Learning About Podiatry Treatments

What To Do When Your Foot Starts Hurting

28 April 2019

Raul Wheeler

If you played sports as a child, you may be familiar with the advice to "walk it off" as it pertains to pain and injury. However, "walking it off" is one of the worst things you can do when you're experiencing foot pain. Pain is a signal from your body, and it often indicates an underlying problem. Here are four steps you should take if you begin to experience foot pain.

1. Stop the painful activity.

If your foot hurts while you run, stop running immediately. The same rule of thumb goes for walking, although it might not be possible for you to stop walking completely. Reduce or eliminate the painful activity to the best of your ability. You may find that your foot recovers after a day or two of rest. If it doesn't, consider trying some of the other steps on this list.

2. Reduce foot inflammation.

Inflammation is often to blame when it comes to unexplained pains in your body. Inflammation can place pressure on nerves and tendons in your feet, which can lead to pain and increased inflammation. This is a vicious cycle, but you can break it using home remedies. Try laying on the couch and elevating your foot to encourage swelling to go down. Applying ice or a hot compress to your foot can also reduce swelling while providing soothing pain relief.

3. See a doctor.

If your foot pain doesn't resolve within a week, or if it gets worse, it's time to make an appointment with your doctor. It's possible that you may have fractured something in your foot, and your doctor will likely want to rule that out with x-rays. If you do have a broken or fractured bone in your foot, it will be treated with either a splint, as in the case of broken toes, or with a full cast for more severe breaks.

4. Visit a podiatric specialist.

If your foot pain is due to soft tissue damage, such as tendonitis or a pulled or sprained muscle, your doctor may refer you to a podiatrist. A podiatrist is a type of doctor that specializes in foot care. They may prescribe a modified exercise routine or suggest that you switch to a type of shoe that better suits the shape of your foot. If your doctor discovers bunions, they may recommend surgery to remove the bunion and remedy your pain.

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