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.
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.
9.
Wear Diabetic Socks
for extra cushion
and comfort.
It sounds silly but I've been to lectures entitled "Current Technological Advances in Socks &
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 &
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.
On this Blog, you can also look up:
Top Ten Comfortable Sandals
Top Twenty Comfortable Dress Shoes
Top Five Comfortable Walking Shoes
Top Twenty Women's 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
:)
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