Treating Foot Pain: Out With the Old, In With The
New Ways Of Healing
Foot pain sufferers of all types and conditions have likely been the victim of the old ways of treating, whether you went through with these outdated solutions or simply came across the recommendation online.
These old ways of healing may offer the promise of success, but this goes alongside high therapy or procedure costs and extended recovery time – and in many circumstances, these treatments still don’t resolve the problem.
It’s time to follow the new ways of treating pain for
active relief and lasting success!
THE OLD WAY
If you suffer from foot pain, you have most likely heard that steroid injections or surgical intervention are your solutions.
Injections
Steroid injections are a commonly touted treatment for foot pain for their fast-acting results, but this is not a fix-all for foot problems. These injections can cost as much as $300 a shot, and your results are not guaranteed.
If your injection is successful, it may be able to provide you with short-term relief. Unfortunately, many patients express the frustrations of their pain returning over time. This leaves you seeking yet another expensive steroid shot or another method of relief altogether.
Not only is there a possibility of experiencing a relapse of pain, but you are also at risk of post-injection issues including cortisone flares, fat pad atrophy at the heel, pigment loss and osteoporosis.
What's worse is that steroid shots are thought to cause ruptures of the plantar fascia as well. So, you may be adding pain and damage on top of what you are already experiencing.
Surgery
You may be considering surgery as an option, but this is not a decision made lightly.
Not only is the concept of anesthesia and invasive surgery a hard pill to swallow, but the procedure costs don’t make the choice any easier. Depending on your needs, your procedure can cost as much as $10,000. Ouch.
In reality, surgery only offers a 60-70% success rate of eliminating your pain.
Even worse, you may be left with a variety of other issues if the surgery doesn’t go exactly as planned, from infection to nerve issues among some of the less serious consequences.
There is a lot of downtime to consider with surgery as well. Most of us want to be productive members of society and able to interact with our family and friends. Surgery often prevents this.
Self-Diagnosing Your Pain
We’ve all heard jokes about WebMD. You google your symptoms, and you find out that you are in critical health.
When it comes to foot pain, you may find that several conditions sound like what you are experiencing, and you simply choose the one that sounds closest to your particular pain.
You may find this to be the case on Facebook, as well.
When talking with others over the internet, or face to face, you will find endless experiences and even more unending options for relief from the most home-baked to the most “scientific” solutions – though this is often not based in fact.
Much of this information may appear to be real due to what is commonly known as the ‘availability bias.’
Here is our best advice: it might make sense to leave the diagnosis to the professionals.
Self-diagnosing your pain does not give you an accurate assessment of your condition.
For instance, the characteristics of tarsal tunnel pain are commonly confused for plantar fasciitis and heel spurs. If you misdiagnose your condition, you will end up treating the wrong condition.
Rather than treating your pain with old methods that, frankly, are no longer effective or that don’t guarantee relief, treat your condition with the new ways of healing to save time, money, and heartache.
Remember – there’s no return policy for injections or surgery!
THE NEW WAY
You know the old ways of healing, but let’s look at the new methods:
1. Throw away your squishy shoes!
Yes – soft, squishy shoes feel good. We won’t deny that, but consider the longevity of this comfort in relation to the health of your feet.
Though a flexible sole and footbed can provide you with initial relaxation, this does not supply your foot with the structure and support it needs. In fact, this type of construction will increase the likelihood of stress, pain, and stiffness in the feet over time.
Instead, look for more rigid orthotics or footwear with a firm sole! This provides stability, impact protection, and support to the entire foot as you walk.
Look for options with appropriately raised arch support as well, no matter if you have a high arch or no arch at all.
The arch of the foot supports the weight of your body, and arch support will offer the necessary reinforcement to help support the pressure.
It is not necessary to change the alignment of your foot all the time, rather, a small amount of support simply gives your foot some rest and help during activities.
2. Look for science-backed treatment.
Stop self-diagnosing your pain! Though there is a wealth of information online that may describe aspects of your pain, there is no true way to pinpoint the root cause of your issue.
Start by speaking with a professional in the field – a podiatrist or an orthopedic surgeon can offer great insight into the biomechanics of your feet and help to narrow down the possible catalysts of your pain.
Once you have had a consultation, don’t rush into surgery or injections.
These methods will always be waiting for you if more conservative options don’t provide you with the relief you seek.
Many non-invasive solutions are available, from foot massage and muscle stretching to custom orthotics. Orthotics, or inserts, can support the foot and offload stress and pressure from the feet.
When paired with stretching, you may find a dramatic improvement in your pain!
If you still do not find relief, your podiatrist or surgeon can help you with the next steps.
3. Supplement your body naturally.
What you put into the body directly affects your feet. Fatty, salty, sugary foods tend to make the body feel sluggish and achy – and this is true for your feet, as well.
Reach for colorful fruits and vegetables that are high in antioxidant flavonoids, drink plenty of water, and round out your wellness with anti-inflammatory daily multivitamins or supplements.
These can prevent swelling and sensitivity in the nerves, joints, tissues, and muscles of the feet so that you can continue walking pain-free.
The old ways of healing have been effective for some, but not for all. Before you go under the knife or commit to expensive treatment, consider these alternative, conservative methods.
Every condition and every patient experiences pain and recovery differently. At the end of the day, you may not find the relief you need – but you are not left with financial burden or painful recovery. The more serious, invasive options will still be waiting for you.
At The Healing Sole, we follow the new methods of treating pain and put a strong focus on natural relief. This doesn't include the typical expensive measures that have been "necessary" in the past for pain relief.
We continue the fight for wellness and against foot pain, regardless of the criticism.
This Is Our Question For You: Are You Ready To Try The New Methods Of Healing?
Start with The Healing Sole and Well Theory, designed by
Orthopedic Surgeon, Dr. Meredith Warner.
Dr. Warner's products are science-backed and have yielded fantastic success stories from foot pain sufferers who felt like they had exhausted all options.
Well Theory is a collection of wellness products from creams to multivitamins and supplements that offer several wellness solutions:
- supports pain relief
- reduces inflammation
- strengthens the immune system
- promotes optimal function of the body’s innate systems of processing and healing
The Healing Sole is a line of footwear designed to support the feet and offload pain and pressure.
Dr. Warner’s best-selling original flip flop has had an 80% success rate in clinical trials and continues to help thousands of other wearers find relief.
Here is what Dr. Meredith Warner has to say about her pain-fighting footwear when compared to surgical methods of relief:
“Try the Healing Sole. It's a fraction of the cost, it's not invasive, and it was designed to work naturally with you as you walk on your path to recovery.
The road to foot pain relief is not easy, but it is possible.
Foot pain can sometimes last up to two years. We've designed our shoe to compress that time dramatically, and we offer a 30-day money-back guarantee to prove that.”
These products work wonderfully on their own, but find your perfect, bulletproof solution to foot pain by pairing our Well Theory and Healing Sole products for everyday support.
We know this has been a lot of information to digest, so we’ll leave you with one final question: what do you have to lose?
Leave the old ways behind, and choose active recovery today.
