High-heeled shoes can cause pain, deformities and damage to the feet that can last a lifetime.  However, there are steps one can take to reduce high heel-related foot problems.

Bunions
High heels do not cause bunions. Most women who develop bunions can blame ancestors for passing down a faulty foot structure.  However, over time, wearing pointed-toe high-heels can make bunions worse.  Ultimately, surgery can correct this often painful deformity.

Hammertoes
High-heeled shoes that crowd the toes together can contribute to hammertoes.  This deformity occurs when the second, third and fourth or fifth toes become bent or contracted like a claw.  This can cause constant shoe friction leading to painful corns.  Several hammertoes may require surgery to relieve pain.  Severe hammertoes also can cause significant pain and swelling under the ball of the foot.

Haglund’s deformity or “pump bump”
Pump-style shoes often cause significant pain by irritating a bony deformity some women have on the back of their heel called a pump bump.  This problem is common in young women who wear high heels almost everyday.  In many cases it can lead to blisters, bursitis or Achilles tendinitis.

Neuromas
Pointed-toe and high-heeled shoes are the most common reasons woman developed painful neuromas.  High-heeled shoes can cause the toes to be forced into the toe box, which can compress and swell nerves in the foot, especially between the third and fourth toes.   Neuroma symptoms appear gradually and include tingling, burning, numbness or pain.  Without treatment a neuroma can lead to permanent nerve damage, making it difficult to walk without severe, shooting pain.

Ankle Sprains
High heels increase the risk for ankle sprains.  Sprains occur when ligaments that connect bones together are stretched or torn.  Left untreated, sprains can lead to chronic ankle instability and potential arthritis.  Additionally, a severe twist of the ankle may result in a fracture to one or more of the ankle bones.  This is particularly evident in the winter months when walking in snow and ice.

Back Pain
High heels force women to stand and walk unnaturally, affecting the alignment of the ankles, knees, hips and lower back.

The majority of patients in a foot and ankle practice are women.  But not all foot problems associated with high heels require surgery.  Fortunately, many of these conditions can be treated non-surgically with changes in shoe wear, padding orthotics (shoe inserts), pain medications, physical therapy and other measures.

Gallstones are one of the most common digestive problems treated in women. Women are diagnosed with gallstones 3 times more frequently than men. Female hormones, estrogen and progesterone, contribute to stone formation. Estrogen increases cholesterol in bile, and progesterone slows the emptying of the gallbladder. The amounts of bile and fluids in the gallbladder become unbalanced. When this happens, some of the chemicals become solid and form gallstones.

Symptoms of gallstones may include pain in the mid to right upper abdomen, back pain, nausea, vomiting, fever and bloating. Gallbladder attacks frequently occur in response to a fatty meal. Gallstones block the duct of the gallbladder allowing bile to back up and cause the gallbladder to swell. Symptoms can persist for several hours and can be mistaken for “indigestion”.

Diagnosis of gallbladder disease is frequently made by a painless ultrasound. Other tests such as CT scan or nuclear medicine test may help aid the diagnosis. Blood tests also may suggest gallstones.

A person does not need a gallbladder to live a healthy life. Treatment is best accomplished by removal of the gallbladder (cholecystectomy). In the past, cholecystectomy was performed by an open procedure resulting in a fairly sizeable incision. Today, cholecystectomy is usually performed by a laparoscopic approach. This minimally invasive surgery involves making small incision(s) and removing the entire gallbladder and the associated gallstones. Surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. Because the surgery is minimally invasive, no muscles are cut and pain is lessened. Additionally, recovery time is shortened, and scarring is limited.

Dr. Brzozowski, board-certified general surgeon on Southwest General's Medical Staff, has an office at 7215 Old Oak Blvd., A-310, Middleburg Heights, OH 44130, where he welcomes both current and new patients. Dr. Brzozowski has interests in laparoscopic/minimally invasive surgery, hernias, gallbladder, breast, gastrointestinal/colon and endocrine surgeries.

For more information, call  440-816-2820.

Exercise Tip:

Shake things up this summer - Cross Train.  Walk one day, bike or swim another day, and then take a fun class another day.  Cross training is a great way to stay in shape and prevent injury.

Nutrition Tip:

Watch how sugar can sneak up on you in the "fat free" foods such as yogurt, protein bars, cold cereal, snack bars and bread.  Read the labels.

“Does Your Pelvis Rock?”
Instructed by Diane Taylor and Lisa Wolanin
Held at LifeWorks of Southwest General
7390 Old Oak Blvd., Middleburg Heights
Wednesday, Sept. 21
7-8 p.m.

“Supplements”
Instructed by Candace Frantz
Held at Strongsville Library
18700 Westwood Dr., Strongsville
Thursday, Oct. 27
7-8 p.m.

To sign up for all or any of these free talks, contact Shannon Finkovich at
440-816-5395 or sfinkovich@swgeneral.com