Foot pain associated
with high heels

(CNN) - Foot pain afflicts millions of Americans, especially women who wear heels.

For years, Michele Murphy suffered with a steady pain in her right heel.

"It's very hard to walk. It's hard to go shopping," Murphy said. It's hard to stand on your heels because, you know, it's your heel, is always in pain."

Murphy is not alone in complaining about sore feet. Dr. Donald Adams, president of the Massachusetts Podiatric Society, estimates up to 75 percent of Americans will experience foot pain at some point in their lives.

It is not normal to have foot pain. It's not a normal part of aging.

Dr. Adams says the majority of his patients are women.

Probably, in my practice, there's a -- it's two to one, female to males. And part of that is probably because of shoewear.

Women wear shoes that have narrow toeboxes, high heels, which do lend themselves to more foot problems.

Dr. Adams says most foot and heel pain can be remedied by a podiatrist and surgery is rarely required.

Murphy tried stretching exercises, anti-inflammatory medications, cortisone shots and eventually special shoe inserts called orthotics.

She is also wearing lower-heeled shoes and says she is now walking without pain.