner of Foot, Ankle and Leg Vein Center. “However, it makes for a very painful experience while wearing the shoe and can have lasting effects.”