Why do my feet hurt - what to do, how to treat? Painful sensations in the legs sooner or later overtake each of us.
Often this pain bothers us specifically in the foot area. To know what measures to take and how to properly treat such a phenomenon, you need to find out the reason why it arose.
Treatment will be prescribed based on the reasons. Such pain can occur at any time of the day. But it is better, of course, to avoid such incidents by resorting to precautionary measures and preventive methods.
There can be a huge number of causes of foot pain. Let's look at the most common of them so that we know for sure how to treat.
1. Fasciitis of the soles . This is a very well-known and commonly affected foot disease. It lies in the fact that part of the connective tissue that is located between the heel and toes (actually connecting them) becomes inflamed.
This area of the plantar skin can become inflamed from stress, sprains, and various types of damage. It could even be due to excess weight.
As a result, in the morning the foot begins to remind itself of itself with nagging pain, tingling and sharp pain when trying to stand on the leg. Fasciitis on the sole of the foot can develop into a heel spur if proper treatment is not started in time.
2. Heel spur . This is a more severe form of fasciitis, the causes of which can be the same stretch marks, stress, and flat feet. The pain with this disease is more acute and makes itself felt every time you stand on your leg at full strength.
3. Pain in the bend of the foot. Such pain can occur as a result of injuries, sprains or dislocations. In addition to pain, it also has external characteristics - the leg swells and increases slightly in size.
If such pain does not go away for a long time, but bothers you with renewed vigor and sudden changes, then you definitely need to take an x-ray. Since it may even be a fracture or crack, which requires the application of a plaster cast and intensive treatment.
A callus that is too large and very noticeable can cause such pain that it will spread to the entire foot. Although the main location will be concentrated in one place.
5. In addition to calluses, plantar warts can be localized on the foot. Their presence can not only interfere, but also create pain.
6. Common flat feet may be the cause of foot pain. As a result of disturbances in the structure of the foot, a large load is placed on the tendons, ligaments and other joints and tissues.
As a result, the legs often hurt, get tired quickly, become swollen and slightly swollen. Causes that can cause flat feet include excessive exercise, lack of vitamin D, excess weight, and even improper and uncomfortable shoes.
7. Another type of pain in the foot area can be vasodilation. It is characterized by a burning sensation, as well as an increase in temperature in this area of the skin.
This kind of pain can be caused not only by local injuries, but also by heart problems and neurological diseases.
8. Pain can manifest itself throughout the entire area of the sole, as well as in specific places. If pain is felt in specific areas, then the reasons should be looked for there.
For example, pain in the toe area may indicate an ingrown toenail. This is a very noticeable and unpleasant disease that is best eliminated surgically.
If you do not resort to this kind of intervention, the pain will bother you more and more each time. And in the end, you will not be able to put on shoes or even walk normally.
9. Purulent inflammation of the bones can also cause such unpleasant pain. Previous injuries or infections can infect the bones, resulting in inflammation and suppuration.
There will be concern not only in the leg area, over time the temperature will rise, and as a result, the general condition will worsen.
10. Gout is a disease in which the metabolism is disrupted and acid is deposited as a result. The pain with this disease is quite sharp and noticeable, and is also accompanied by swelling and fever.
11. Neuroma of the foot also causes pain. A neuroma is a benign tumor that can grow in size over time.
12. Pain can be caused by the most common pinched nerves.
13. Age-related disorders.
In order to correctly prescribe treatment, the exact cause of pain in the foot area must be established. You won’t be able to do this on your own, so you should definitely contact a specialist. After all, the attending physician can be a surgeon, neurologist, rheumatologist, or orthopedist.
The doctor will take an x-ray to take the necessary measures. Since the causes of pain can be varied, treatment must also be comprehensive.
Very often this cannot be done without the need for surgery. But regarding the established diagnosis, the following treatment can be prescribed:
• for fasciitis of the soles, surgical intervention may be prescribed, or you can get by with targeted exercises and massages, which will require time and effort;
• heel spurs can be eliminated with medications, massages, exercises and folk methods;
• neuroma can be cured with medications, wearing loose shoes, sometimes surgical intervention is necessary;
• calluses are also eliminated with the help of medications and antiseptics;
• flat feet are eliminated with special shoes and a certain type of gymnastics;
• gout can be cured with special diets and less stress on the legs.
But all this can be avoided if you take precautions and preventive measures. First of all, high loads must be avoided.
Attention will also not hurt, since it will insure you from injury and damage. Wear only comfortable and suitable shoes. Even if you have the slightest concern, consult a medical specialist.
You can also eliminate foot pain using traditional methods. You should resort to them only after talking with a specialist. Among the folk methods that will help:
1) Mandatory rest at the end of the working day and heavy loads on the legs.
2) Contrast shower.
3) Daily light exercises and massage.
4) Baths using sea salt.
5) Light massages with fir oil.
6) Compresses with ice, pieces of which are wrapped in cloth.
7) Compresses and rubbing using camphor oil and pork fat.
8) Raw potatoes in the form of porridge and horseradish will also relieve pain.
9) Rubbing with alcohol-based tinctures.
10) Water treatments using wormwood decoction.
11) Lotions from your own prepared ointment, which includes vinegar, olive oil and kitchen salt.
But to ensure that pain does not visit you, wear only shoes that are comfortable for you. Give your feet a chance to rest. Especially during a hard day at work.
If possible, take off your shoes during your lunch break and do some light stretching or exercise. It's good to have replacement shoes at work.
And in the evening, be sure to have a massage, a relaxing bath, or use other auxiliary techniques.
The most common causes of malaise are considered to be a lack of calcium, uncomfortable shoes (high heels), age-related changes, the so-called “heel spur”, which causes severe pain when moving. Combinations of various factors can ultimately lead to arthritis, osteoporosis and other diseases.
My feet hurt, what should I do, we think? Only a specialist can tell you how to completely get rid of the disease, but you can also relieve or relieve pain yourself at home.
My feet hurt, what should I do?
• Proper nutrition plays an important role.
Your diet must include foods rich in vitamins: vegetables, fruits, berries, juices. We remember the need to replenish the body with calcium, so we be sure to eat dairy and fermented milk products. You can include some dietary supplements in your diet. But here you need expert advice. During this period, plain water can be replaced with mineral water, or even better, with melt water (read “The benefits of melt water”).
• Foot baths help a lot.
What should you do if your feet hurt badly and you can’t get proper treatment and you have to eat on the run because of work? Healing baths with the addition of various essential oils will help. Eucalyptus and rosemary oils have a good effect. They help relax tense muscles, relieve swelling, fatigue, and tone the body as a whole. To enhance the effect, you can add decoctions of medicinal herbs to the water - mint, chamomile, etc. Baths can be made contrasting by alternately immersing your feet in cold and hot water.
• Fir oil has proven itself to be effective against foot pain. It should be rubbed into the pain areas after mixing with any neutral cream, for example, baby cream. Fir oil has an antiseptic and analgesic effect. The course of treatment should be carried out for 15 days, and if necessary or the positive effect decreases, repeat.
• Remember that overheating is contraindicated for sore feet, so feet need to be cooled 3-4 times a day, as well as after baths. Applying ice will help relieve swelling, irritation, and fatigue. If possible, apply ice in bags for fifteen minutes to half an hour.
• When the feet hurt, it is recommended to ensure blood flow from them. To do this, you need to place your feet 15-20 centimeters above chest level. While you are resting, you can place a pillow or a folded blanket at your feet.
• Do your feet really hurt? What to do if the above treatment does not give a good effect. This is where massage can help. Apply medicinal cream, rub the foot, knead it, grabbing part of the shin. Surely you know that there are many active points on the feet and massaging them will help not only relieve foot pain, but also improve the health of the entire body as a whole. You can use special devices - for example, applicators, a box of nuts or small pebbles, in which it will be useful to trample or an old abacus.
But most importantly, don’t forget about rest, put less stress on your feet, order orthopedic shoes and insoles.