High-heeled shoes can make women feel confident, beautiful and powerful. They can also cause foot pain and deformities that can last a lifetime.

American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons recognizes that many women will not trade in their Jimmy Choos to wear sensible shoes. Drs. say that women can reduce the risk of foot problems including surgery by following these three suggestions: Avoid shoes with pointed or high heels, and avoid heels greater than 2 inches. Also, recognize signs such as foot pain.

High-heeled shoes can crowd the toes and force the body’s weight onto one side of the foot. This can cause alignment problems as well as a disruption in the body. Possible consequences

Bunions. Bunions can not be caused by high heels. Bunions are not a common condition. Most women with bunions can blame their ancestors. However, bunions can become worse if you wear high heels with pointed toes. This painful condition can be corrected only by surgery.

– Hammertoes. Hammertoes can be caused by high-heeled shoes which crowd the toes. When smaller toes bend like a claw, this deformity can occur. This can lead to painful corns due to constant shoe friction. For severe cases of hammertoes, it may be necessary to have surgery.

Corns. Repeated pressure on the skin can cause corns. Corns can often be seen in women who have foot deformities like hammertoes. This is because the toes of the bent toes rub against their shoes.

– Haglund’s deformity, or “pump bump.”Pump-style shoes are often painful because they can cause pain to a bony defect on the back of a woman’s heel. This is called a “a bunion”. “pump bump.”High heels are a common problem for young women. It can cause blisters, bursitis, or Achilles tendonitis in some cases.

– Neuromas. Painful neuromas in women are most commonly caused by high-heeled or pointed-toe shoes. High-heeled shoes can push the toes into your toe box, which can cause nerves to swell and compress. A neuroma, which can cause permanent nerve damage, can make it difficult for patients to get treatment.

– Back pain. That old song. “The leg bone’s connected to the thigh bone…The thigh bone’s connected to the hip bone…”The whole story. High heels can cause alignment problems in the lower back, ankle, knee, hip, and hip.

Women are the majority of foot surgeons. However, not all high-heel issues require surgery. Changes in shoe fit, padding, orthotics, or pain medication are all possible non-surgical solutions.

FootPhysicians.com provides more information on foot pain.