Don't Let Foot Pain Ruin Your Holidays: 3 Survival Tips

The holiday season is full of excitement, with social gatherings, decorating, cooking, and more — fun activities for sure, but there’s no denying the toll they can take on your feet. 

With schedules busier than ever, even the healthiest feet can start to ache during the holidays, and if you already have a foot-related issue, like bunions, plantar fasciitis, or arthritis, the pain can feel overwhelming at times.

While there’s no substitute for professional foot care, there are some steps you can take to reduce foot discomfort during the holidays (and all year round, for that matter). In this post, the team at Texas Foot & Ankle Specialists, PLLC, offers three simple suggestions that can help relieve your foot symptoms, so you can focus on all the holidays have to offer.

1. Focus on footwear

When it comes to fashion, shoes are often center stage, but while it’s tempting to reach for stylish shoes for your next holiday soiree, unsupportive footwear can quickly turn festive fun into painful regret. High heels, thin soles, and poor ankle support can strain your arches, crowd your toes, and aggravate existing issues, too.

While it might be OK to wear fashion-forward shoes for a brief period, it’s also a good idea to carry a pair of comfortable shoes with you so you can change if pain becomes an issue. Ideally, opt for shoes with plenty of arch support, lots of cushioning, and ample room in the toes for any activities that require lots of walking or standing.

Custom orthotics can also make a big difference, especially if you’ve had recurring foot pain. Today’s orthotic inserts can be designed for all sorts of shoes, including dress shoes.

2. Don’t ignore early warning signs

A little soreness might not seem like a big deal at first, but ignoring foot pain can quickly make problems worse. Swelling, persistent aching, or sharp twinges in your feet or ankles following activity may point to underlying problems like tendon strain, stress fractures, or inflammation. 

Inspect your feet regularly for signs of trouble, and promptly treat tiny cuts, blisters, corns, or ingrown nails before they cause bigger problems. The sooner you take action, the quicker you can recover—and the more likely you’ll stay pain-free for the rest of the season.

Try relieving aching feet with gentle stretches and exercises that improve flexibility, ramp up circulation, and enhance strength and balance. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons website offers an easy-to-use list of exercises you can do just about anywhere.

3. Give your feet some TLC

Your feet work overtime during the holidays, so it’s worth giving them a little extra care. Make a nightly foot soak part of your bedtime routine, and toss in some Epsom salts to help relax tired muscles. Follow with a gentle massage to boost circulation and help reduce stiffness. Use plenty of moisturizer before bed, and slip on a pair of cotton socks to give emollients a chance to soak in.

Whenever you get a chance, put your feet up to help reduce pressure and swelling in your feet and ankles. Elevating your feet and legs occasionally can help circulation, too. If swelling is a recurrent problem, ask our team about compression socks that feature just the right amount of pressure for your specific needs and long-term circulatory health.

Enjoy the holidays without the pain

Nearly 90% of women and men report having had foot pain at least once during their lives, and for many, pain and discomfort are chronic. But the good news is that there are solutions, and the sooner you visit our team, the faster you can find real relief for your symptoms.

To find out what’s causing your foot pain and what we can do to help you feel better, request an appointment at our locations in Mesquite, Forney, and Kaufman, Texas, today.