My Feet Hurt!
Top Ten Things
To Relieve Foot Pain Today...
The following advice may not be popular but it is highly effective!
It's straight forward, common sense medicine and --
it sure beats surgery!
Give it a try and I would love to hear how it works for you...
1.
Stop Walking Barefoot.
Forget about what people say about being barefoot being "natural" -- being naked is "natural" but we all wear clothes to protect our bodies from the elements.
It's wise to protect your feet also.
There's nothing "natural" about walking around on concrete all day!
Plus, if your feet weren't hurting,
you wouldn't be reading this.
Forget about what people say about being barefoot being "natural" -- being naked is "natural" but we all wear clothes to protect our bodies from the elements.
It's wise to protect your feet also.
There's nothing "natural" about walking around on concrete all day!
Plus, if your feet weren't hurting,
you wouldn't be reading this.
2.
Stop Wearing Flip-Flops.
Zero biomechanical control.
Try an experiment -- have someone video you on their cell phone from behind as you walk barefoot or wear flip-flops.
Now video you doing the same thing while wearing proper shoes with arch support.
Pay attention to what is happening to your feet, ankles and knees.
Not pretty, is it?
Lots of extra wear-and-tear on your joints, muscles and tendons.
Remember, you're either beating up your feet --
or you're beating up your shoes.
If you think what you're shoes look like after several years of wear,
what do you think is happening to your joints?
Zero biomechanical control.
Try an experiment -- have someone video you on their cell phone from behind as you walk barefoot or wear flip-flops.
Now video you doing the same thing while wearing proper shoes with arch support.
Pay attention to what is happening to your feet, ankles and knees.
Not pretty, is it?
Lots of extra wear-and-tear on your joints, muscles and tendons.
Remember, you're either beating up your feet --
or you're beating up your shoes.
If you think what you're shoes look like after several years of wear,
what do you think is happening to your joints?
3.
Stop Walking Around the House Wearing Only Socks.
Minimal protection!
Zero biomechanical control.
Although I do recommend wearing socks with shoes, if you are walking around the house in only socks -- that is only slightly better than being barefoot.
Minimal protection!
Zero biomechanical control.
Although I do recommend wearing socks with shoes, if you are walking around the house in only socks -- that is only slightly better than being barefoot.
4.
Stop Wearing Flimsy Bedroom Slippers.
If your slippers are flexible or bend too easily,
you may be causing damage to your joints as well as setting you up for potential injury.
If you like to wear slippers in the house,
at least look into getting"Diabetic Slippers"
even if you are not diaabetic.
These slippers offer more protection and are probably ten times more comfortable.
Foot Solutions has a great Diabetic Slipper
and you can find many others online.
If your slippers are flexible or bend too easily,
you may be causing damage to your joints as well as setting you up for potential injury.
If you like to wear slippers in the house,
at least look into getting"Diabetic Slippers"
even if you are not diaabetic.
These slippers offer more protection and are probably ten times more comfortable.
Foot Solutions has a great Diabetic Slipper
and you can find many others online.
5.
Around the house - as a bedroom slipper -
wear Crocs RX clogs
with the strap to the back.
Do you have heel pain?
Knee, hip, lower back pain?
This is the cheapest and best medical advice you will ever get!!
If you wear Croc Rx Clogs with the strap to the back around the house, you will probably have a significant improvement
in a very short period of time.
The only time you should be barefoot and standing is in the shower!
Do you have heel pain?
Knee, hip, lower back pain?
This is the cheapest and best medical advice you will ever get!!
If you wear Croc Rx Clogs with the strap to the back around the house, you will probably have a significant improvement
in a very short period of time.
The only time you should be barefoot and standing is in the shower!
6.
For a great Walking Shoe -
go to a New Balance Store and purchase a
New Balance Walking Shoe
with Roll-Bar Technology
and a wide base with an extra-depth toebox.
I often write my patients prescriptions for this shoe, which can make it tax deductible and give them a 10% discount at any New Balance store.
I truly believe that proper shoes are medically necessary for many patients because it will decrease pain, risk of injury and prevent surgery.
Not to mention make your life more pleasant because you will have less pain and you can concentrate on staying active and having fun!
I often write my patients prescriptions for this shoe, which can make it tax deductible and give them a 10% discount at any New Balance store.
I truly believe that proper shoes are medically necessary for many patients because it will decrease pain, risk of injury and prevent surgery.
Not to mention make your life more pleasant because you will have less pain and you can concentrate on staying active and having fun!
7.
Elevate and Rest Your Feet
and use a topical pain reliever like:
Biofreeze or Traumeel -
both are over-the-counter and safe.
Don't underestimate the power of rest!
As a physician, I am always amazed at the body's healing power so --
at the end of the day,
grab a good book and put those feet up...
Don't underestimate the power of rest!
As a physician, I am always amazed at the body's healing power so --
at the end of the day,
grab a good book and put those feet up...
8.
Wear Arch Support.
Either Custom-Molded Orthotics or
a good Over-The-Counter Insert,
which you can purchase from your local Podiatrist or your local running shoe store.
Ten percent of people cannot tolerate arch support, which means you have a ninety percent chance that arch support can improve your life.
I wish Las Vegas had those odds!
Good arch support can also significantly help with knee, hip and lower back pain.
I've had patients say,
"I have high arches -- I don't need arch support"
and my response is,
"Bridges have arches but engineers design them with struts for support."
It's the same with your foot --
support under the arch means less strain on the joints, tendons and muscles.
Custom molded orthotics from your Podiatrist are far superior to over-the-counter inserts but, if you are constrained by a budget, at least get the over-the-counter inserts so that you get some degree of arch support.
Ten percent of people cannot tolerate arch support, which means you have a ninety percent chance that arch support can improve your life.
I wish Las Vegas had those odds!
Good arch support can also significantly help with knee, hip and lower back pain.
I've had patients say,
"I have high arches -- I don't need arch support"
and my response is,
"Bridges have arches but engineers design them with struts for support."
It's the same with your foot --
support under the arch means less strain on the joints, tendons and muscles.
Custom molded orthotics from your Podiatrist are far superior to over-the-counter inserts but, if you are constrained by a budget, at least get the over-the-counter inserts so that you get some degree of arch support.
9.
Wear Diabetic Socks
for extra cushion
and comfort.
It sounds silly but I've been to lectures entitled "Current Technological Advances in Socks and
Sock Strategy."
Proper socks can decrease friction and thereby decrease calluses, corns, blisters and
heel fissures.
Diabetic socks may cost a couple dollars more but hopefully will be well worth it!
It sounds silly but I've been to lectures entitled "Current Technological Advances in Socks and
Sock Strategy."
Proper socks can decrease friction and thereby decrease calluses, corns, blisters and
heel fissures.
Diabetic socks may cost a couple dollars more but hopefully will be well worth it!
10.
Make an Appointment with your
local Podiatrist!
Try to find a Podiatrist that specializes in conservative, non-surgical treatment.
In my opinion, less than five percent of patients with foot pain need surgery. I am not referring to foot "procedures" that can be done in the office such as fixing ingrown toenails -- I am referring to more serious surgeries such as bunions and fusions of joints that will permanently change your foot and ankle biomechanics.
Foot surgery is more than you think!
The foot heals slower, hurts more, and swells more because while you are trying to heal it --
you are walking on it!
Not to mention, recovering from foot surgery poses many risks and the results are never guarenteed.
I always tell my patients that
the goal of surgery is
to take an "abnormal painful foot" and turn it into an "abnormal non-painful foot."
The only time you should consider having foot surgery is if you have tried everything and completely exhausted conservative treatment and you cannot perform your normal daily activities because of the pain.
Before you have foot surgery, please get a second or even third opinion!
Most biomechanical foot pain can be resolved using conservative, non-surgical treatment.
In my opinion, less than five percent of patients with foot pain need surgery. I am not referring to foot "procedures" that can be done in the office such as fixing ingrown toenails -- I am referring to more serious surgeries such as bunions and fusions of joints that will permanently change your foot and ankle biomechanics.
Foot surgery is more than you think!
The foot heals slower, hurts more, and swells more because while you are trying to heal it --
you are walking on it!
Not to mention, recovering from foot surgery poses many risks and the results are never guarenteed.
I always tell my patients that
the goal of surgery is
to take an "abnormal painful foot" and turn it into an "abnormal non-painful foot."
The only time you should consider having foot surgery is if you have tried everything and completely exhausted conservative treatment and you cannot perform your normal daily activities because of the pain.
Before you have foot surgery, please get a second or even third opinion!
Most biomechanical foot pain can be resolved using conservative, non-surgical treatment.
***
For more information,
please see the article on this blog for:
Shoe Recommendations for Patients Recovering from Lisfranc's Injuries.
(Continue to Scroll Down)
(Continue to Scroll Down)
On this Blog, you can also look up:
Top Ten Comfortable Sandals
Top Twenty Comfortable Dress Shoes
Top Five Comfortable Walking Shoes
Top Twenty Womens Comfortable Boots
Please feel free to explore the blog!
I have lots of information, articles and shoe recommendations for people who suffer from foot pain.
Please feel free to explore the blog!
I have lots of information, articles and shoe recommendations for people who suffer from foot pain.
Have a Great Day!
Dr. Cathleen A. McCarthy
:)
12 comments:
My question to the podiatrist is: Do the Crocs that she suggests wearing around the house harbor bacteria? The reason I ask is that I've had leg cellulitis, likely due to bacteria entering an open cut under my toe. I used to wear flip-flops around the house, but I've read they are bacteria magnets, so I figure clean socks are the best thing to wear.
Hi Jen,
I'm sorry to hear that you've been suffering from cellulitis. I hope you are getting better! Crocs can harbor bacteria as well as fungus (just like any other shoe) but I would still recommend them. You can wear them with socks for added comfort and you can clean them at least once a week with soap and water. The great thing about Crocs is they re plastic and easy to clean.
I hope this was helpful and I wish you the best!
Dr. Cathleen A McCarthy
I had no idea that socks could cause blisters and such. I've had a nice little friend on my toe for years and havn't been able to get rid of it, even with changing to better shoes. Never even thouht that it could be the socks!
Another crazy little thing that can help are the sports or diabetic socks that have individual little compartments for each toe -- like gloves. Patients with problem or painful toes with corns or blisters seem to love these. Hope it works for you!
Dr Cathleen A McCarthy
:)
The Crocs that Dr. McCarthy recommended are "classic crocs" and can be cleaned with warm water and soap. I have a pair and they do not smell and dry off very quickly. They do lose tread after daily wear and become very slick.
Hi Catherine,
You are exactly right! THe Classic Crocs can lose their tread with daily wear and should be replaced at least once a year. Also, living in Arizona, I do not recommend wearing them outside in the summer -- particularly when it's 120 degrees as the plastic can melt on asphalt! We have an excessive heat warning in effect today and it's only May!
Hope all is well,
Cathy McCarthy
Buy wonderful foot pain products Here..
Thanks Dr. Cathleen it really helped looking forward for more.
Heel Pain Relief
Just an fyi but you can throw the Crocs in the wash on cold and air dry them. Done it plenty of times with the whole family's with no problems!
-Lisa
Thanks Lisa!
Also, if you live in Arizona - don't put them in outside in direct sunlight in the summer to dry because they will shrink to toddler size! Guess how I found that out...
Cathy
:)
Nice tips to keep feet healthy.
Thank you, Alice!
:)
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