STYLETHREAD -- LET'S TALK SHOP!

Elle, it sounds like this pain on the ball of your foot is maybe something you should talk to a doctor about...esp. if things like tennis shoes are hurting your feet. It's starting to sound like a bit more than the usual "suffering for fashion" shoe issue that many of use have from time to time.

I am a size 10 shoe and IMO it all depends on the shoe, not the length of the foot vs. the heel height. ITA with honey that better quality shoes are less painful to be in for a longer period of time. It also depends on what kind of surface you're standing/walking on. A concrete or cement surface will kill your feet in a very short time, whereas something softer - wood floor, carpeting, etc. will usually be easier to bear.

Truly - I'd go talk to someone about your foot pain, if you haven't already. Many, many years ago I had pain in my heels - to where I could barely walk (and I worked retail!) and my BF would have to come get me because I couldn't drive the car home (stick shift; using the clutch was killing me) at the end of a long work day. My doctor referred me to a foot specialist, who determined that I was pulling tendons in my feet constantly - I have very high arches, and as I put my weight on the foot, the arch would spread out and pull the tendons, resulting in pain. I had the option of foot surgery or custom-made orthotics. Foot surgery was out, as it would be a lengthy recovery time and I would have lost my job. I spent $250 for the orthotics and still have them to this day (this was nearly twenty years ago). I wear them for flats, like in my Pumas and such. but I actually feel more comfortable in heels, so I mostly wear a heel. I find that having pressure on the balls of my feet is much more bearable than wearing flats, even with the orthotics.

Long story, but your pain sounds like it might be something like mine - not a shoe issue, but something that can be helped with medically or with technology, maybe.