Chronic Pain Health Articles

When dealing with acute pain, like pain in the heel, people remedy it by taking pain relievers or analgesics for quick relief.

However, there can be a lot of causes of for heel pain that one may not be aware of so it is very important to find out where the pain really comes from.

Here are some possible causes and treatments for heel pain.

You may be suffering from plantar fasciitis. The tissue on the arch of the foot gets inflamed therefore giving heel pain. This condition is quite common.

This is due to standing and walking for long periods of time. You can also have heel spur. This is usually seen in patients who have plantar fasciitis.

Tarsal tunnel syndrome can also be a cause for heel pain. This is the counterpart of carpal tunnel syndrome which is associated with the hands.

Similar to that of a person with CTS, there is a nerve at the back of the foot that becomes entrapped. This is what gives the person pain.

Stress fractures can also cause heel pain although this is very uncommon. This is usually experienced by athletes like long distance runners. It affects the calcaneus located in the foot.

One treatment for heel pain can be shoe inserts. More often than not, it can totally eradicate heel pain. These inserts do not interfere with your daily routine thus are very comfortable to wear.

Since heel pain can also be unknowingly caused by one’s footwear, it is better and safe to wear shoe inserts.

You can also consider getting gel heel cups. This can be helpful for patients with plantar fasciitis and heel pain. What these heel cups do is that they provide a soft cushion or padding to the area of the foot that has the most pain.

It elevates the hindfoot slightly therefore reducing the pressure on the plantar fascia. Use them on all your shoes to provide you with more comfort.

Arch supports can also provide relief to patients with heel pain. These supports do not change the mechanics of the foot but it eradicates the symptoms in a number of patients. It can also be helpful to problems like flatfoot and overpronation.

Heel wedges can also be used for heel pain relief. These are placed at the back of the shoes. It takes the pressure off from the hind foot by elevating the heel a little bit.

It can be used to treat patients with Achilles tendonitis. Though people with plantar fasciitis can also use these wedges, the heel cups would be more appropriate for this.

You can start with a small one and then you can increase the wedge if necessary.

Metatarsalgia is a condition wherein pain is experienced underneath the ball of the foot. Metatarsal pads can help in this condition by relieving symptoms.

To decrease heel pain, it pays to take a rest. If you are an athlete, you can take a day or two off from prolonged jogging, running, or walking.

In case your foot or the structures within your foot might be inflamed, it can allow the inflammation to subside.

You can also apply ice packs. Ice packs are commonly used as first aid to pain because like analgesics, it is give quick relief to the person in acute pain.

There is a right way of applying ice packs. Only fifteen minutes is required to do this. Remember that you have to apply the ice immediately after an injury. After forty eight hours, the effect of the icing will subside.

You have to apply the ice directly to the affected part. Move the ice around. Do not let it stay on one spot only. Elevate the injured part. It should be higher than the heart.

This helps reduce the swelling. Do the icing for 15-20 minutes only because if you exceed this time limit, you can damage the tissues more. You may also get frostbite from icing too long.

You can repeat the process if you want but allow it to warm first for at least 45 minutes to an hour. The injured area has to have normal sensation and is warm before starting the procedure again.

Dealing with heel pain is not that complex. However, you have to consult the experts first before anything else since heel pain can be a result of certain factors that need immediate attention.

All efforts of relieving heel pain will render useless without knowing the real root of the discomfort.

There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:

Eye strain
RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constant Head Aches
Dizziness
Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating

Did you know that spending long hours at your computer can put your health at serious risk? Most people does not even consider that possibility, but it does, Working at a desk is extremely hard on your body, and I would like to share this with you so maybe you can avoid some of the most common health risks. One of the most common one is: FOOT PAIN

FOOT PAIN

Suffering from unbelievable pain on your foot? Can’t walk long distances without stopping from time to time? Can’t wear your favorite shoes but the pain coming from the ball of your foot, the arch, or the heel kills you?

Foot pain, known as metatarsalgia, usually occurs between the arch and the toe. It usually occurs in the foot’s mid-portion.

A callus may cause foot pain. It is a skin build-up that developed due to pressure over the bone. It is usually found on the foot’s bottom, and causes pain when walking. Shoes may also cause foot pain – too loose or too tight shoes may give you incredible pain in your foot. Ill-fitting shoes may also cause pain because they tend to squeeze the foot, causing the pressure inside the increase. Loose shoes on the other hand creates friction by providing space for sliding and rubbing.

If the pain is in the underside of the foot, it might be due to a torn ligament or maybe a joint inflammation. You should consult with an orthopedic surgeon to further evaluate the damage and assess the status of the joint.

Some practical tips may help relieve foot pain. One of this is using a shoe insert which is available in drugstores and department stores. Many different brands are available and promise to help you with your foot pain problem. This shoe insert will be an excellent shock absorber so that you can wear any pair of shoes you want comfortable. Since calluses causes foot pain, soaking feet to soften the calluses will help. Using a pumice stone or a file will help relieve you of your foot pain.

Of course the most practical and simplest way to prevent and relieve foot pain is to buy a pair that fits perfectly. It should be wide enough not to cause cramping inside the foot. For maximum comfort, heels should be flat or high-heeled but not higher than 2 ¼”.

Burning feet is a fairly common condition and involves the whole foot. It may be so severe that people who have the condition are usually kept awake at night because of the pain. It happens more often to people over 50, although some younger people may also experience the condition. Diabetics often encounter this condition as a part of the nerve damage that may develop from their disease.

Another location of foot pain is the heel. Because the calcaneus or the heel bone is the largest bone that can be found in the foot, it usually hits the ground first when the individual walk, causing foot pain. Another cause is due to strain on the ligament at the foot bottom, called plantar fascistic. Usually pain is felt early on the morning, upon waking up. Heel pain may also be caused by rheumatoid arthritis, gouty arthritis, and ankylosing spondylitis. Athletes also tend to develop heel pain from stress fractures.

Foot pain may also occur over the arch. It is caused by a strain in the structure in that part of the foot. Toe pain is also a common condition and might be due to an ingrown toe nail. An ingrown toe nail results in an infection and pressure in the nail fold area which can be very painful. It is important to consult an expert to have the ingrown nail evaluated. He will prescribe you the antibiotics appropriate for your condition which you will have to take for several days. He will also advise you proper care of the foot so that you will not have to suffer from foot pain again.

Foot pain can also occur in the ankle. It is usually due to long term wear and tear of the ankles, and activities that causes the ankle to tip over. Foot pain may also be due to nerve damage.

Pain that occurs on the ball of the foot may be because of masses or growths of tissues which wrap around nerves and causes pain. This is called Morton’s neuroma. It usually occurs in a single foot and women are at increased risk. Mild ache with some burning or tingling usually is felt around the third or fourth toe. Wearing narrow shoes and pointed shoes exacerbate the symptom, like a rock is inside the shoe.

There are other risks as you sit in front of that computer but it would be to much to write about in this article, so if you would like to learn more about other risks such as:

Eye strain
RSI (Repetitive Stress Syndrome)
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome
Constant Head Aches
Dizziness
Breathing Problems
Difficulty Concentrating