Don’t Let Foot Pain Ruin Your Holiday: A Survival Guide

Foot pain gets in the way of so much in your day-to-day life and only feels more frustrating when the holidays come around. You may be living with foot or heel pain due to a healing injury or a chronic condition such as arthritis or bone spurs. Either way, how do you keep your foot pain from ruining your holidays this year?

Expert podiatrist Dr. Leonard Greenwald in San Jose, California, understands how important it is to balance your care needs and personal goals. In this guide, he advises you on how to relieve your foot pain and avoid symptom flare-ups while still enjoying the holidays to the fullest.

Foot pain over the holidays: Plan ahead

As is so often the case, the first step is to plan ahead. Consult with Dr. Greenwald about your care needs, your foot pain treatment timeline, and your holiday plans and goals.

Dr. Greenwald may suggest scheduling procedures or therapies before the holidays to have you in peak condition. He may also suggest scheduling treatments after the holidays, so you’re not juggling medical needs with personal time. It all depends on the unique details of your foot pain and the underlying cause.

And there’s one more area where you may need to plan ahead: travel. Do you need to plan extra time to get across an airport or talk to a flight attendant about extra support? If you’re driving for a long distance, you may need to build stretch breaks into your itinerary.

You can also save yourself pain by packing with foot care and pain relief in mind. Have supplies on hand such as reusable cold packs, instant heat wraps, pain relief creams, and compression wraps.

These things help you respond more quickly and comprehensively to any foot pain flare-ups, particularly if you’re going to be traveling away from the creature comforts of home.

Make sure you have all the medications you need, including over-the-counter pain meds like ibuprofen or acetaminophen. Bring orthotic inserts and plenty of comfortable, supportive footwear options.

Handling foot pain and holiday celebrations

When you’re with your loved ones this holiday season, don’t try to hide your foot pain. Instead, let others know about your symptoms. Accommodations may make it easier for you to continue to participate without aggravating your pain, or you may need to step back from some activities or traditions.

For example, you might excuse yourself from joining friends or family on a walk, which could worsen your foot pain, especially if there’s ice on the ground that could increase the risk of falls. 

If you want to join others in the kitchen preparing special holiday treats, taking a seat at the table instead of standing by the oven allows you to be part of the action while still sparing your feet.

If your foot pain flares up, use over-the-counter pain medication, heat therapy, or cold therapy for rapid-response symptom relief. It can also help to elevate your painful foot on a chair or cushion, so it’s positioned at a higher level than your heart.

With the right care and support, you can get through the holidays without letting foot pain ruin your festivities. Talk with Dr. Greenwald for personalized advice to keep you pain-free into the new year. To schedule your initial consultation, contact Dr. Greenwald online or over the phone today.