According to Harvard Medical School's Health Beat newsletter, pain is a symptom associated with numerous foot conditions, and there are many conservative approaches to its management that can be tried before resorting to powerful pain medications. Foot pain may be relieved by selecting and wearing appropriate footwear, receiving massage therapy that targets the feet and using topical analgesics in lotion, cream or gel form.
Appropriate Footwear
The California Podiatric Medical Association states that proper footwear can reduce foot problems, including pain. The CPMA makes numerous recommendations about design features to consider when selecting footwear. They suggest the following helpful buying tips: Base the size of the shoe on the larger foot, as feet are seldom the same size; shop for shoes later in the day, as feet tend to swell throughout the day; buy shoes that don't pinch the toes or have a narrow toe box; have your feet measured while standing to determine the appropriate shoe size; and buy shoes that are immediately comfortable and don't require a breaking-in period. Conventional footwear incorporates several design features that promote foot deformities and cause foot pain, such as heel elevation, toe spring, tapering toe boxes and rigid, inflexible soles. For optimal foot, ankle, knee, hip and low back health, purchase shoes that are flat, wide---widest in the toe box---and flexible.
Massage Therapy
Harvard Medical School's Health Beat newsletter states that receiving foot massage therapy, and even performing self-massage, can improve circulation, stimulate muscles, reduce tension and alleviate pain. The authors of the newsletter note that, to augment a standard foot self-massage, a person can use a massage device purchased from a local drugstore or health store, including foot rollers, which can be used at home or while at work. While self-massage is a helpful way to relieve foot pain---and while it affords a person the opportunity to examine their feet for cuts, bruising or swelling---receiving a foot massage from a licensed massage therapist may be the most effective way to alleviate foot pain. Massage therapists are skilled bodyworkers who are trained to detect and treat problematic areas in the feet using their hands or specialized tools.
Topical Analgesics
Topical analgesics, which are spread on the skin and penetrate inward to relieve mild foot pain, typically are available in lotion, cream or gel form. According to the Mayo Clinic, some topical analgesics contain salicylates, which are the same pain-relieving substances found in aspirin. Other topical preparations contain ingredients to counter substance P, a neurotransmitter that sends pain signals to the brain, and they contain a derivative of an ingredient in cayenne pepper, which may cause burning or stinging when the topical analgesic is first applied on the skin. Topical analgesics may be particularly effective for those suffering from osteoarthritis, although anybody with joint inflammation in the lower extremities can benefit from their use. The Harvard Medical School's Health Beat newsletter states that topical analgesics containing menthol, eucalyptus oil or turpentine oil help alleviate foot pain by distracting the nerves with a different type of sensation.
