Aching Feet

When it comes to walking, standing, running and doing so many other activities, we have our feet to thank. Taking the weight of the entire body, day in and day out, our feet are always overworked. This is probably the reason why foot pain is a common complaint that many people present with to the podiatrist.

This symptom may appear alone, or in combination with other symptoms, like aching legs, difficulty in walking, numbness, swelling, and cramps in the feet, etc. These symptoms may affect one's knees, calf region, ankle joint or the heel. Given below are some of the causes and treatment options for dealing with feet that ache.

Shape of Feet: It is commonly seen that people with flat feet, or overpronated feet require more of an effort to walk and perform other activities. This leads to greater fatigue at the end of the day and sometimes even achy feet in the morning.

Age: It is often observed that with age, the natural thick pad that is present as a part of the sole, starts to thin out. Furthermore, with time, our feet begin to widen and flatten. The skin of the feet also tends to be drier, which adds to foot problems.

Gender: Women are at an added risk of suffering from leg pain as they tend to wear high-heeled shoes. Thus, foot pain is a major cause of disability in older women. Pregnant women may also complain of aching feet and ankles.

Diseases: There are many systemic diseases that can lead to aching and painful feet. In people suffering from severe diabetes, the person could suffer from diabetic foot, a condition where there is initially severe pain and then loss of sensation in the feet. In case of muscle or tendon pulls, there may be sharp foot pain. Other diseases that could lead to pain in the feet include arthritis, plantar fasciitis, hammer toe, etc.

Vitamin Deficiency: Lack of vitamin B could also cause feet to ache. Increasing intake of foods with vitamin B, or vitamin B complex may provide relief from pain.

Other Causes: Apart from that, factors like poorly fitting shoes, tight stockings, socks or garters can also cause pain in one's feet. It is also seen that poor or low blood circulation to the feet causes pain. Dehydration is also one of the major causes of foot pain.

If a person is suffering from any of the diseases and disorders that affect the foot, then it is best to go to a podiatrist and get the condition treated. Follow the instructions given by the doctor religiously.

► Feet have many sweat glands, which tend to excrete as much as is possible. Thus, it is important to remain well hydrated, by drinking lots of water, so that the feet don't get too worn out by the end of the day.

► Regularly have foot baths. These will not only help to relieve pain but will also increase the circulation in your feet.

► In a bucket of hot water, add two tablespoons of salt and soak your feet in it. After a while, rinse your feet and pat dry them.

► Take good care of your feet by moisturizing them regularly, to prevent dry skin on feet.

► You can also soak your feet in a tub of peppermint, tea tree oil, or chamomile tea, as it helps to revive the feet skin.

► If your feet are swollen or inflamed very often, then to reduce swelling in feet, you can wrap some ice cubes in a wet cloth and rub them over your feet. This will help provide relief and will considerably reduce the swelling.

► Massage your feet regularly to keep the blood flowing.

► Wear proper fitting shoes at all times. Do not wear high heels too often and even if you're used to wearing them, try and alternate your footwear regularly, like wearing running shoes to and from work while wearing heels at work.

► Wear inner liners in your shoes, as these act as shock absorbers while walking and running.

► You can also try acupuncture therapy, since it has been found helpful for a lot of foot problems like fasciitis, heel pain, etc.

Foot pain may seem like a very troublesome problem but there are some very simple changes that one needs to make to overcome this kind of pain. In the end, if these simple remedies do not help provide any kind of relief, visit your podiatrist to get the condition properly diagnosed and treated.