Basic Remedies to Chronic Foot Pain

For caregivers and others who spend a great deal of their working hours on their feet, plantar fasciitis, or foot pain along the bottoms of the feet, is often an unavoidable part of the job. Yet foot pain does not have to be a consequence of a long day at work.  There are basic remedies that can eliminate it, and make the duties of the caregiver’s job less painful.  These include over the counter anti-inflammatories, appropriate shoe gear and simple medical remedies that can be administered through a primary care physician’s office.

Over-the-counter pain relievers such as Tylenol, Motrin and Aleve not only help to alleviate the pain, but can decrease the inflammation associated with it, thereby leading to less frequent (and less intense) recurrences of plantar fasciitis.

Appropriate shoes can also go a long way toward preventing foot pain from occurring in the first place.  Shoes should fit comfortably, provide cushioning for the feet and have the right heel, in order to provide sufficient arch support.  Wearing the right shoes can not only prevent plantar fasciitis, it can also help to prevent bunions and hammer toes!

Finally, there are remedies for plantar fasciitis that can be administered in a primary care physician’s office, without the need to consult a specialist. Corticosteroids can be prescribed on a temporary basis, and the heel of the foot may even be injected with triamcinolone (a synthetic corticosteroid).

Once these remedies have been administered, proper shoe wear and the occasional use of anti-inflammatories may keep foot pain at bay for good.

While foot pain is a familiar scenario for many caregivers, it doesn’t have to be a permanent problem or even a long-lasting one.  Over-the-counter anti-inflammatories, proper shoe wear and, occasionally, administration of anti-inflammatory agents in a primary physician’s office can all go a long way toward alleviating the problem.  With everything else they have to concentrate on, the last thing caregivers need to worry about is foot pain…and now they don’t have to!