Types of pain | foot pain
With 26 bones, 33 joints and a combined 126 ligaments, joints and nerves, the foot is one of the body's more complex parts. The purpose of the foot is obviously to aid in walking, but it also supports your weight, helps to propel your legs forward, acts as a shock absorber between your shoe and the ground and helps you maintain balance by adjusting the rest of the body to uneven surfaces. With all that your feet do for you, it is no wonder they often ache.
Preventing Foot Pain
To treat your feet right, always make sure to wear comfortable, shock absorbing shoes that form a cushion between your foot and the hard pavement. The average person takes at least 5,000 steps every day, and the number can reach 10,000 or higher for athletes and people attempting weight loss. With that many strikes against the pavement, your feet can really take a beating if they are not properly supported.
Your feet can often be sore due to injuries to other parts of your body, such as your hip or knee. In this case, you would want to apply an ice pack to the area that is directly affected and that should also improve the pain you are experiencing in your feet. Additionally, ankles can be very weak and need a lot of support so you don't accidentally sprain them in the course of everyday activities.
Finding Relief for Foot Pain
If you have sprained your ankle, elevate it as soon as you can and alternate that with ice packs to reduce the swelling. Do not place weight on the sprained ankle until it has had the chance to heal. This means you will have to use crutches for a while.
For pain associated with a sprained ankle, arthritis or other foot condition, a pain reliever such as Advil, or Tylenol may help. If none of these methods are reducing your foot pain, you may need to see your doctor so he or she can write you a prescription for an antibiotic.
Alternative Pain Relief
People who have not experienced relief of their foot pain with any kind of drug or home remedy have reported having success with acupuncture and foot massage. There are also some ointments that can be purchased over the counter which you can rub onto your feet and massage into your skin.