Tips For Dealing With A Foot Ache
Foot ache is a common ailment that many of us face and yet it varies dramatically from average pain at the end of a long day of walking to debilitating pain that makes it hard for a person to carry on with their everyday life. The foot pain is usually on the underside of the feet and makes it difficult for a person to get up or walk around, let alone run or dance. Foot ache at its worst can be a life altering experience and it is not easy to overlook and move on when it reaches these levels.
Typical causes of foot ache
Plantar fasciitis, which is an inflammation of the tissue in the feet called the plantas fascia, is the most frequent reason for soreness and aches in the feet. This usually manifests as a sharp pain in the morning or after long stretches on inactivity.
Doctors say that improper footwear such as shoes without adequate arch support and walking around bare feet can cause the inflammation. Choosing footwear with an eye for fashion alone is a mistake that many people make – it is important to realize that this has long term implications. Inadequate support for the arch amounts to abusing the feet. So, it is important to balance a fashion statement with an awareness of health implications.
Extended periods of physical activity and excessive weight can also cause the tissue to become inflamed. If someone is in a job that needs them to stay on their feet for a long time, it is a good idea to make sure that there are small breaks at different points of the day. If someone is dealing with obesity, their feet take on the task of holding up a disproportionate amount of weight and this can harm the feet.
Those people who have flat feet are also vulnerable to this problem. Some people are born with little or no arch in their feet and they have to deal with life-long issues of discomfort unless they find the perfect foot wear.
Treatment for foot ache
Average and infrequent foot pain can be handled with an occasional pain killer. Some creams and ointments available for dealing with the pain do provide temporary relief also. But where the problem is persistent and getting chronic it is important to address the underlying issue.
Those who sense that they need arch support can look for inserts such as Doctor Shoals in the regular footwear stores. This helps out considerably by helping the feet retain their shape even over extended periods of exertion.
As a next step it may be necessary to consider a podiatrist. A podiatrist specializes in problems related to the feet. The podiatrist will be able to create custom inserts based on casts and these are bound to provide more support than store bought inserts. The podiatrist may also be able to offer shots of cortizone to deal with the pain.
It is also a good idea to monitor one’s weight because obesity is a big reason for a lot of leg and foot related pain. Progressive weight gain can counter the best arch support that is available.
Foot ache can be anything from a distracting to a destabilizing problem and one of the above mentioned reasons usually lies at the base of the problem. A person should assess their pain and consult with a medical professional to choose the treatment that best suits their needs. The very encouraging news for someone struggling with foot ache is that it is an eminently curable pain and there is no real reason to live with it.