Oh Those Aching Feet!

Ouch! Have you ever noticed that by the end of the day your feet ache – or are even down right painful? Or is foot pain something you deal with on a daily basis?

MS foot pain can be muscular in nature, it can be the result of spasm or it can just be nerve pain. Sometimes it can make the heels ache, sometimes it is in the sole and arch of the foot like a plantar fasciitis and it can even be be a dull ache it the toes.

Over the years I have tried many things for my own aching feet and to help my patients out and here are my top three

Castor Oil Socks.

I am a HUGE therapeutic user of castor oil. You’ve heard me talk about castor oil packs to the abdomen, but you can put them anywhere it hurts!To make castor oil socks, simply get a pair of ankle socks, put them on and drizzle castor oil (CO) on the tops and bottoms of the socks. Then put a plastic bag over the foot and slip an other dry sock over the bag to keep everything in place and protect your floors or bed from the oil (remember it stains). The next few times you use the socks, add another drizzle of CO.You can also massage a therapeutic cream into your feet before you put the socks on. The castor oil will take the cream in deeper and supercharge this treatment!

My favourite pain cream right now is Dr. Reckeweg’s R88+, but Lymphdiaral cream or a magnesium lotion would work great too!

You can use these socks over and over again for weeks or even months! I find they can get a little stinky over time – feet tend to do that – so when they do, throw them away and start a new pair. Store them in a container with a lid (no need to refridgerate) and use them during the day or overnight!

Alternating hot and cold foot baths.

This ancient hydrotherapy technique really tonifies the entire body, but it is a great help for soothing sore, painful feet. You can do this sitting beside your bathtub or out on the patio in the summer.You need two tubs that your feet comfortably fit into. One full of hot water, one full of cold water (I even throw a few ice cubes into this water).Put your feet in the hot water for 3 minutes, then slide them into the cold water for 1 minute. Repeat 3x.

You can take this up a notch by adding magnesium minerals (or Epsom salts) to the hot water. You can also massage magnesium oil into your feet for a number of minutes before you start – it will naturally wash off in the hot water and add it magnesium goodness to the water.

Compression socks.

Yup, you heard it right. Just like those socks that your gramma wears! In different parts of the world the benefits of compression socks have been understood for decades.They are ideal for any situation that might beat up your feet! But if you have foot pain or discomfort they are a good everyday therapy.

Compression socks increase the circulation of both blood and lymphatics to promote healing and reduce pain – you can wear them all day! They are also great if you have swelling around the ankles and are readily available on-line or in the office of physiotherapists or podiatrists.

PS. If your knees bug you like mind do, you can also get compression sleeves for your knees too!