Foot Pain

Foot pain may be attributed to any one of the 26 bones, 33 joints or 126 muscles and ligaments that comprise the foot. It's rightly a complex part of the body because our feet work to do several difficult tasks: they support our often fluctuating weight, they keep us upright even as the surfaces we walk on alter all the time, they absorb the shock of walking on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt and, much like a lever, they help to propel us forward when we walk.

Causes of Foot Pain

Pain in the feet can be caused by a host of different issues, including: arthritis (the most common), hip, knee or back damage that we may misattribute to the feet themselves or a sprained ankle that could have been brought on by wearing high heels, carrying too much weight or the strenuous exertions that come with being an athlete. It's estimated that approximately 25,000 people a day sprain an ankle for various reasons, so it's not at all uncommon.

Treatments for Foot Pain

Here are a few suggestions for how to deal with foot pain related to a sprain:

  • Allow yourself ample bed rest to give the foot a chance to heal.
  • Elevate the foot above your heart as much as possible to avoid swelling.
  • Apply an ice pack or a heat compression to the foot.
  • Don't force yourself to walk on the foot, though you will want to do some physical therapy such as rolling the ankle and flexing the foot.

Arthritis, the other common ailment of the foot, may cause great pain and swelling, forcing sufferers to be bed-bound. Here are some tips for treating arthritis:

  • Avoid standing on the foot as much as possible.
  • Take anti-inflammatory medications as necessary for the pain.
  • Consult a doctor so that he or she may prescribe you the necessary medications to deal with the arthritis. This may involve antibiotics.

Other types of treatment for foot pain include holistic methods, such as herbal ointments or sprays that can be applied to the feet and sometimes massaged in. Many people have lauded the benefits of acupuncture for pain or other ailments. Because it doesn't involve any sort of chemicals or drugs, acupuncture can be especially beneficial for arthritis sufferers who want to avoid the side effects of medication, which can include drowsiness.