Are you one of those people who find it hard to make the first step in the morning? Do you notice stiffness and pain in your foot and ankles? This is because of inflammation in the tendons of your feet called Foot Tendonitis! Although a common problem, Foot Tendonitis can hamper your life and lead to irreparable damage, if neglected. This article can help you understand the fundamentals of Foot Tendonitis with causes and symptoms. You can also learn some of the top home remedies for tendonitis in the foot.
Causes Of Foot Tendonitis:
Let’s look into the top causes for Foot Tendonitis:
- Excessive Stretching of Tendons which can lead to tears
- Overdoing a physical activity which strains the tendons
- Sudden physical movements like jumping or kicking
- Foot Injuries
- Frequent rubbing of the foot onto the shoe
- Medical conditions like Arthritis, Gout, Achilles Heel etc.,
Symptoms Of Foot Tendonitis:
Here’s what it feels like to have Foot Tendonitis:
- Severe pain in the foot while walking or making a movement
- Difficulty to getting up due to pain in the foot
- Unable to make the first step out of bed
- Swelling in the affected tendons
- Stiffness in ankles or heel
- Restricted mobility
Prevention of Foot Tendonitis:
Prevention is always better than cure! Following these simple methods can prevent further damage to your tendons:
- If you have a history of Tendonitis, be cautious about your movements
- Wear proper footwear for better support
- Walk slowly and carefully, avoiding any abrupt actions
- Strengthen your tendons with targeted exercises
- Performing warm-up exercises or stretching can unfreeze your stiff tendons
- Don’t get into intense workouts on day one. Start slowly and increase your pace gradually.
Best Home Remedies for Tendonitis in Foot:
1. Ice Pack:
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Ice is always a good remedy to inflammation and thus is the first choice for treating tendonitis. wrap the ice in a soft cloth and hold it against the affected area for 20 minutes at a time. Along with lessening the pain, it will also help in reducing the swelling and speeds up the functional recovery. (1)
2. Asparagus:
Incorporating asparagus in your everyday diet can decrease swelling with its diuretic properties. Asparagus cleanse the body of all the extra fluids and thus prevents swelling. Be sure to consume Asparagus in fresh forms, rather than canned or preserved varieties. At the same time, fresh yoghurt can be accompanied along with asparagus for better effects.
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3. Fresh Cabbage Leaves:
Cabbage leaves are anti-inflammatory agents. They are known to decrease pain and swelling associated with Foot Tendonitis. To use them, first soak your feet in warm water. Then, wrap the cabbage leaves around the affected areas and seal it with a cloth for the night. Continue this process and every morning you will wake up to lowered foot pains in the morning.
4. Flour:
Two tablespoons of flour when mixed with white wine into a fine consistency, can be a good tendonitis reliever. Just apply and wait for some time before removing it with lukewarm water. This mixture helps in lessening the pain and also accelerates the healing process. Try this process every day until you notice better relief.
5. Epsom Salt:
Epsom salt contains magnesium sulfate which recovers the lost magnesium in your foot and reduces swelling and pain. Mix two tablespoons of Epsom salt with a bucket of water and soak the foot or feet in there. You can also add a drop or two of peppermint essential oil for instant relief from pain.
See More: How To Control Arthritis Pain At Home
6. Broccoli Paste:
Broccoli paste is one of the amazing home remedies for tendonitis in the ankle. To use it, you must mix broccoli and water or grind it together until a paste consistency is formed. When the paste is availed, apply it gently on the affected area and then cover it up with a clean soft cloth so that the paste stays in place. Keep this on for a good 20-25 minutes and make sure you’re following this twice a day for better results.
7. Olive Oil:
Olive oil is one of the best home remedies for Achilles Tendonitis. Apply some warm olive oil in the affected area and massage it for quite some time so that the blood flow in that area is free-flowing which instantly reduces the pain. Keep massaging till the pain totally fades away.
8. Vinegar:
Hot n’ cold vinegar wraps are a quick and easy home remedy for tendonitis of the foot. The process is quite easy. In one bowl mix equal amounts of vinegar and water and warm it and in the other bowl pour the same contents and cool it. Then using a cloth or wipe alternately dip the cloth and wrap it around the foot. After 5 minutes use the other solution and do the same process. After a three-time repetition, pat the affected place dry and apply moisturizer.
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9. Potato Paste:
Wondering how to cure tendonitis in foot? Try Potato! Potato is a good natural remedy for food tendonitis. Just boil a big potato and leave it for it to cool. Once it cools down mash until it becomes a smooth paste. Apply the paste on the affected area and cover it up with a clean soft cloth so that the paste doesn’t slide or fall of. If this process can be followed every day two times, considerable lessening of swell and foot pain is realized.
Now that you have learnt about the home remedies for tendonitis in foot, it’s time for you try them! A common mistake that many people do, is to pop in a pain killer for instant relief. Remember that these drugs can damage your liver and also cause serious health complications. Also, massaging the area vigorously to reduce pain is also not suggested. Just follow the RICE technique – Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, along with these remedies to get rid of a painful foot.
See Also: Natural Treatments To Get Rid Of Achilles Tendon Pain
Frequently Asked Questions:
1. How Can Foot Tendonitis Be Diagnosed?
Foot Tendonitis is usually diagnosed with symptoms experienced by the patient. While the initial treatment is based on physical examination, chronic tendonitis needs an MRI scan to understand the root cause. An X-ray cannot capture the tiny tendons inside your foot and are only visible in a scan. Depending on the inflammation of tendons, further action will be taken.
2. How Long Does it Take For Tendonitis to Heal?
Foot tendonitis may take about 2 to 4 weeks to heal, provided proper care and precautions are taken. However, in extreme cases, the pain may last up to more than 6 weeks. This usually happens when the inflammation is not given enough time to heal. Not resting the area or straining the tendons further can aggravate the situation and worsen the condition.
3. Is It Ok To Leave Tendonitis Untreated?
If you neglect a foot affected by tendonitis, you will give yourself more pain. The agonizing pain can restrict you from performing even simple activities like getting up or taking a few steps. Leaving tendonitis untreated can lead to chronic pain, where even powerful analgesics or home remedies will fail to help you. To make matters worse, the affected tendons can get ruptured and be subjected to permanent damage.
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