High Heels and Midlife Crisis

It's true that nothing can lift the spirits like a sassy new pair of high heels. But if it seems those heels were a lot more comfortable in your 20s and 30s then they are in your 40s, 50s, and beyond, you're right.
Feet change with age, say experts, and some of those changes can make wearing high heels a lot less comfortable. One of the most common: a loss of fat in the bottom of the foot.
"As you age, you lose some of the fatty deposits that normally protect the ball of the foot -- and some of it also slides forward towards the toes," says Morin.
When we slip our feet into those strappy stiletto sandals and step down, he says our weight is thrown on the spot where we have less protection.
"In extreme cases you actually have the bony ends of the foot grating down into the sole of the shoe with almost no protection at all," he says.
Not only does this cause pain, but it may also increase your risk of stress fractures and osteoarthritis in the feet.
And while some doctors attempt to repad the foot using injections of silicone or wrinkle filling injections like Restalyne, both Morin and Mogul say it's not a good idea.
"These injectables are not meant to withstand the pressure of body weight; they don't last and they tend to move around from the weight," says Morin.
Moreover, the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society warns women against these and other strictly cosmetic procedures for the feet. Calling the trend alarming, they warn consumers that risks -- including infection, nerve injury, and difficulty walking -- frequently outweigh benefits.
High Heels and Foot Pain: What You Should Know By Colette Bouchez WebMD Feature