foot pain

Can’t Walk Right Now? You Can Still Keep Moving!

How To Help Your Diabetic Feet And Legs Or Recover From A Leg Injury

You might have pins and needles, pain or numbness in your feet. Maybe you fell and bruised or broke you leg. And so maybe you can’t walk so well right now.

But, here’s the thing: Don’t stop moving.

You might not be able to walk or stand right now but can you still move your feet and legs?

If yes, that’s great! Here are some ideas to keep the blood flowing and the muscles moving. (Even a little movement is better than none at all.)

1. You can shake your feet from side to side, or roll your legs from side to side when you are in bed. Pretend your feet are windshield wipers on a car. Swipe one at a time from side to side. When you move your feet like that it also moves all the muscles in your whole leg and even in your hip!

They sell machines that help people move but hey! If Continue reading “Can’t Walk Right Now? You Can Still Keep Moving!”

February 5November 3

Buttock Muscles Can Cause Sciatica

Your buttock muscles (also called gluteal muscles) are large, powerful muscles. When they become ‘too tight’ they can cause pressure on the sciatic nerve as it passes through your hip area.

The sciatic nerve is as large as your finger and is usually found behind some of the large gluteal muscles.

Nerves hate to be pressed on and so the sciatic nerve will complain by causing symptoms of pain or nervy sensations in your hip, leg or even in your foot!

Here’s the link to an article with directions on how to help those gluteal muscles relax. If they are the cause of your sciatica it will make a big difference.

http://www.simplebackpainrelief.com/sciatica/how-to-massage-gluteal-muscles-for-back-pain-relief/

September 15November 3

Lose Ten Pounds And Get Rid Of Foot Pain Naturally

Feet hurt? Feet take a beating all the time. And if you are carrying a few extra pounds that creates a lot of stress on the joints, bones, muscles, ligaments and tendons in your feet.

A rheumatologist (a medical doctor who specializes in arthritis and similar diseases) said that if you lose just ten pounds–Just Ten Pounds!–a lot of your foot pain will be gone!

Gone!

She said you don’t have to get to normal weight to get rid of foot pain. Just Continue reading “Lose Ten Pounds And Get Rid Of Foot Pain Naturally”

September 7November 5

Pain In Your Big Toe, Big Toe Joint Pain

When I was in ninth grade my big toe joint swelled and hurt. The school nurse wasn’t very sympathetic. She blamed it on my shoes.

Maybe so.

But they were cute. Cheap but cute.

They probably caused me to curl my toes to hold them on my feet.

But according to Doctors Travell & Simons MD, bunions (enlarged big toe joints) show up more in certain ethnic groups than others. They also said there may be a strong hereditary component. (If your parent had them, you have a good chance to have them, too.)

There are several possible causes for pain in your big toe joint.

Bunions cause a muscle imbalance which just makes matters worse. It causes Continue reading “Pain In Your Big Toe, Big Toe Joint Pain”

August 1November 5

What Causes Pain On The Bottom Of Your Foot

What is the cause of pain on the bottom of your feet?

There are several possibilities including the muscles on the bottom side of your foot. Those muscles can be pressed into with fingers or a tennis or golf ball. The muscles to press tend to be in the area of foot pain. They tend to be in the arch.

If those muscles are strained, wearing arch supports in your shoes may help by supporting them.

Another cause that is commonly overlooked is the piriformis muscle. This muscle runs from your sacrum (the wide, fused end of the spine just above your tailbone) to the head of your femur (top outside of your thigh bone.)

The piriformis is usually covered by the thick gluteal (butt) muscles. It can develop Continue reading “What Causes Pain On The Bottom Of Your Foot”

April 6November 5

Pain In The Arch Of Your Foot And Stiff Ankles?

If you have stiffness in your ankles or pain in the arch of your foot, this article is for you!

My client Pat had told me about the pain that ran from her hip to her foot. We had worked on the muscles of her lower back and hip in previous sessions because those muscles can “refer” pain into the foot.

Those muscles can also press on the nerves that run to your foot. Releasing or relaxing the low back and hip muscles can get Continue reading “Pain In The Arch Of Your Foot And Stiff Ankles?”

February 17November 6

What Causes Pain and Numbness In Your Hands and Feet?

If you have pain or numbness in your hands and in your feet, it’s a good idea to see your doctor to rule out any serious medical condition like diabetes.

Although some people are more prone to get diabetes than others, it is largely a disorder caused by lifestyle and what we eat. Some doctors will have you exercise and change your diet to control it. Some doctors don’t have faith in their patients, so they will offer medications to you.

But sometimes it is NOT a whole-body issue. Sometimes the cause of pain or numbness in your hands and feet is caused by separate things.

If the muscles in your butt–your gluteal muscles–are tight, they can cause Continue reading “What Causes Pain and Numbness In Your Hands and Feet?”

January 26November 6

Simple Pain Relief As Your Feet Get Older

Pain on the bottoms of you feet as you age? Could happen!

And what can you do to have happy feet again?

Feet do change as you age. Some people notice that the fat pads on the bottoms of their feet aren’t there anymore. However, other people do NOT lose their fat pads.

Let’s talk about age-related changes and I’ll share my thoughts.

Me:

Yes, the fat padding on the bottom of the foot does Continue reading “Simple Pain Relief As Your Feet Get Older”

December 9November 6

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Natural Relief

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) means that you have symptoms that can make it uncomfortable or unbearable to walk.

The symptoms can be pain, burning, nervy sensations or tingling on the sole (bottom) of your foot. You may also feel it on the arch side of your ankle or in your heel.

Symptoms are usually worse as the day goes on and may be relieved by elevating (raising) your foot, rest or massage. We are not talking sweet gentle massage here–You want deep pressure into the muscles in the arch of your foot to really “get into” the muscle. The massage will not be comfortable but it can help.

Injury to your foot or ankle can cause TTS, possibly because of scar tissue that develops. People with flat feet can also develop Continue reading “Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Natural Relief”

November 12November 6

Pain in Arch of Foot – Is It Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?

Is my foot pain Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome? This question was asked by a reader. Here’s her question.

I was wondering if I have tarsal tunnel syndrome or if it’s something else. Normally my feet don’t hurt, but when I excercise (especially jumping excercises) I get severe pain at the bottom of my foot (in the arch area). The pain is often really bad and this is preventing me from doing a lot of the exercises that I like. I also know that the pain is not caused by bad shoes, because it happens with all shoes, even running shoes. Does this sound like tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Here’s my response:

A “syndrome” is a bunch Continue reading “Pain in Arch of Foot – Is It Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome?”

July 18November 7

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Can Be Tricky To Diagnose

I received an email recently and the writer told me she had “been kicked around from doctor to doctor for 2 years” before they came to the diagnosis of Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS). She has numbness and severe pain in one foot which may have come from an old injury. She wondered whether she will be able to get well again.

Of course, the earlier any pain is stopped in its tracks, the better the chances of a complete recovery.

Still, I believe in my heart that bodies are very smart and logical and capable of healing when they are given what they need. I love bodies! They want to be well. Sometimes they just need some help.

Here is part of my response to my reader.

“By now you have hopefully received my response by email. I’m glad you finally got a diagnosis. I suggested in the email several things you can do to start the process of healing.”

“It’s really too bad that Continue reading “Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome Can Be Tricky To Diagnose”

June 5November 7

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Pain In Your Foot

Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome (TTS) is much the same as Carpal Tunnel Syndrome…except the Tarsal Tunnel is in your ankle.

Here’s a recent email I received from Tom:

“I came across your group on Facebook, about Carpal Tunnel Syndrome Relief. I have the leg version of this complaint, Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome and am about to have an operation to rectify it. Do you have any information on Tarsal Tunnel? I ask because I’ve not managed to find much about it other than the operation doesn’t have a very high success rate. I’m clinging to the hope that my op DOES work.”

Here’s my response to Tom:

“My best resource is ‘Myofascial Pain and Dysfunction, The Trigger Point Manual, Vol. 2, The Lower Extremeties‘ by Travell & Simons, MD’s. These 2 volumes may be (and should be) on your surgeon’s or physician’s bookshelf. Here is my translation of what they have to say about TTS in a nutshell.

Regarding surgery:

The doctors said that surgery to release the tibial nerve and the medial and lateral plantar nerves as they passed through and deep to (behind; more inside) the abductor hallucis muscle was successful in 9 of 10 TTS release surgeries. That means 90% were successful. Sometimes, part of the abductor hallucis is removed.

The doctors said: “The possible (likely) role of myofascial TrPs in the abductor hallucis was apparently not considered in these patients with heel pain.” What does that mean? The doctors Travell & Simons were aware that muscles and soft tissues (not bony tissue) cause a huge amount of our pain and other symptoms. It means that if Travell or Simons were your doctor, they would be looking for trigger points as the cause of your pain before they considered surgery. (TrPs = trigger points.)

What causes tarsal tunnel syndrome?

Running, jumping and shoes that are too tight–not wide enough–can be a cause. Also, in 2 cases, the abductor hallucis muscle was 3 times larger than normal, and in one case, had an additional muscle belly. In those 3 cases, the extra-large muscle pressed on the nerves.

What are trigger points?

If you go to Carpal Tunnel Pain Relief, and scroll down to ‘Categories’ and scroll to “Triggers and Triggers Points” you will find articles describing trigger points and their causes. Basically, they are extremely irritable spots in soft tissue or muscle that “fire” or cause pain elsewhere, sometimes at a very far distance from the trigger point.

Like everything else, trigger points are Continue reading “Tarsal Tunnel Syndrome: Pain In Your Foot”

April 8November 7

Does Poor Posture Cause Pain? How Do Arch Supports Help?

Can your posture cause pain?

Oh Boy! It surely can! In fact, it does.

Poor, or collapsed, posture can cause pain in your head, neck, feet, legs, hips, hands, arms, upper and lower back. Why?

Because being out of muscular “balance” means that you are using muscles to do the job of bones.

With poor posture, your muscles are trying to hold you upright, but that’s the job of your bones. Muscles are for moving. Bones are for supporting.

All of your muscles attach to bones. When a muscle is overworked or overstretched because of poor posture, it causes pain.

Poor posture can even cause your organs–heart, lungs, intestines, stomach–to have difficulty functioning. Why? Because you are collapsing forward.

As you bend forward, all of your organs are compressed, or squashed. It is much harder for your organs to do their best job when they are squashed.

What can you to to correct your posture?

One important thing is to get arch supports (orthotics) for your shoes if your feet are “flat.”

How can you tell if your arches are flat?

Stand up with your weight the same Continue reading “Does Poor Posture Cause Pain? How Do Arch Supports Help?”

November 5November 7

Do Your Feet and Legs Ache?

When our feet and legs ache it is often because we aren’t using all of our muscles. I’m going to give you two quick, easy ways to correct that and to feel better fast.

Our ancestors used to run around barefoot. They ran through streams, through cold water and over rough grassy lands. They ran over rocks and pebbles.

They probably had to run so they wouldn’t get eaten!

But, today we usually don’t have to worry about large animals chasing us.

We wear nice shoes that protect the soles of our feet from stones and sticks and dewy grass. We don’t have to use the muscles of our feet and legs to stabilize us. Our shoes do that for us. Many of us wear shoes all the time, even in our homes.

Here’s Simple Pain Relief Tip #1 – The 10-Minute Tip

* Get a tennis ball, preferably, or a golf ball. Naturally, the tennis ball is softer and easier to press against, but the golf ball can get to smaller muscles.

* Stand up and balance yourself by holding the back of a chair or a wall, something sturdy.

*Support all of your weight on one foot.

* Place your other foot on the ball and apply pressure to the ball. Use a fair amount of pressure, enough so that you are aware of the ball.

* Apply pressure in long strokes from your heel to the ball of your foot several times. Keep moving the ball along the length of your foot. Press lengthwise along the outside of your foot, the middle, and the inside of your foot.

* Then move the ball from side to side. Press firmly but gently into the ball of your foot and the bottom of your heel.

* Keep rolling on the tennis ball for five minutes.

When you are done, put your “rolled” foot on the floor. See how much different it feels from the “unrolled” foot.

Now roll the other foot!

Here’s Simple Pain Relief Tip #2 – The 2-Minute Tip

I attended a presentation by a podiatrist. He likes people to be barefoot. He even did his presentation barefoot!

He had this quick and easy way to get circulation and movement back into all the muscles of your legs and feet.

Stand up and balance on one foot. To do this, lift one leg and tuck that foot behind your other ankle.

If you need to lightly touch the back of a chair or a wall to keep your balance, until you get used to it, that’s okay.

Balance on that one foot for one minute. While you are balancing, you will feel that you are using all of the muscles in your foot. You will feel your toes gripping and the sides of your foot trying to stabilize you.

After one minute, put that foot down. How does your foot and leg feel now?

Then balance on your other foot.

If you have really flat feet, without much of an arch, this will be a little harder than for the average person. Still keep practicing, anyway. It’ll be good for you.

Another benefit of this balancing act is that is will help you have stronger legs and be more able to keep your balance as you age.

And, the foot doctor pointed out, if you do this at a party, the conversation will seem much more interesting!

Using your legs and feet like this uses all of the muscles in them. And there’re a lot! It strengthens your muscles as well as helping your legs and feet feel better.