Upper Foot Pain
Don’t Let Upper Foot Pain Walk All Over You: Treatments for Arch Problems
Dan’s upper foot pain had really gotten out or hand. As a mail carrier with the post office for thirty years, Dan was certainly no stranger to foot pains. If you work in any profession requiring you to stay on your feet for hours at time with virtually no relief, then you’ve certainly had your share of foot problems.
But for Dan, sorting mail while standing, carrying heavy loads out to his mail cruiser, jumping in and out of the driver’s seat and rushing up and down hilly San Francisco area streets delivering mail in fog and rain and fog and fog, had taken its toll. Now, even as he lay in bed exhausted he could still feel the upper foot pain he’d come to accept as an occupational hazard.
Dan was not the sort of guy who usually whines and goes to a doctor because of every little ache and pain. Who can afford to be that sort of guy these days anyway? But when, after a quiet weekend of just sitting around watching the games and doing nothing more strenuous than walking to the frig for a beer, Dan woke up on Monday morning to find his foot pain had persisted through the entire weekend and greeted him first thing as he opened his eyes, Dan finally decided to seek help.
Upper Foot Pain: The Causes
Dan’s case is typical of anyone who has spent a life in a profession that requires him or her to stand or walk a great deal. There is a dark joke in the postal profession that says that “going postal” is just a last resort attempt to get off your feet for a bit. But all kidding aside, upper foot pain is most usually a symptom of one of two possible causes: bone spur or arthritis.
Both of these conditions are common with age and can be treated with several different remedies.
Buy Appropriate Footwear
Although it is fairly obvious, many sufferers ignore one of the easiest ways of relieving their pain. Orthopedic shoes are one of the best things you can do for your feet. If you suffer from arch problems or upper foot pain getting a shoe specially design to give your feet that extra support will go a long way toward lessening the degree of your discomfort.
Sometimes adding insoles to your existing shoes is enough to do the trick, as well.
Changing Pain Inducing Habits
Another overlooked treatment for upper foot pain is changing your foot care habits. Sometimes it is possible to reduce the amount of strain your feet receive during the day. This really comes down to the simple recommendation: sit on it! Whenever you have a choice between sitting and standing, sit.
For Dan, for example, a good third of his day was spent sorting mail. He had done this standing up for most of his career, but as he started to develop arch problems, he found that he could reduce his pain by sitting during this process without losing any productivity.
Medical Treatments
Finally, there are medicines that you can take to help with upper foot pain. If the cause of your pain is arthritis, then a doctor can prescribe you medicines that are specifically designed to help you with this condition. There are also several “natural remedies”, like soaking your feet at the end of the day to help reduce swelling and pain.
For Dan, as for many people, it turned out to be a combination of these methods. He found a new better brand of shoes, he learned to sit for a longer portion of the day and got himself transferred from delivery routes (a young man’s job) to working the help desk, and he got medicines that helped with his arthritis. It worked! Dan is virtually pain free.
And you can be too. So give you feet a rest and let your fingers do the walking. Find a good podiatrist and consult him or her about your upper foot pain. You and your feet will be happy you did!