Foot Pain - Care Guide

Foot pain defined as a pain or discomfort that can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole, or ankles. The foot consists of at least 26 bones, 33 joints, 20 muscles, 31 tendons, and over 107 ligaments. There are over 250,000 sweat glands in each foot. With causes ranging from fallen arches and calluses to ingrown nails and broken bones, foot pain comes in many forms. An understanding of symptoms, causes and effects of foot pain will greatly assist the evaluation and selection of proper treatment.

Foot Pain Causes

Prolonged standing, walking, running and engaging in other demanding feet related activities pressure the joints, muscles and ligaments of the foot are major causes of foot pain.

Nearly all causes of foot pain can be grouped under one of the following:

Foot Pain Treatment

Each patient needs to be assessed individually, but some general recommendations seem to apply to many patients who have foot pain.

• RICE. When you first begin to notice discomfort or pain in the area, you can treat yourself with Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE). Rest. Patients should get off injured foot as soon as possible. Ice. This is particularly important to reduce swelling and promote recovery during the first 48 hours. Wrap a bag or towel containing ice around the injured area on a repetitive cycle of 20 minutes on, 40 minutes off. Compression. Lightly wrap an Ace bandage around the area. Elevation. Elevate the foot on several pillows.
• Rubbing and irritation. Wear foot pads in areas of friction or pressure. This will prevent rubbing and irritation and decrease foot pain.
• Stress fracture. For foot pain caused by a stress fracture, an extended rest period is often necessary. Crutches may be used for a week or so to take the pressure off, if your foot is particularly painful.
• Over-the-counter pain medicine. Take over-the-counter pain medicine, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Try this for 2 to 3 weeks (unless you have a history of an ulcer, liver disease, or other condition that does not allow you to take one of these drugs).

Foot Pain Prevention

Depending on your foot concerns and lifestyle, there are a variety of steps you can take to protect your feet. Follow these tips for preventing foot pain:

• Inspect feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in color and temperature. Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus), and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate athlete's foot. Any growth on the foot is not considered normal.
• Learn exercises to strengthen your feet and avoid foot pain. This can help flat feet and other potential foot problems.
• Warm up before exercise, cool down after exercise, and stretch adequately. Increase your amount of exercise SLOWLY over time to avoid putting excessive strain on your feet.
• Make sure that shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest, and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.
• Wear sneakers as often as possible, especially when walking. Select and wear the right shoe for specific activities (ie, running shoes for running).
• Alternate shoes. Don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
• Avoid walking barefoot, which increases the risk for injury, infection and foot pain.
• At the beach or when wearing sandals, use sun-block on your feet, as you would on the rest of your body.
• Trim toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut corners; it can lead to ingrown toenails.
• Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes. Be sure to dry them completely.
• If you have diabetes, see an orthopedic surgeon or podiatrist at least once a year for a check-up. If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems, you should not treat your own feet (including toenails) because they are more prone to infection.
• Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments. Self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.
• Don't ignore foot pain - it's not normal. If the pain persists, see a doctor who specializes in podiatry.