My feet hurt. A lot. My toes and calves are always cramping once I go to bed at night. I have been to a podiatrist and to an orthopedic doctor specializing in feet, but I was unable to get any relief.
The podiatrist wanted to do surgery to straighten some of the bones in the top of my foot that are not quite straight. No thanks. Not that he did not know what he was doing or anything like that, it’s just I have learned over the years that when you have elective surgery done, most times it creates another problem. So, I walked out on that idea.
The orthopedic doctor did all kinds of x-rays and other tests (none of them very comfortable), and said I might have a bit of neuropathy, but nothing he felt like needed treatment.
So, I amble along with my aching feet. I can handle most all of it but the cramping. That’s pretty tough!
So what makes your feet hurt? Most everyone has experienced tired and aching feet at one point or another, especially after long periods of shopping, walking, or standing. As we age, the incidents of tired and aching feet become much more frequent.
Research has shown that fallen foot arches, or over-pronated flat feet, causes a person to use more energy when walking, resulting in greater fatigue at the end of a day than people with normal feet. This theory was proven by a research project reported in the Journal of the American Podiatric Medical Association.
There are multiple factors that contribute to the development of tired and aching feet. Here are a few – some of which I never knew:
Age: As we age, the naturally thick pad on the soles of our feet begins to thin. Additionally, our feet widen and flatten, and the skin on our feet also becomes drier. In some cases, foot pain in older people may be the first sign of arthritis, diabetes, and circulatory disease.
Gender: Women are at higher risk for severe foot pain, especially women who wear high-heeled shoes. Pregnant women have an increased risk of aching feet due to weight gain, swelling in their feet and ankles, and the release of certain hormones that cause ligaments to relax.
Dehydration: Your feet have approximately 250,000 sweat glands, and can excrete as much as a quarter of a liter of moisture each day. Therefore, it’s important to remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day.
Treatment and relief
for tired, aching feet
• Lie on the floor and put your feet up on a couch or bed for about 15-20 minutes. This is a way of clearing the lymph modes and the water retention, which is a fairly common and very likely cause for aching feet.
• Soak your feet in Tea Tree Oil in warm water. Peppermint oil is also good for the feet and has a soothing affect. Use a good foot cream afterward to relax your feet.
• Wear orthotic insoles in your shoes. Some orthotics will control over-pronation and support your arches.
• Have your feet massaged regularly.
• Exercising your feet can help to keep them healthy. It tones your muscles, helps to strengthen the arches, and stimulates blood circulation.
• Magnetic insoles have shown to relieve foot pain and the achy feelings in the legs from standing all day.
• Massaging the toe or foot outward in the direction of the muscle will remedy the cramp almost immediately. Rubbing across the muscle could make it worse. Cooling the feet will help. Try letting some cold water run over them.
• According to Dr. Jim Mitterando of the Patriot Ledger, “Quinine is one of the few treatments shown to help reduce nocturnal cramps. Quinine is found in low concentrations in tonic water, one-tenth of prescription dose. Drinking eight to 16 ounces at night can be a simple remedy.”
• Supplement your diet with calcium, magnesium, potassium, or zinc, or eat foods rich in those nutrients. Tight muscles cannot release without these substances in your body.
• There are several products on the market for relieving foot pain. Experiment to find one that might help you. Also, most better shoe department stores carry insoles that will fit the type of shoe you purchase. Just ask.
Cramping legs and feet, and achy, tired feet can be a bothersome problem, but as of yet no one has found a sure-fire remedy. Try the above steps. I hope you’ll find one that helps.