Banishing Foot Pain Once And For All

If bunions aren’t getting you down, maybe the arch of your foot is causing you pain.  Arch pain or arch strain occurs when the tissues in the middle of the foot become inflamed and results in a burning sensation. 

The arch of the foot is shaped by a firm band of tissue that joins the toes to the heel bone.  This band of tissue plays a vital role in the proper mechanics of the foot and assists in the transfer of weight from the heel to the toes.  Thus, when this tissue becomes inflamed, even the slightest movement can cause pain.

There are many different factors that can lead to arch pain.  Often arch pain can result from a direct cause such as a foot injury or a structural imbalance of the foot, such as flat feet or a low or high arch.  However, the most frequent cause of arch pain is a common condition known as plantar fasciitis.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results from excessive stretching of the plantar fascia.  This is a wide band of fibrous tissue that runs along the bottom surface of the foot. The inflammation of the plantar fascia usually causes pain to occur in the heel and arch areas. If Plantar fasciitis isn’t effectively treated promptly, further strain can be placed on the arch and a heel spur (a bony growth) may develop on the bottom of the heel.

The most common symptoms of arch pain are tenderness and pain in the arch region of the foot.  Pain is usually severe when pressure is applied to the foot after a prolonged period of rest, such as after waking up from sleep.

The most common treatments used to help alleviate arch pain include:
• Supportive shoes - Avoid wearing high-heels as these shoes place a particular amount of stress on the arch region.  Instead, wear footwear that properly fits your foot and provides it with proper support including shock absorbing soles, and a moderate, supportive heel.   Furthermore, you should wear shoes to support your feet as much as you can.  Also, limit the amount of time you walk barefoot, and don’t walk barefoot on hard surfaces.

• Insoles – Special insoles you can insert in your shoes known as orthotics help to alleviate pain by providing your foot with the support it needs to move normally.

• Stretches - Stretching your calf muscle and Achilles tendon causes you to flex your foot, which in turn allows you to stretch the arch.  Stretching encourages circulation.

• Massage – Ice massages before bed can help ease sore feet and reduce inflammation.  Another effective massage is to rub the bottom of your foot by moving it back and forth over a rolling pin.  This helps ease pain caused by plantar fascia.

• Night splint – A night splint can help stretch the plantar fascia while you sleep and prevent stiffness.

• Anti-inflamatory medication – To help ease the pain you can take nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory medication such as ibuprofen.  Acetaminophen is also often recommended.
If the above treatments fail to help your arch pain, or pain increases, it’s time for you to visit your doctor - or even better - a podiatrist.  Remember, if you want to help heal your feet, you need to be good to them.

For more information on all varieties of Foot Pain and how to effectively treat them, please visit:
Foot Pain Relief  
 

Sometimes a bone spur isn’t the only bony bump your foot can grow.  A bunion is another type of bony growth that can form on the joint located at the base of the big toe.  Bunions can develop for various reasons, but the most common cause is related to wearing shoes that are too small or too tight to the feet.  Bunions can also result from injury or stress of the foot, or from some other medical condition. 

A bunion occurs when the big toe joint enlarges and forces the toe to push against the rest of the toes.  The enlargement puts pressure on the big toe joint and pushes it outward beyond the limits of your foots natural shape.  In addition to the big toe joint, bunions may also form on the joint of your baby toe which are known as “bunionettes”.  Despite the area where a bunion may occur, bunions are quite painful.

If you think you may have a bunion, here are common signs and symptoms you can watch for:

• A bulging bump on the inside joint at the base of the big toe
• Thick skin at the base of the big toe
• Calluses or corns that resulted from the first and second toe overlapping
• Frequent or irregular pain
• Restricted motion of the big toe

Pain that results from a bunion may be mild or severe, and it is often difficult for affected individuals to walk in regular shoes.  This is because the area that surrounds the bunion is also often inflamed and swollen.   If left untreated, a bunion can also affect the other toes and cause the smaller ones to become claw-like, and calluses may form on the bottom of the foot.   Without proper treatment, bunions can interfere with normal activities, can become larger, and require surgical treatment.

The method in which bunions are treated depend on the severity of the condition, and how early it is diagnosed.  Therefore, as soon as you see signs or symptoms, visit your doctor so you can be treated and cut your risk of developing joint deformities.

The following are common treatments:
• Comfortable shoes – wear shoes that are not only made to fit your feet, but also provide your toes with plenty of space to move about.
• Pad and tape your foot – To help minimize pain you can pad a bunion.  Your doctor can recommend pads and even help you tape and pad your foot in a natural position to help decrease the stress on the bunion and alleviate pain.
• Medication – Your doctor may recommend painkillers and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen to reduce inflammation.
• Physical therapy – whirlpool baths, ultrasound therapy and other forms of physical therapy can help relieve inflammation and pain of a bunion.
• Orthotics – A padded shoe insert known as an orthotic can help your foot achieve normal movement and can reduce the symptoms caused by a bunion.  Orthotics can also prevent a bunion from becoming larger.

Surgery is usually the last treatment option recommended for bunion sufferers.  Although there are different types of surgeries, the most common is a bunionectomy.  This involves the removing of swollen tissue around the joint of the big toe; straightening the big toe by removing a portion of the bone; and permanently connecting the bones of the affected joint.

If you have a bunion, your best option is to talk to your doctor about effective treatments, and avoid further aggravating your bunion by giving your toes the freedom to move.

For more information on all varieties of Foot Pain and how to effectively treat them, please visit:
Foot Pain Relief 

If you find that your heel hurts, feels hot and is swelling, relax.  It is likely your problem is not related to peripheral neuropathy.  It is more probable that the condition you are suffering from is either Plantar Fasciitis or Bone (heel) spurs.

Plantar fasciitis is a condition that results when the plantar fascia (a thin layer of strong tissue that supports the arch of the foot) is repeatedly torn.  These microscopic tears may be caused by stressing out the arch, muscles weakness within the foot, tightening of the calf or foot, wearing shoes that are too small, overusing your feet by running too hard, too fast and too soon, and obesity.  People who have flat feet, low arches or high arches in their feet are at a higher risk of developing plantar fasciitis.

Sometimes, plantar fasciitis is mistakenly called “heel spurs”.  Although it is possible for a heel spur to develop from plantar fasciitis, they are not always a factor of the condition.  Furthermore, heel spurs are actually bone spurs that occur on the feet.  A bone spur is a bony growth that forms on natural bone.  Bone spurs are often smooth but can be painful if they are pressed or rub against other bones, tendons, ligaments and other nerves in the body.

Bone spurs usually occur on the sole or back of the heel.  Most bone spurs that appear on the bottom of the heel are the result of plantar fasciitis, while those that occur on the back of the heel are often caused by rubbing shoes.  The most common shoe to cause bone spurs are high heels.  That is why these types of bone spurs are known as “pump bumps”.  The forming of a bone spur is the body’s effort to try and repair itself in response to prolonged rubbing, pressure or stress in the affected area.

People who suffer from plantar fasciitis and/or bone spurs can seek many different forms of treatment to help them cope with the condition and relieve symptoms.  When treatment is started early most people experience relief of symptoms within six weeks, and avoid the need for surgery.  However, successfully easing symptoms in some people may be difficult if the type of job they do is demanding of their feet (IE. constant walking, standing or bearing weight, etc.)

The main goal of treatment is to find a way to help an affected heel absorb shock.  The best way to achieve this is to provide the heel with cushioning and elevation.  This helps to divert pressure away from the plantar fascia.  Special shoe inserts known as Orthotics are highly recommended for treatment.  They are designed to absorb shock, elevate the back of the foot, and cradle the heel.

Wearing the right footwear is also important when it comes to treating plantar fasciitis and bone spurs.  The best shoes are those that offer good arch support and a firm heel at the appropriate height.  A podiatrist may be able to recommend a good shoe for your foot.  However, the best person to visit is a shoe specialist known as a pedorthist.

Other forms of effective treatment include:
• Calf stretching exercises
• Stretching the Achilles tendon
• Massaging the plantar fascia by rolling the foot over a rolling pin
• Avoid walking on hard surfaces barefoot
• Foot pampering: Ice massage, heat, footbath, physical therapy, etc.
• Using a night splint to stretch the plantar fascia
• Surgery - this is rare, and is always the last treatment option.

Consult your doctor about the best treatment options that will suit your lifestyle.

If you’re suffering with pain caused by Plantar Faciitis, these Silicone Heel Cushions are clinically proven to be 95% effective for initial relief of plantar fasciitis pain.
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