Getting Help With My Feet

Posted on: 18 February 2022

Most podiatrists do their best to get patients into their office in a timely manner. However, there may still be times when you have to wait a few days or weeks to see the podiatrist. When you're struggling with heel pain, these days and weeks may seem like an eternity, but this does not have to be the case. Here are some ways to find heel pain relief while awaiting your appointment with the podiatrist.

Put a heel lift in your shoe.

When your heel hurts, putting something extra under your heel may not sound like a good idea. But actually, lifting your heel up in your shoe tends to shift some of the pressure onto the ball of your foot. This, in turn, takes pressure off your heel. Many pharmacies sell orthotics with heel lifts. They may not be sturdy enough for long-term use — for that, you'll want an orthotic made by your podiatrist — but they'll get you through the days or weeks leading up to your appointment.

Ice your foot.

Some ailments that lead to heel pain are caused by inflammation, while others are not. But even if your heel pain is not directly due to inflammation, the condition likely causes some inflammation. And getting rid of that inflammation can help reduce the pain. Icing your foot is an easy, effective way to reduce inflammation, and subsequently, pain. You can simply dunk your foot in a bucket of ice water a few times a day, or you can rest your foot on a bag of frozen veggies or a flexible ice pack.

Stretch.

Throughout the day, try to take breaks during which you sit down, take the pressure off your feet, and focus on stretching out your arch. If you loosen the connective tissues in the arch of your foot, there tends to be less "pull" on your heel, which provides some pain relief. An easy way to stretch your arch is simply to grab your toes and forefoot with your hand and gently pull back. Apply more and more pressure, a little at a time, as it becomes comfortable to do so. When you feel your heel becoming painful again, take another break and stretch again.

If you follow the advice above, you should be able to keep heel pain at least manageable until you're able to see a podiatrist for a full diagnosis and treatment plan.