April 30, 2010

Treatment & Remedies for Heel and Foot Pain

Posted in Category : General Health

Foot pain can be extremely annoying when it interferes with your routine activities. It can be treated at home, but if the pain continues it is best to seek medical help. Here are a few tips to help alleviate the pain in your foot:

  • When you have pain in your foot you can use ice packs and compression. Keeping your foot elevated will also make you feel better. Sometimes over-the-counter medication also helps relieve any pain that you have. Make sure that you rest your foot as this will enable the tissues to heal properly and prevent any stress to the areas that are affected. Make sure that you do not apply the ice for more than 20 minutes. If a lot of discomfort is felt, then it is best to stop using the ice-pack.
  • The kind of footwear you use could be one of the main reasons for pain in your foot. It is best to wear shoes that are well-fitting and comfortable. Once you switch to footwear that fits well the pain will gradually disappear.
  • If your foot pain is caused by an injury, make sure you keep the pressure off your injured foot by walking with the help of a cane or a crutch.
  • Pain caused due to heel spurs could be reduced by resting the foot and staying away from high-impact activities.
  • If you are suffering from pain in the ball of your foot, try wearing insoles that have shock absorbing properties or arch supports.
  • Sometimes the pain is due to development of corns. In this case, simply make a solution of Epsom salts and water and soak your feet in this solution for about 15 minutes. Carefully dry your feet and then apply some good moisturizer on it. Use a stone to gently rub the corn with a motion that moves from side-to-side. Continue this on a daily basis till the corn goes away. You could also take the help of a corn pad that is non-medicated to get rid of the pressure on that particular area.
  • Foot pain can result from diabetes as well. Very often diabetic people suffer from blood circulation problems which in turn can cause intense foot pain. Diabetic patients also pick up infections more easily, especially in the foot. If you are diabetic it is important that you control your sugar levels, exercise regularly, and eat healthy meals. This will help protect you from any infections, which in turn will prevent any foot pain.