From feet sore from overuse to foot pain related to plantar fasciitis, heel pain can seriously cramp your style, your plans, and your whole-body health.
Board-certified podiatrist Dr. Steve Sharlin and the team at The Foot Care Group of Hinsdale, Libertyville, and the Streeterville community of Chicago know the ins and outs of treating foot pain. In some cases, you may need professional treatment. In others, a few simple at-home tricks can effectively relieve your heel pain symptoms.
Here are some of the strategies that Dr. Sharlin recommends.
If your feet are sore from a long day, or if you have heel pain due to conditions like arthritis, over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like aspirin and ibuprofen can provide effective at-home pain relief. You probably already have these medicines in your cabinet! Take NSAIDS with food, and avoid alcohol while using these medications.
Icing therapy and cool packs are a great way to soothe your heel pain. Icing therapy relieves inflammation, and is effective if you’ve suffered a trauma or infection, or if you have heel pain due to arthritis, bursitis, or gout.
Don’t place ice directly on your skin for icing therapy. Instead, make an ice pack that’s wrapped in a clean cloth. Hold the ice pack over the painful area for 15-20 minutes, then take a break. You can also roll your affected foot over a bottle that’s cold or frozen for a relieving massage.
The shoes you stand and walk in can make a big difference in your levels of foot pain and heel pain. For example, if you have plantar fasciitis, you might benefit from wide shoes and plenty of cushioning in the soles.
Dr. Sharlin can evaluate your footwear and heel pain symptoms to see if you should make any changes. You could also possibly benefit from custom orthotics to provide improved foot and heel support.
For people with plantar fasciitis, special stretches can often relieve symptoms of discomfort and dysfunction. Stretch your toes by using them to pick up marbles one at a time, or do foot flexes and stretch your calves in order to relieve pressure on your feet.
If you have heel pain related to a condition like plantar fasciitis, Achilles tendinitis, arthritis, bursitis, or even a potential bone tumor or infection, conservative, at-home treatment options might not be enough to give you effective relief from your symptoms of pain and dysfunction.
Get in touch with Dr. Sharlin for professional podiatric care if you start to feel extreme heel pain, can’t bend your foot down or walk normally, see swelling near your heel, or start running a fever. Dr. Sharlin can recommend the most conservative possible treatment plan to relieve your heel pain symptoms and get your feet feeling better.
Contact Dr. Sharlin at The Foot Care Group online or over the phone today and book your appointment now.
