Estimated reading time: 0 minutes
Mrs Vandana, a 50-year-old female patient, reported to our clinic with a history of heel discomfort that began 6 months ago and was making it difficult for her to get up and walk in the morning and do her normal activities. The pain was sporadic and worsened with physical activities like walking or prolonged standing. She described the discomfort as a stabbing sensation at the bottom of her feet that she felt when she first stood up in the morning or when she took her first steps after sitting for a long time.
PLANTAR HEEL discomfort is the most common complaint among persons experiencing foot discomfort. When patients get out of bed and place their foot on the ground, they experience significant pain in the plantar region of the heel. The pain is acute with the first steps after rising in the morning and worsens when they walk barefoot, climb stairs, or walk for a long time.
Factors that increase the likelihood of having heel pain
Obesity/excess weight
Shoes that are too small
Growing older
Patients with flat feet or high arches
High-heeled shoes with a firm sole.
How do you treat heel discomfort at home?
Mild to moderate heel pain can usually be successfully managed with shoe padding and strapping, therapeutic orthotic insoles, stretching, and physical therapy. The use of Ayurvedic muscle relaxant pain oils, as well as heat fomentation, can assist to lower the intensity of the pain.
Diabetes Patients’ Common Foot Problems
Many diabetics have foot problems as a result of neuropathy and other diabetes-related issues (for example, obesity). The following are some of the most prevalent foot problems associated with diabetes:
Skin that is dry and cracked
Uncontrolled blood sugar and nerve damage can cause changes in the skin on the feet, causing them to become extremely dry. The skin may crack and peel as a result of nerve injury that regulates moisture and oil levels. Applying an unscented moisturiser after showering can assist to seal in moisture and prevent drying and cracking of the feet.
Deformities of the Feet
Neuropathy’s nerve damage can cause the feet and toes to change shape, even the toes. Because of these changes in shape, regular shoes can rub and harm the toes and sides of the foot over time. Wearing special shoes designed specifically for diabetic feet can help address foot deformities. If you notice changes in how your shoes fit, never force your foot into a typical pair of shoes.
Calluses
Calluses on pressure points beneath the foot form more quickly and occur more frequently in diabetics. If calluses are not properly trimmed and cared for, the skin can harden and turn into an ulcer or open sore. To avoid infection and ulceration, a diabetic’s callus should be removed by a health care provider. You can use a pumice stone every day at home to decrease the growth of calluses. Apply lotion or petroleum jelly immediately after using a pumice stone to lock in moisture and prevent dry, cracked skin.
Ulcers
Ulcers are among the most serious foot ailments that diabetics confront. These open sores commonly appear on the bottom of the big toe or the ball of the foot, where there is rubbing and pressure during walking. Some ill-fitting shoes can also lead to ulcers on the sides of the foot. It is critical to take the ulcer carefully, regardless of its location. While the ulcer may not cause pain, it can develop infected and result in limb loss. On a daily basis, check all parts of your feet for ulcers.
If you find an ulcer, rest the afflicted foot and consult your doctor. Pressure and use will push the infection deeper into the foot, perhaps infecting the bone. You may be prescribed special footwear to shield the ulcer until it heals. Even after the infection has decreased and healed, the footwear should be worn to prevent scar tissue breakdown and the recurrence of the ulcer.
Circulation Issues
Diabetes contributes to impaired circulation, making healing and infection more difficult. Over time, the blood arteries in the legs and feet narrow and harden, making it difficult for white blood cells to reach the site of an infection. All of these variables contribute to a higher rate of diabetic foot and limb amputations. Keep in mind that smoking exacerbates these circulation difficulties by affecting the tiny blood vessels and impairing wound healing.
Can Diabetes Cause Foot Pain?
While numbness and lack of sensation from peripheral neuropathy pose the greatest risk to diabetics, feet with sensation (that can feel pain!) are no picnic either.
Diabetes can aggravate painful feet, particularly heel pain caused by plantar fasciitis. While researchers haven’t found all of the connections between diabetes and plantar fasciitis, most believe that rapid or excessive weight gain (which puts extra strain on the plantar fascia ligament) and ageing joints and ligaments (diabetes is more common in older adults) play a role.
Plantar fasciitis pain can be subtle or acute, and it can come gradually or suddenly. Plantar fasciitis heel pain is generally worst in the morning, when muscles and ligaments are at their tightest.
How can Ayurveda treat heel pain?
According to Ayurveda, vatakantaka (HEEL PAIN) is a painful ailment of the heel caused by poor foot positioning on the ground or by walking over an irregular surface. This is typically connected with plantar fasciitis, a painful inflammation of the fibrous band of connective tissue on the underside of the heel bone.
Padding and therapeutic orthotic insoles may be used as first therapy alternatives.
Avoiding flat shoes and walking barefoot, as well as limiting high-impact physical activity.
Patients usually have a clinical response after 6 weeks of starting treatment, with the inflammatory process eliminated and tension and pain on the plantar fascia reduced.
As lepa, a local anti-inflammatory herbal pack is used during the acute inflammatory phase.
For chronic diseases, a combination of internal treatments with guggulu kalpas and anti-inflammatory medications, as well as Istika sweda, a particular sort of steam, is effective.
The best outlook towards managing or treating foot issues due to diabetes is to first control diabetes & its numerous comorbidities. Our Diabetes Ayurveda Reversal treatment has helped reverse this condition for numerous patients now living diabetes free.
Related-
Know More About Ayurveda Diabetes Treatments.
GET IN TOUCH
