Archive for the ‘Home Remedies for Foot Pain’ Category

It’s a new year and you’ve finally made a resolution to live pain free, from your feet to the top of your head. Good for you, because living in pain is not necessary, and we’re here to help you find the best treatment for foot pain.

Some of the most common problems this time of year are…

Ankle Sprain

Winter sports or the resolution to lose weight can be hazardous for foot health. If you’ve recently taken up jogging to lose weight, or basketball or skiing for the fun of it, an ankle sprain is likely to be the most common injury you experience. The most common reason for recurring ankle sprain is mistreatment of the initial injury. Proper treatment includes immobilization, reduction of swelling, and re-strengthening of the muscles which support the ankle.  Read more about treating ankle sprains, including home treatment hints.

Ball of foot pain

Surgery is very rarely required for ball of foot pain. The symptoms can nearly always be relieved with conservative, non-invasive treatments. Shoe fit is critical to successful treatment for ball of foot pain, so you should bring a couple of pairs of your favorites with you when you come to us for treatment of this condition.  Read more

Bunion

A bunion, or enlargement of the joint of the big toe, can be incredibly painful, especially when walking, jogging, or running. This condition can be greatly exacerbated by a New Year’s resolution to lose weight as you become more physically active. Successful treatment however, will rarely require surgery. Proper shoe fit, custom orthotics, shoe padding, and more can be done to relieve bunion pain and make your resolution achievable.   Download our free bunion report, 10 Secrets to Relieve Bunion Pain

Heel and Arch Pain

Plantar fasciitis and heel spurs are the most common cause of heel and arch pain. The Foot & Ankle Center of Washington, and our Seattle Heel Pain Center, has become the referral center of first choice for even the most stubborn and difficult heel pain problems. Doctors Hale and Huppin have become recognized experts in the effective treatment of heel pain, as well as treatment for foot pain in general – without surgery.

Ingrown Toenails

Easy peazy…we trim the nail for you! Well, it’s not quite that simple. However, trimming the ingrown portion of the nail, sometimes to the cuticle, is the effective treatment. We can usually accomplish this treatment without pain by using a local anesthetic. Due to the risk of infection which can result from ingrown toenails, we make it a priority to see patients immediately. If you have an ingrown nail, contact us today for an appointment. Let us know you have an ingrown toenail and we will squeeze you into our schedule right away.

If your resolution for the New Year is to finally live pain free, let us help you begin the process by finding your best treatment for foot pain. Contact us today for an appointment to help you begin the New Year without foot pain.

The best flip flops for people who have a neuroma are the Orthaheel orthotic flip flop sandals. They have extraordinary support to transfer pressure off the ball of the foot—and the painful neuroma.

These top orthotic flip flop choices have built-in arch supports that cup the foot and keep it from sliding to the side. Often, we hear these sandals are more comfortable than shoes because the feet are not being squeezed, which can cause inflammation.  

If you have a neuroma, there will usually be pain in the forefoot, especially in the third or fourth toe. This pain may be shooting, burning, stabbing, radiating, or just an overall odd feeling in the area. Often, the pain decreases with wearing sandals and massaging the area.

However, we do not recommend going barefoot. Lack of support under the ball of the foot will only create more pressure, causing increased pain and symptoms. Orthotic flip flips with an arch support, like the Orthaheel orthotic flip flop sandals, are a good choice to relieve the symptoms—plus they give your feet a break from wearing shoes in the summer.

If you are concerned about a neuroma or ball of foot pain and want conservative treatment, there are self-treatment hints you can do from home. Wearing quality, orthotic sandals are the second step in the self-treatment hints. We highly recommend this sandal to keep your feet healthy all year long. 

Click here to buy Orthaheel orthotic flip flop sandals.

After being on your feet all day on the job, while working out, or running errands, it’s nice to have a break from wearing shoes. However, foot problems and foot pain can worsen without the consistent use of orthotics. In fact, if you are wearing orthotics in your shoes during the day, but going barefoot at other times, inflammation and pain can persist.

That’s why we recommend wearing orthotic flip flops as an alternative to shoes. Clinical surveys have shown that orthotics give patients as much as 33% or more additional orthotic therapy time through the use of wearing sandals or clogs with custom orthotics. These flip flops can even help prevent foot pain, including plantar facilities, ball of foot pain, and Achilles tendonitis.

The best sandals and flip flops for healthy feet are doctor recommended and designed with orthotics. We’ve found that the Orthaheel brand of flip flops are a fashionable and healthy choice that includes a built-in orthotic footbed.

A good all-around choice is the Wave Orthotic Flip Flop for men and women. These flip flops are reduce excess pronation, provide support and stability, and realign the foot into its proper position. For people who prefer a sandal that slides on without a toe strap, the Kiwi Slide Sandal for men and women is perfect for more sensitive feet.

To view the complete line of Orthaheel orthotic flip flops, click here.

The PediNova Electric Nail and Foot Care Kit is a high performance system for home  pedicures  and trimming thick toenails  as well as smoothing rough skin to get rid of calluses. It recently got a positive review from the Wall Street Journal as good substitute for trips to the salon.

The Pedinova Nail Care System is recommended by podiatrists for a couple reasons. It is salon quality and the only home system available of podiatry and salon quality. This device is designed for use in the comfort of your own home and there is a travel case for taking it on the road. The machine comes with 10 different tool attachments and 4 speed settings. It can be used for thinning and shaping toenails or thinning and smoothing thick or dry skin simply by directing it to the skin or nail and turning it on. The tool for smoothing calluses is a good way to get rid calluses without the mess. Speed can be adjusted up to 10000 rpm to eliminate vibration. You’ll get professional results.

Treat calluses: A callus is an area of skin that is hard and thick due to pressure or friction. If calluses aren’t removed or if the pressure continues, they can become painful. If you want to smooth skin to get rid of calluses or rough, dry heels, an easy to use machine like the Pedinova Nail Care System will reduce the thickness in just a few minutes per day. You simply hold the device in place and let it do the work.

Treat Thick Nails: Thick nails can be easily trimmed with the included diamond burrs.  This is the first retail nail care unit we have found that is truly professional quality.

Shape nails: Well-shaped nails not only look good, they can also prevent problems like ingrown toenails and infection. When the nail is trimmed and shaped properly (straight across, rather than rounded), you’re less likely to have an ingrown toenail. Doing pedicures yourself can help reduce this problem and reduce the likelihood of an infection from a nail salon.

Order the PediNova III Nail and Foot Care System from the Foot & Ankle store.

See our complete list of podiatrist-recommended foot care products…

Most people do not need to consider neuroma surgery until all conservative, nonsurgical approaches have been exhausted. Becoming familiar with this condition and your treatment options can help you make an informed decision as to how to treat the neuroma without surgery.

What is a neuroma? A neuroma is a painful condition that is usually on the bottom of the foot near the 3^rd and 4^th toes. While the exact cause is not clear, it is thought that the nerves in this area become inflamed due to things such as tight shoes, foot injuries, or biomechanical problems, like flat feet.

How do you avoid surgery? We feel strongly that neuroma surgery should only be considered as a last resort. The treatment process should start with inexpensive and conservative options. This includes home treatment steps such as using custom orthotics or padding in your shoes, wearing proper foot wear (with a wide toebox) at all times, and injection therapy. For a complete list of the best home treatment options for neuroma and other foot conditions, click here.

When is neuroma surgery necessary? It’s important to first exhaust all conservative care before considering neuroma surgery. If you’ve gone through all the home treatment options without success and the condition is interfering with your daily activities, only then should surgery be considered. 

What happens during surgery? There are a few options for surgery. The podiatrist  can decrease pressure on the nerve by releasing the ligament, but leaving the nerve intact. The other option is to completely remove the nerve. To our knowledge, there are no good studies that compare these two procedures, so you’ll need to discuss the option with your doctor. In our practice we usually remove the neuroma completely as it seems to offer less change that the pain will return.

To learn more about neuroma surgery and your choices, go here.

If ball of foot pain is causing your feet to ache, there are self-treatment options, such as wearing the best flip flops for arch support, that can help reduce the pain. While we don’t recommend flip flops as treatment, we do know that when the arches are firmly supported, the pressure on your feet is reduced.

The best flip flops for ball of foot pain we recommended are the Orthaheel Sandals. Our friends from everywhere from Orange County to Miami tell us they love wearing the Wave Orthotic Flip Flops.  These sandals stabilize and realign the feet into their natural position. This means that when the feet are correctly aligned, other aches and pains also may also reduce, such as hip, back, or knee pain.

Another recommendation that is just is important for reducing ball of foot pain is to wear shoes that fit your feet correctly. It is amazing how helpful a supportive shoe is to correct many foot problems. A shoe specialist can help you decide if you have the right fit based on our recommended shoe list. If you prefer to continue wearing your current shoes, try inserting a medical-grade orthotic, such as the Powerstep Full Length Arch Support inside your shoe. This unique system can correct the level of cushioning so that your feet are properly supported.

If the balls of your feet continue to hurt and you live in the Seattle area, click here to make an appointment.

Heel pain is the most common foot problem we treat, and we’ve noticed that many patients experience heel pain walking on any type of surface. Even though some of the softer surfaces, such as nature trails, grass, and sand do provide less impact and are easier on the feet, the hazards of walking or running on an uneven terrain can increase the risk of ankle injuries. Because of this, it’s important to treat the cause of your heel pain and not just switch walking surfaces. If you have ever had heel pain walking or during exercise, you’ll know that it can become chronic.

Following a 10-Step Home Treatment Plan for Heel and Arch Pain can provide relief as soon as you notice soreness. This plan is designed to treat the cause of heel pain, which is known as plantar fasciitis. This condition occurs where there is pain and swelling at the bottom of the feet and usually in the heel. It is often worse in the morning when you might notice heel pain walking or running.

Whether you decide to follow the home treatment plan or not, we encourage you to wear stable shoes any time you are on your feet and as well as make sure your shoes will fit an arch support or orthotic. We like an arch support for heel pain that is somewhat higher in the arch and firmer than most orthotics, such as the Powerstep Medical Grade Orthotic. The shoes that work best for relieving heel pain walking problems include Orthofeet Shoes for Women and Orthofeet Shoes for Men. These shoes are superior due to the stable heel area, support in the mid-foot, and ease of use with arch supports and orthotics.

Download our entire list of recommended shoes here.

Cracked heels (also known as heel fissures) this can cause the skin area to become dry, rough, and irritated. As cracks form on the sides or bottom of the skin on the heel area, the problem can be even worse when a callus is present. When this thick area of skin gets irritated due to friction, rehydration and removal of the thick skin becomes necessary.

The first step is to moisturize. There are special prescription creams we provide to patients who have cracked heels and heel fissures. If you want to learn more about these options we encourage you to make an appointment to see us in our Seattle foot and ankle clinic. We also recommend trying the Kerasal Professional Exfoliating Moisturizing Foot Ointment.

Second, lock in moisture overnight. It is especially important to rehydrate your feet right before bed and to also make sure that the foot remains moisturized throughout the night. We have special socks that prevent evaporation from escaping so that your foot gets the most optimal amount of time for healing. The Silipos gel therapy socks are designed to be worn overnight and contain a moisture barrier. They are dermatologist tested, hypoallergenic, and do not support bacterial growth. Another option is the Soft Skin Heel Sleeve, which is a sock that exposes the toes.

Finally, remove the thick excess skin that has formed. We find that doing this every other day for the first two weeks helps remove the thick skin from cracked heels and heel fissures. One of the best callus removal devices we have found is the battery operated Artemus Callus Smoother. For a hand tool, we like the Gilden Tree Terra Cotta 2-Sided Footscrubber and Callus Remover.

If you have any concerns about heel fissures or cracked heels, visit our foot and ankle clinic for a complete examination.

If you suffer from bunions, you know that considering surgical removal can be bewildering.  Although there is a large amount of information available, much of it is contradictory.  Your doctor, friends, family members or internet websites may provide you with conflicting information.  Because there are a number of complications to consider, bunion surgery should not be taken lightly.  We encourage you to read more here on Bunions and Big Toe Joint Pain.

It’s important to know that we suggest trying all conservative treatments for bunions before deciding to have surgery – even when other clinics or doctors have told you that surgery is your only option.  In many cases, we can treat the pain caused by bunions conservatively.  Conservative treatment options might include an arch support in your shoes, shoes that fit properly, topical pain relievers, a Bunion Splint, a Gel Toe Seperator and custom orthotics.

We feel strongly that surgery should be your last resort in your battle against bunions.  While the home remedies suggested above won’t eliminate your bunions, self treatment can decrease pain and help you feel more comfortable.

But sometimes, conservative treatment efforts don’t provide the relief you need, and you may start considering surgery to correct your bunion.  At the Foot and Ankle Center of Washington, we use the following criteria as a guideline when determining if surgery is indicated:

• You have a bunion – determined by clinical exam and x-rays.
• You feel you have exhausted all conservative care. Conservative therapy may include the following:
  • Functional orthotics, prescribed and cast by your doctor and designed to relieve pressure within the big toe joint.
  • Shoe Therapy, including proper shoes for your foot type and activities and possible modifications to your shoes.
  • Accommodative padding.
  • Activity modifications.
  • Medications – short term therapy may help to reduce inflammation.
  • Icing.
  • Injection therapy – rarely used but may help in treating an inflamed bursa.
• Bunion interferes with daily activities.
• Pain inside the joint.
• You would like surgery sooner than later.

Remember that each patient’s circumstance is different, so it’s important that you make an appointment to discuss treatment options at our Foot and Ankle Clinic. Call the Foot and Ankle Center of Washington to make an appointment with Dr. Douglas Hale to discuss bunion surgery. If this is for a second opinion, be sure to bring any x-rays or other tests you have available.