If you are experiencing heel pain, you are not alone. Millions of people suffer from heel pain – it can be debilitating and incredibly discomforting. It can be even more troubling if you have to spend all day on your feet – maybe you work as a nurse, cook, or waitress. If this is the case, you may be coming home tired and wishing that you didn’t have to do the same thing the next day. It also means that you have to find a solution to your heel pain because there are a plethora of ways to alleviate the discomfort. Assuaging the pain will allow you to thrive better on your feet and it will greatly increase your quality of life.

Here are the top five tips for relieving heel pain.

  • Ice your heels.

If you are on your feet all day, or if you are an athlete, you may want to spend at least thirty minutes at the end of the day icing your feet. What can happen is that the muscles and the tendons in your heel can become inflamed from too much stress and impact. Using your feet is kind of like using a tool, but the main difference is that a tool can be used until it is broken and you can purchase a new one. Your heel, however, needs constant care, which is why icing is so important.

  • Wear good shoes.

Also, wearing good shoes is incredibly important. If you walk a lot, you want to wear shoes with a few inches of support – even then, you may want to place foam pads inside your shoes for more support. If you wear high heels and that is affecting your feet, you may want to think about taking a break from wearing these types of shoes. In fact, if you don’t wear supportive shoes your pain and discomfort could become worse with time.

  • Make sure to stretch out your feet.

Before any physical exercise, before walking, before going to work, you want to make sure the muscles and tendons in your heels are stretched and ready to go. You can stretch out your heels by making circular motions with your feet. You can also extend your feet outward until you feel a slight burn in your heel. Doing a few of these stretches will greatly improve how your heels will feel at the end of a long day.

  • Visit a doctor.

It is critical that you visit a clinic, like advanced Foot and Ankle, to speak with a specialized podiatrist. If the pain in your heels is becoming chronic and worse with time, you may have something more serious going on. Ideally, you want to be diagnosed sooner rather than later, because the pain could mean that whatever is happening could become permanent.

  • Take over-the-counter pain medications for the pain and swelling.

If the pain becomes intolerable, you want to take medication to reduce the pain and inflammation. If you don’t, it will continually get worse. These medications, which you can find at your local drug store, won’t make the problem go away, but they will make the issue manageable. When it comes to heel pain, sometimes all you want is a way to manage the issue.