Why Are My Feet Hurting When I Walk?

Q: My feet have started to hurt a lot — so much that when I wake up in the morning I cannot walk barefoot for at least the first 20 minutes. I can't be on my feet too much anymore without pain. What might be causing this, and what can I do to get some relief?

A: What you are describing sounds like a painful condition known as plantar fasciitis. This is a situation where there is inflammation of the soft tissue along the sole of your foot, all the way from your heel to your toes. It may be caused by high-impact exercise, structural problems such as being flat-footed, arthritis, or ill-fitting shoes. It is also more common in people with diabetes. The most characteristic symptom of plantar fasciitis is severe shooting or burning pain in the feet in the morning. The pain typically improves after some movement, only to recur after periods of prolonged rest or intense activity.

Preventive measures include always wearing shoes that fit well, stretching in the morning, afternoon and evening and before any exercise, limiting high-impact exercises, and maintaining ideal body weight, as obesity does predispose to plantar fasciitis. The key is to exercise carefully rather than eliminating exercise altogether. Treatment includes surgical and nonsurgical approaches, though surgery is a last resort and is rarely necessary. Night plints, orthotics, and physical therapy may hasten your recovery, but if the condition is left untreated, it will not resolve itself. In severe cases, injections with steroids or treatment with ultrasound may be warranted.

Sore, Callous, and Cracked Feet

In the course of a day, your feet take plenty of pounding. An average day of walking puts a force equal to several hundred tons of pressure on your feet, according to the American Podiatric Medical Association. That's a big burden for the 26 small bones and hundred-plus tiny muscles and tendons that do all this work. That's why your feet are more subject to injury than any other part of your body. If your foot concern is sore, calloused, cracked heels, then your feet need a little pampering.
If you don’t moisturize your feet in the winter months you will end up with red, cracked, painful skin. This is a problem for many people because your feet sweat daily and all the extra moisture you have is removed. By not moisturizing your feet on a daily basis especially in the winter months you leave your feet vulnerable to crack which in turn leaves you exposed to infection.
“To treat your already sore, calloused, cracked feet, use a thick moisturizer that contains petrolatum, glycerin, or dimethicone to lock in moisture and decrease transepidermal water loss." says Dr. Benjamin Weaver. We recommend Gormel Cream for non-diabetics and Amerigel for diabetics. Be sure to avoid putting any type of moisturizer between your toes. The toes already hold plenty of moisture between them. Too much moisture is just as bad as not enough. Don’t forget to address the calluses on the bottom of the foot which can also cause the foot to crack. We recommend applying Calcylic Cream after you use the pumi bar in the shower. Apply just a small dab to your calluses on the ball of the foot, toes and heels. This will help to soften the skin and in turn the callous will not be so rough and painful.
If your feet are sore and tired help by elevating them at least 6 inches above your heart. Besides reducing the swelling you are helping to reduce the pain and tiredness of your feet. When you’re in the shower using a pumi bar will also help because you are removing the dried old skin from your feet. Your feet will feel energized again and not be as tired and sore. We sell a pumi bar in our office that dissolves itself as you use it. The primary reason you want a pumi bar over a pumi stone is simple. A pumi stone looses the grit the more you use it. After time you will rub harder trying to get your soft feet but what you end up doing is tearing up good skin. The goal behind using a pumi bar is to not create more calluses. By using a pumi bar in the shower, applying a small dab of Calyclic Cream to your calluses once your feet are thoroughly dried and using Gormel or Amerigel Lotion to your feet afterwards, you will help your feet to relax and decompress.