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Foot pain is most often due to wearing high-heeled shoes or tight shoes for a long period, carrying out excessive physical activity or as a result of pregnancy, for example, not being serious and can be treated at home only with rest, ice application and massage.
However, when pain in the foot does not go away with these medications, it may be indicative that the pain is caused by more serious situations such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis or rheumatism, which should be treated according to the guidance of the orthopedist or physiotherapist.
The main causes of foot pain are:
1. Overload on the feet
The pain may occur due to overload on the feet, which may be due to the fact that the person is overweight or as a result of wearing tight shoes or high heels. In addition, overload can also happen after a long walk, intense physical activity, work habits or standing in the same position for a long time.
What to do: Put your feet in a bowl of cold water, ice pack for 15 minutes, and foot massage can help reduce pain, but it is also important to wear comfortable, suitable shoes, avoid staying in the same position for a long time , lose weight and get adequate rest.
2. Pregnancy
Foot pain is quite common in pregnancy and may be related to weight gain, difficulty in venous return, poor blood circulation and swollen legs and feet, which makes them very sore, especially at the end of the day.
What to do: In this case, one of the ways that can help relieve pain in your feet is to lie on your back with your feet elevated, as it favors blood circulation and helps to deflate, relieving pain. In addition, placing your feet in a basin of cold water can also help to relieve foot pain.
3. Plantar fasciitis
Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation that affects the fascia, which is tissue found in the sole of the foot. This alteration is closely related to the heel spur, because the exaggerated tension of the fascia favors the formation of the bone callus, known as spur. The main symptom is severe pain in the sole of the foot when waking up and stepping on the floor, which can also occur after staying a few hours of rest.
What to do: In this case, it is recommended to apply ice on the spot and have a massage, which can be done using marbles or hands. Check out more tips to treat plantar fasciitis and spur in the following video:
4. Tendinitis or calcaneus bursitis
The pain is felt in the final part of the Achilles tendon or in the back of the heel, and it gets worse when turning the foot upwards (dorsiflexion) and it can be difficult to catch a marble with the toes.The tendon may become more rigid after some time of rest, and it tends to become more malleable with movements and mobilization. It can also arise when the person exchanges the usual high shoes for a sneaker and takes a long walk.
What to do: Stretching exercises for 'leg potatoes', massage the calf, mobilization of the tendon itself, and finally use cold compresses or ice for 15 minutes.
5. Bunion
Pain in the side of the foot with bone deviation can be caused by the bunion, a condition more frequent in women who wear high-heeled shoes and pointed toes for a prolonged period. This change causes severe pain when it swells and the area may become red.
What to do: The use of splints or finger retractors and local massage with anti-inflammatory gel or sweet almond oil may be indicated, because this natural oil helps to improve blood circulation and relieve pain, redness and swelling of the feet. See in the video below some exercises that help to relieve foot pain caused by the bunion:
6. Rheumatism
Rheumatism is a condition characterized by alterations in the joints and may have one of the symptoms of pain in the feet, for example. Better understand what rheumatism is.
What to do: In this case, the rheumatologist may recommend the use of medications that can reduce the symptoms, and physiotherapy is also indicated. If there are no signs of inflammation, warm compresses may be indicated on the site, however, if inflammatory signs are found, joint immobilization and exercises indicated by the physiotherapist may be recommended.
7. Diabetic foot
Diabetic foot is one of the complications of diabetes that can happen when treatment is not done according to the guidance of the endocrinologist. Thus, there may be the development of the diabetic foot, which is characterized by severe pain, the appearance of wounds and an increased risk of infections.
What to do: In addition to always maintaining blood glucose under control, you must wear an appropriate shoe and watch your feet daily for wounds or injuries. In case of wounds it may be necessary to use antibiotics, antimicrobial ointments on the spot, use of a dressing, which needs to be changed daily. Check out more details of diabetic foot care and complications.
How to relieve foot pain
In most cases, foot pain can be relieved only by resting and scalding feet followed by a massage at the end of the day with moisturizer, for example. In general, other equally important recommendations include:
- Wear comfortable and flexible shoes;
- Do foot exercises, such as rotating or moving your foot up and down;
- Avoid wearing tight shoes, high heels or standing for a long time;
- Massage can be performed with moisturizing cream or oil, but you can also use creams or gels with anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as Diclofenac or Gelol.
When the pain is frequent and does not relieve with the above guidelines, a medical consultation is recommended so that he can make the diagnosis and indicate the most appropriate treatment for each case, because in some situations surgery to correct the bunion or spur may be indicated.