The older we get, the more it seems like we have new aches and pains. Foot pain is very common among seniors, and there are many reasons for that. You may have spent a lifetime working on your feet and are now paying the price.
You may also have common issues like corns or bunions. In any case, caring for your feet can help relieve pain from some common situations.
10 Foot Pain Relief Methods
1.Soak Your Feet
Sometimes after a long day you’ll notice foot pain. This can range from mild aches to more throbbing pain. One of the easiest and cheapest ways to relieve your foot pain and treat your feet with care is by soaking them.
You don’t need any fancy equipment; an inexpensive foot bath will do fine. For simple foot relief, fill a foot bath with warm water to meet your needs – don’t make it too hot, or you won’t enjoy the soak!
Now, add a cup of Epsom salts to the foot bath. Now, prop yourself up somewhere comfortable and put your feet in for half an hour. Just relax and let the warm water and salts do their work.
You can also change it up by adding baking soda, a few drops of essential oils like peppermint or lavender, or make your own DIY hydrating foot soak with a cup of lemon juice, a ¼-cup of milk, and a tablespoon of olive oil.
You can also buy foot remedies over the counter, and even get fancy with a foot bath that also massages your feet if you like.
2. Get a Massage
A foot massage can feel amazing. You can go to someone to do this for you, or do it yourself. All you need is some massage oil or foot lotion. One of the most common types of foot lotion is peppermint. This is because the mint invigorates your feet.
It also smells wonderful. If you are doing a foot rub on yourself, simply start by kneading the bottoms of your feet, then rub each individual toe.
Another good idea is to invest in a foot roller. These may look funny, but they make feet feel amazing. You place the roller on the ground and rub your feet across it back and forth. It can relieve pain and loosen the muscles so they’re not as tight.
The best way to treat yourself is by heading to the spa for a foot massage. Bring your spouse for a couples’ treat, or make it a girls’ day with your best friend. Your feet will thank you.
3. Check Your Shoes
There comes a time in life when we have to opt for what’s most supportive and comfortable, even if it’s not always the most fashionable.
Your shoes could be what’s causing the problem. Are your shoes supportive and comfortable? Avoid wearing heels and switch to flats.
If your feet aren’t getting enough support, try adding an insert or arch support pad to your existing shoes. Dr. Scholl’s is a good brand to look into when it comes to buying supportive shoe inserts.
If that doesn’t work, you may need to invest in a pair of shoes that offer plenty of support. Some brands to look into include Dansko, Brooks, New Balance, and Orthofeet.
The great thing about today’s orthopedic shoes is that they don’t look like orthopedic shoes. You can get heels, clogs, loafers, sneakers, flats, and a wide array of styles that will still look great but provide the support you need for aching feet or conditions like bunions, corns, flat feet, hammertoes, or heel spurs.
Who says you need to sacrifice style for support?
4. Try Pain Relief
Along with other types of support and home care, you can try two different approaches to medication for foot pain. The first is by taking an anti-inflammatory medication, such as ibuprofen. This can help relieve your pain, especially when combined with a foot bath or massage.
Another way to treat foot pain is by using medicated cream. Not only does the cream itself work to combat pain, but massaging the cream into your feet can work the muscles and loosen cramps.
Most medicated creams contain cooling ingredients like menthol that can help soothe feet. If an oral medication doesn’t work, give a topical cream a try, you may be surprised.
5. Call the Doctor
There are many things that can cause foot pain, aside from just being on your feet for long periods of time. Sometimes foot pain can be due to a health condition like arthritis, bunions, blisters, an ingrown toenail, corns, a pulled muscle, sprain, plantar fascitis, or a bone break.
If your pain persists, feels different from pain you have had in the past, or feels severe enough to make it hard to walk, go ahead and call your doctor. You may require specialized treatment to reduce your foot pain.
You could also have a break or a sprain and not even know it! There may not be a specific treatment for a sprain, but your doctor will be able to recommend the right medication and home care to help relieve your pain so you can get on with your life.
Always call your doctor if you have fever, swelling, or other symptoms that could indicate another issue.
6. Check Calluses
When’s the last time you took a good look at your feet? Calluses can build up on your feet, which cause the thickening of skin in certain areas. When you walk, you put pressure on these calluses and they can cause your feet to hurt.
If you notice you have calluses, you don’t need to call the doctor. They aren’t harmful and they aren’t an emergency, but they are a pain to deal with.
Fortunately, you can take care of them on your own at home. All you need is a pumice stone. If you don’t have a pumice stone, you can even use an emery board for nails.
First, soak your feet for a few minutes in order to soften the skin. Then, use the emery board or pumice stone to sand down the calluses. This will help alleviate pain.
Since calluses are very dry, you’ll need to moisturize your feet daily in order to alleviate rough skin that can contribute to pain.
The best way to do this is to apply a rich foot cream to your feet before you go to bed. Put on socks in order to allow the lotion to sink in.
7. Do Foot Stretches
Did you know that stretching your feet can help improve foot pain? There are a few simple stretches you can do that will help alleviate pain.
A few of these include toe curls, which is basically curling your toes upward then back down, as well as picking up marbles with your toes.
To combat pain, a good exercise is to roll a golf ball back and forth under each foot. This can soothe tired and sore arches.
Walking on sand is a great exercise for sore feet, so if you have a nearby beach, head to it and take a relaxing stroll through the sand.
Try a toe splay. To do this exercise, simply sit up straight and spread your toes out as far apart as possible. Repeat this exercise 10 times. Doing stretches and exercises can both prevent and alleviate toe, ankle, knee, and foot pain.
8. Apply Ice
For localized pain, such as a twisted ankle, swollen feet, or a heel that’s sore and achy, try ice. Many athletes use ice to treat a wide array of injuries, and you can even combine it with heat therapy (such as a foot bath) to relieve swelling, inflammation, and pain.
Use an ice pack and apply it directly to the area that hurts. If you don’t have one, grab a bag of frozen veggies and wrap a wash cloth around it. You don’t need to buy anything special.
Apply the ice for about half an hour several times throughout the day. If you’d like to try to get relief from combination therapy, fill two foot baths, one with cold water and one with warm. Switch back and forth from each foot bath for about five minutes each.
This is called a hydromassage, which boosts your blood circulation and can help reduce pain.
9. Take Fish Oil
Do you take Omega-3 pills? Otherwise known as fish oil, Omega-3’s have a lot of body benefits, including decreasing inflammation. This means that adding this supplement to your daily diet can help reduce pain in your feet.
It’s also a great way to increase joint mobility, which can also be a perk when you have swollen and painful feet sometimes. This means that your feet will become more flexible, which can in turn reduce the occurrence of pain.
You’ll find that other benefits may help you too, including supporting a healthy heart, eyes, skin, and fish oil can even be used for weight loss, so you may find this supplement to offer you other perks along with less painful feet.
10. Treat Your Feet
Sometimes the best thing you can do for your feet is to get off of them! Sit down, relax, and put your feet up. Engage in a favorite pastime or hobby, such as reading, watching television, chatting with a friend, or enjoying the outdoors.
Most of us live such busy lives we don’t feel that relaxation is necessary, but it is, especially if your feet are aching. Your body is telling you to sit down!
If you’re at home, slide into your favorite house slippers and enjoy the relaxed way they feel! While you are resting, ensure that “putting your feet up” isn’t just an expression – actually elevating your feet can help reduce pain.
Sitting in this position increases blood flow throughout your legs and gives your lower body the break it so desperately needs.
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