Mobility Equipment Supplies

Pain is a symptom common to many foot conditions, and pain medications are a good solution for most types of foot pain. You can also try other approaches, either before resorting to pain relievers or in conjunction with them. For example, you can try an ice pack or a warm foot soak before reaching for the pain pills.

In general, if your skin feels warm to the touch, apply ice. Do not apply warmth to an inflamed area because it will only increase the blood flow and make the inflammation worse.

If your feet are tired and sore and your skin feels normal or cool to the touch, try soaking your feet in a warm bath to relax and soothe them. Pharmacies sell gel packs that you can either freeze or heat in the microwave, and apply to your feet. You can also try foot massage. Gently rubbing sore muscles and joints can often provide needed relief. However, do not massage a foot that is inflamed or that you think might be injured.

When it comes to pharmaceutical treatment, there are a number of different options. Some medications are topical — that is, you apply them to the skin. Others are systemic; these are usually taken in pill form.

Analgesics
This class of medications encompasses pain relievers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol), which relieve pain without relieving inflammation. Be aware that doctors caution people who drink regularly against using acetaminophen because alcohol can combine with this drug and cause liver damage.

Topical analgesics
Topical pain medications are available in lotion, cream, or gel form. They are spread on the skin and penetrate inward to relieve some forms of mild foot pain. Some topical preparations — such as those containing menthol, eucalyptus oil, or turpentine oil — reduce pain by distracting the nerves with a different type of sensation.

Another group delivers salicylates (the same ingredient as in aspirin) through the skin.

A third group counters a chemical known as substance P, which is a neurotransmitter that appears to transmit pain signals to the brain. These creams contain a derivative of a natural ingredient found in cayenne pepper. For that reason, they may burn or sting when first used.

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
NSAIDs are available both with and without a prescription. Popular over-the-counter NSAIDs include aspirin (Bayer, Bufferin), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve). If you are taking an NSAID solely to relieve pain, expect to take a low dosage for a limited amount of time — usually until the pain is gone. If you have a condition that involves inflammation as well as pain, such as Achilles’ tendinitis or a sprain, your doctor may advise you to take an NSAID at a higher dose and for a longer period, sometimes as much as several weeks. This is because you can feel the pain-relieving effects of NSAIDs almost immediately, but you do not experience the full anti-inflammatory effects until a sufficient amount of the medication builds up in your bloodstream. Be aware that NSAID medications have a variety of side effects, so it is important to discuss your personal health risks with your doctor when considering their regular use.

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Pain is a common health problem, which afflicts one out of every two to three people around the world at any given time. However, even though acute and chronic pain can both be debilitating, chronic pain is one of the major causes of mental and physical disability, commonly misdiagnosed and inappropriately treated.

Pain sufferers frequently feel frustrated and depressed and consider their lives as an endless misery.

Pain is an unpleasant, emotional, and sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Pain is not a just a mere perception or a one-dimensional entity but a multidimensional complex problem with many attributes. Acute and chronic pain can happen to any person of any age or gender.

Chronic pain is a multifaceted medical problem than affects all aspects of a person’s life. Patient involvement and education are important components of a pain management program.

We know that there are physiological shifts in chemicals that bring about some changes in the nervous system and the brain. This in turn leads to changes in the neurotransmitters that perpetuate the pain. We feel in some ways that the nervous system can only generate pain instead of the usual mixture of discomfort and pleasure. And we are not really sure why this happens to some people and not to others, although, we know for sure that emotions and stress play a role in this.

Most experts define chronic pain as pain that continues beyond two months. In actuality, chronic pain is determined more by our response to pain.

When most of our waking hours are spent trying to control or endure the pain, when we cannot work any longer because of it, when our relationships are torn apart by the stress of it, we have developed the chronic pain syndrome.

Patients are often frustrated with the way doctors treat them. Nevertheless, they need the expertise of a doctor to make the right decisions regarding treatment.

The first thing you need to find out on your way to recovery is to find out what kind of pain you have and to find the right health care provider.

A physician who has a comprehensive knowledge of pain and empathy would be the best choice. Many specialists are well trained in techniques of pain treatment, but if they do not really understand what you are going through as a person, you are missing out on a vital element in your recovery.

Once you have found the right health care provider, get your pain under control. Get into physical rehabilitation to recover your functional abilities. If need be, utilize some support aids.

Use some type of communication therapy, like counseling or group therapy, to help you get over the emotional scars left by the pain.

Then, get back to work or at least go back to doing the things you used to enjoy.

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