Fashion In Pain

Does your closet reflect how you feel inside??  Can you wear anything you'd like to?  Or has your personal fashion-sense been stifled?

You want to wear those darling boots with the buckles, but they are 2 1/2 inch heels.  You still love your unique taste, and want to express yourself.  Does your body say otherwise?

I had a funeral (of sorts) for my beautiful high heels recently.  Well, most of them.  I look back to the days I could wear 3 inch heels for work all day long while traveling Southern CA setting up promotions for Shiseido Cosmetics, and only had to deal with the 'normal' my feet hurt after a long day sensation.

Now, if I wore high heels for more than about a half-hour, my spine would be thrown dramatically out of alignment, instant and severe muscle spasms begin immediately; the awkward position of the spine when wearing high heels, is possibly causing more pain!!

I was bummed to have to get rid of the very shoes that only serve to do all great things:  They make my legs look better, longer, they give them a nice shape, and also are considered sexy by some.  I just like the way they look.  I like the fashion of a short boot with a high heel.  They are so cute, dressed up with my new leg warmers I discovered makes for a fun look.  But what does it do to  my pain and comfort levels?  Nothing good, that's for certain.  When it hurts like you had walked from CA to NY in them, that is not very realistic. (And I mean your back is hurt, not your feet.)

Oh, great.  Comfort.  Comfortable shoes.  Good for your spine, or at the least, not contributing to increased pain levels.  Comfortable shoes--sorry, but it brings to mind black waitress shoes, or maybe I should start wearing my prized nursing shoes around town.

Where is the line drawn for comfort, yet satisfy a gal who loves fashion? I understand this subject is not strictly about spinal pain with higher heels, it also covers those who may not be able to have fabric touch certain parts of the body, needing altered clothing to cover scars or other issues, those who have to deal with club foot and just finding shoes at all that do not cause extreme pain, on and on.  Of course here I am focusing on the spine.

My back surgeries left scars on the Thoracic spine; T5 to about T12.  The placement of them was excellent and after time has passed they are hardly noticeable, unless standing right behind me.  I wear sundresses a lot in the summer, backless, exposing my back scars.  I don't care one bit, and it has even started conversations when I am in line, and the person behind me asks about the scars.

I suppose it is shoes that is my only real fashion issue....I have come to love flats, or a very small heel with a platform either inside the shoe or a regular platform, which helps distribute the weight and helps stop that unnatural pitch forward that comes with regular heels.  I found some cute suede boots that are slouchy, and flat.  Comfortable, and easy to pull on.


Do you have issues with your spine, or other areas that are affected by what you are wearing?  What do you do to try and cover both bases of being fashionable, and of wearing clothes and shoes that don't contribute to more pain?  I would love to hear your fashion tips!!  


Gentle Hugs.... and Stay strong ~just for today~