According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average American spent 57.3% of their workday on their feet in 2020. In industries like food preparation and service, cleaning, and construction the rates are much higher. Is it any wonder that many of us find our dogs barking when we get home at night?

The causes of foot pain are many and varied but all sufferers are looking for relief. From physical therapy to cutting-edge treatments, there are many pain relief options. All have the goal of getting you back on your feet in comfort again.

Let's explore how to get rid of foot pain so you can live your best life.

1. Over-the-Counter Medication

The first port of call for most people when treating mild to moderate pain in their feet is over-the-counter meds. NSAIDs like ibuprofen can help to reduce inflammation, as can some topical creams that you can apply to your foot.

They can be effective at taking the edge off some types of foot pain but they're not a long-term solution. You need to find out the causes of foot pain if you have pain that is sharp even when you're resting or that goes on for more than a week.

2. Prescription Meds

After your doctor has diagnosed what's causing your chronic foot pain, they may recommend a course of strong painkillers. For example, taking higher doses of NSAIDs over a longer period may help to reduce chronic inflammation as well as reduce your pain. This foot pain treatment is often used for sprains and Achilles tendinitis.

Your doctor will take into account other conditions that have before prescribing high-dose NSAIDs.

If your pain is due to nerve damage, also called neuropathy, NSAIDs may not be effective. Peripheral neuropathy can affect diabetics and causes symptoms in the feet, such as:

• Numbness
• Loss of muscle tone
• Charcot's joint
• Tingling or burning

Foot doctors can prescribe other medications to treat neuropathy. These include amitriptyline (Elavil) and gabapentin (Neurontin).

3. Custom Orthotics

Custom orthotics are a type of advanced insole. They're made especially for your feet and can help to provide extra support to your foot and ankle. If you have any deformities of the feet they can also provide additional support.

A podiatrist will examine your feet and look at what's causing your pain before recommending this foot pain treatment. They may also order scans to see whether conditions such as arthritis or injuries are causing the pain.

Custom orthotics can treat foot pain in people with:

• Diabetes
• Bunions
• Flat feet
• Bursitis
• Plantar fasciitis

The goal of orthotics is to correct foot positioning issues and provide extra support so that you can avoid surgery.

4. Foot Exercises

If you're on your feet all day at work you might feel that foot exercises are the last thing you need. But exercises prescribed for you by a physical therapist can help to strengthen your feet. They can improve your range of motion, reducing the pain in your feet.

These exercises may include Achilles tendon and plantar fascia stretches if you're having pain in those areas. You may also have to pick up a towel using your toes to strengthen your toes and improve your balance.

5. Calf Exercises

One of the causes of foot pain can be tight calf muscles.

When your calf muscles are tight your ankle has a reduced range of motion. This can lead to putting more pressure on your front foot and straining the muscles in your foot. The plantar fascia — the band of tissue stretching along the soles of your feet — can also get inflamed.

Calf exercises, such as standing calf stretches and seated stretches can help to release the pressure. But it's important to do these exercises in the right way so that you don't unintentionally cause other problems.

6. RICE

We're not talking basmati or long-grain here. We're talking about:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

This has been the standard treatment for sprain and strain injuries for some time now. It can be effective if you've got temporary foot pain that's attributable to an injury. It's not going to be a good solution for chronic foot pain, which needs to be investigated to find the root cause.

Take some time to rest your painful foot and apply an ice pack for twenty minutes once every 2-3 hours. Never apply ice directly to the skin — always use a towel in between to prevent frostbite.

Compression comes in the form of wrapping your foot securely but not too tightly in an elasticated bandage. Finally, elevate your foot to reduce swelling.

If your foot pain continues for more than a few days, see a doctor.

7. Radiofrequency Ablation

If you're suffering from a condition that involves a neuroma, you know how painful that can be. A Morton's neuroma is a thickening of the tissue around a nerve in the foot. It can cause:

• Burning pain
• Shooting pain
• Stabbing pain
• A feeling of having something caught under your foot

It's very uncomfortable and can go on for a long time. It can also cause tingling or even a sensation of numbness in the foot.

It can be treated using steroid injections, custom orthotics, and even surgical removal of the nerve. But an alternative that's gaining popularity is radiofrequency ablation.

Radiofrequency ablation is a non-surgical procedure that uses heat to treat the nerve. A 2020 study found that this treatment resulted in a 92.5% patient satisfaction score. There's limited downtime and fewer complications compared with surgery.

Colorado Pain Experts Know How to Get Rid of Foot Pain

This discussion of how to get rid of foot pain has shown that there's no single solution. It's important to find out the root causes of foot pain first and then get a treatment package that is tailored to your needs.

At Colorado Pain Experts, our team of doctors is experienced in treating all types of chronic and acute pain. They look for what's causing the problem and target their treatment in that area.

Call us at 970-473-7900 to schedule an appointment or reach out online today!

Recent studies show that shoulder pain increases past age 50 and in adults with active occupations. It is no surprise that more aches and pains seem to arise the older you get, but if you have wondered, "why do my shoulders hurt?" we have a complete guide for you.

Shoulder pain is sometimes multi-causal from years of hard work, improper body mechanics, or simply overuse. Pinpointing types of shoulder pain and how to fix it is the real challenge. Usually, you need a pain specialist team to help you get the results you are after.

Are you still interested? Keep reading on and learn more about the different types of shoulder pain and how to get started with treatment.

Shoulder Anatomy 101

Your shoulder consists of three bones: humerus, scapula, and clavicle. They come together to form your ball and socket joint, with the humerus slotting into a smooth, shallow socket in the scapula or shoulder blade.

While the clavicle plays a smaller role, it still helps your arm move freely. Any ball and socket joint is supported by various tissues, including:

• Muscles
• Tendons
• Ligaments
• Labrum
• Bursa

All these work together to move your shoulder without pain. At least, that is the goal.

When you look closer at the causes of shoulder pain, you could have something wrong with the bones, tissues, or nerves. Although this is a very basic anatomy of the shoulder, now you have a better idea of how many structures support this joint.

Types of Shoulder Pain

You can break down most pain into two categories: acute and chronic pain. Acute pain is a sudden injury that causes immediate pain. It is usually fairly easy to locate, such as you fall on an outstretched arm and immediately have pain at the top of your shoulder.

Chronic pain is more subtle. You could have a demanding overhead activity job that places consistent pressure on your joints. Suddenly, getting a good night's rest or reaching the top cupboards has become more difficult.

While you can't remember an exact instance where you injured it, you have nonetheless caused minor strain that has caused mobility problems. Technically, you could include a third pain classification under nerve pain.

Typically, you can differentiate muscle and tissue pain from nerve pain based on its presentation. If you have shooting pain, numbness, or tingling sensation, you may have nerve damage.

Common Shoulder Injuries

Most shoulder injuries stem from overuse or overhead activities. As you can imagine, athletes who use their dominant arm often for throwing activities can develop shoulder injuries.

Some of the more common ones seen by pain specialists are:

• Rotator cuff injuries
• Adhesive capsulitis
• Osteoarthritis
• Bursitis
• Dislocation

Rotator cuff injuries are expansive and can result in severe pain and an inability to lift your arm above your head. You could be experiencing anything from minor tendinitis to a full tear.

Unfortunately, full rotator cuff tears often require surgical intervention to fix. You might be noticing a trend on this list. Many of these common injuries end in "-itis."

This ending often stands for inflammation. For example, shoulder bursitis is a condition where small fluid-filled sacs in the joint become inflamed.

Shoulder Pain Treatment

Now that you know some common injuries, you want to get to the good part - getting rid of shoulder pain. There are a few ways to go about this, including at-home care and professional help.

Say your shoulder starts bothering you after certain activities, like playing a round of baseball with the kids in the backyard. Try backing off excessive overhead use of your arm (e.g., lifting, reaching, throwing) and follow the R.I.C.E protocol:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation

Pain specialists are the next line of choice. They specialize in chronic shoulder pain and everything in between. Here is when you should see a pain specialist:

• You have developed a new pain
• You can't manage your pain at-home
• You have medication side effects
• You can't sleep
• You are limited in work or hobbies

There are several options that a pain specialist can work through with you on your shoulder injury. Some examples of pain treatments include:

• Medications
• Chiropractor visits
• Massage therapy
• Acupuncture
• Ultrasound
• Other alternative treatments

Your pain specialist and practitioner can help determine what type of pain you have and the best course of treatment to start with. While some might be hesitant about medications, there are plenty of other options.

What To Expect at a Pain Management Clinic

Your first visit will likely include reviewing your past medical history and current problems. A qualified pain specialist will review any treatments you are currently on, such as medication.

Next, you may need imaging or other diagnostic tests to rule out tears, fractures, or arthritis. Lastly, you and your physicians will develop a plan of care that suits your lifestyle and pain.

This will likely include a multi-disciplinary team approach, including physicians, physical therapists, and chiropractors. Ultimately, the goal is to reduce your pain and improve long-term function and mobility.

Start Improving Your Shoulder Pain

There are several types of shoulder pain that could be limiting your ability to sleep and enjoy your favorite hobbies. Even simple things like reaching up to brush your hair might seem like a chore if you have a rotator cuff injury or arthritis.

If you have tried pain medications or other treatments in the past and it just isn't working, you need pain specialists on board. At Colorado Pain Experts, we work with several patients like you who are tired of dealing with ongoing pain.

Contact us today and see how our team of experts can help you!