As we get older, our pain tolerance tends to increase. We learn how to compensate for discomfort and battle through everyday aches and pains. However, just because we are better at pushing through pain doesn’t mean that the pain we are experiencing should be considered “normal.” Today, we take a look at why foot pain is rarely normal, and what you should do about it.
Constant Foot Pain
If you are dealing with regular foot pain day in and day out, that is not normal. That being said, there are some situations where acute foot pain can be expected:
- After surgery
- After injury/trauma
- After intense stress
Now, we need to clarify some of the above points, because your pain can fall into one of those categories and still be abnormal. If you’re dealing with intense pain (and signs of an infection) after surgery, your pain may be abnormal. If your foot gets stepped on or you drop something on it and pain intensifies or doesn’t resolve, your pain may be abnormal. If your feet hurt for days after a short jog, your pain may be abnormal.
Essentially, if you can identify why your feet hurt, and the problem resolves on its own with simple treatment, then you have normal foot pain. However, unless you meet those specific markers, your foot pain is not normal.
Fixing Foot Pain
Do not try to push through the foot pain and discomfort without at least taking some steps to try and fix the underlying problem, as ignoring the problem tends to always make it worse. There are three key steps to follow if you’re dealing with constant foot pain:
1. Identify The Root Problem – First and foremost, you need to figure out what’s causing your foot pain. Whether it’s a bunion, plantar fasciitis, ankle instability or heel spurs, you can’t treat the problem unless you know exactly what’s wrong. You can try to perform a self diagnosis with some internet tools or the information on our site, but the best option is to visit a foot specialist.
2. Develop A Treatment Plan – Once your foot problem is identified, you’ll want to develop a care plan. Whether that care plan involves conservative care like exercise, physical therapy or medications, or more hands-on treatment like injections or surgery is up to you and your foot specialist. Cultivating a treatment plan to attack the root cause of the problem is key to putting pain in the past.
3. Follow Through – Finally, once your plan is in place, you need to stick to the plan and see it through. Don’t halfheartedly partake in physical therapy or ignore your doctor’s orders after surgery. Your foot will only heal if you are serious about sticking to a care plan.
So in the end, remember that foot pain isn’t normal, but you don’t need to deal with it when you can treat it. Identify the problem, develop a treatment plan and see it through, and you can be walking without pain in no time!