Foot pain problems are common and varied. Every complaint will have a specific trigger mechanism and some are definitely more typical than others. A foot pain problem can be something as simple as a blister caused by wearing a new pair of shoes or something as complicated (and painful) as an Achilles bone spur which requires surgery. Some foot pain can actually go away of its own volition while other problems can ‘dog your dogs’ for years and require invasive medical procedures to finally correct.
Causes of foot pain can be as the result of a specific medical condition or even hereditary, but most suffers have been exposed to some kind of trauma which has resulted in their foot pain symptoms. Sprains and strains are a good example of this. Whether you’re playing on a sports field and turn your ankle the wrong way or accidentally step into a gopher hole the result is likely to be the same – foot pain and swelling. The swelling is your body’s way of letting you know something is wrong and, in its wisdom, will cause you to favor the injured foot until it starts to heal. Applying ice and taking some pain medication can gain immediate foot pain relief. This will also help with the swelling. There’s more on this later.
Painful feet are a common ailment and conservative estimates are that more than two-thirds of the U.S. population will be foot pain sufferers at some time or another. One of the biggest culprits is ill-fitting shoes. Foot pain and high-heeled shoes just seem to go together. These, as well as any pointed shoes, force your feet into positions that are unnatural and unhealthy too. If you ever come home, kick off your shoes and opine, “Oh, my aching feet!” this may be the source of your problem. The best advice, especially if you’re on your feet a good part of the day, is to wear something ‘sensible’ for footgear.
It’s also not a good idea to wear the same shoes every day, for various reasons. Change your shoes regularly, if possible, and give the extra pairs a day off to relax and breathe. They’ll last longer and look better while doing it.
As another safeguard against foot pain, try to wear the appropriate footwear for the specific activity in which you’re engaging. That means donning running shoes when you’re jogging and hiking boots (or shoes) when you’re out blazing a trail. For work dress, especially for the ladies, it’s best to find a consensus between fashion and function. They make shoes that look good and are still foot friendly. Simply choosing the right shoes can often prevent painful foot problems.
Another common cause of foot pain is some type of sports injury. For those of us advancing in years faster than we’d like to admit, it’s not unusual to do something that puts undue strain on our tired, old tendons and ligaments. Stretching of these tendons and ligaments, which aren’t as elastic as they once were, is common in seniors. This can end up being very painful, and here’s something to remember to ease your pain.
Think of the word RICE. This is an acronym that stands for the treatment necessary when experiencing a painful foot injury:
• R – rest. Get off your foot and take it easy.
• I – Ice. Either an ice pack or ice cubes in a bag will do. Frozen vegetables like corn or peas work nicely too.
• C – Compression. Wrapping in an ace bandage, but not too tightly.
• E – Elevate. Get the problem foot up, above the level of the heart, if possible.
These steps should immediately start to alleviate your foot pain. Try to be more careful. We’re not as young as we used to be!