By Rachel Grumman

An owner's guide to the body part you walk all over

Squeezing into pointy stilettos, pounding the pavement in circa 2003 sneaks: If your dogs were real puppies, the ASPCA would be hauling you away. Chances are, your fed-up extremities are protesting with scaly calluses, cramped toes, and throbbing arches. And unfortunately for fans of skimpy summer sandals, bunions are not this season's black. Read on for everything you need to know about how to repair the damage down below and finally do right by your hardworking feet.

115,000 miles

The distance your feet carry you over your lifetime--equal to nearly five times the circumference of the earth.

Agony of the feet

According to a 2007 survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association, more than 50 percent of women have foot pain that gets in the way of everyday life. Here, some of your most common Achilles' heels, plus how to kick pain to the curb.

It Grows On You, aka Bunions

Looks like: A bony lump on the outer edge of your big toe.

Happens when: The lowest joint becomes misaligned, causing the end of the bone to jut out. Though pointy heels that squash your toes can make bunions more painful, shoes are not the cause. More crucial factors are the shape of your feet and the way you walk.

How to deal: Buy footwear made of stretchy material, such as leather, that will conform to the curves of your foot. Before throwing down your plastic, hold the sole of the shoe against the sole of your foot to make sure the toe box is at least as wide as your tootsies. Using custom insoles, which any podiatrist can provide, may prevent bunions from worsening, but surgery is the only real cure. Still, docs don't recommend it unless the pain is so bad you can't function normally. Most procedures involve shaving down the bone and realigning the toe with a pin or a screw, which leaves you hobbling around for one to two months afterward. Plus, stubborn bunions come back in 10 to 15 percent of cases.

MC Freaky Feet aka Hammertoes

Looks like: The joint of one of your toes (usually the second piggy) points upward instead of lying flat.

Happens when: A bunion, flat or high arches, or too-narrow shoes cause your big toe to butt up against the second toe, putting pressure on the digit and causing it to contract.

How to deal: A Budin splint--a flat, foamy pad with an elastic loop that goes under the ball of your foot and wraps around the hammertoe--can reduce pressure and friction from shoes. A podiatrist can also give you cortisone shots to tame the pain. If you've tried those options and are still desperate, surgery offers permanent relief. A small piece of bone on one or both sides of the joint is removed so the toe can uncurl, and a pin is sometimes left in for a few weeks to keep it in place.