Foot pain is frequent in pregnancy and occurs due to swelling in the legs and feet that is caused by hormonal changes and increased difficulty in the venous return of the feet to the center of the body. But in addition, the pain and tiredness in the feet can be caused by bone deformities that can arise due to the way of supporting the feet to walk and the increase of weight in this phase.
If the pain in your feet is very severe and makes it difficult to walk or if it has been present for more than a week or if it gets worse over time, you should go to the orthopedist or physiotherapist to identify its cause and start the appropriate treatment with physical therapy, as the drugs should be avoided during pregnancy.
Main causes
The most common causes of foot pain in pregnancy are:
- Swelling of the legs and feet due to pregnancy. See 10 tips to avoid swollen feet in pregnancy; Direct blow that can happen when stumbling on something; Use of inappropriate shoes, with very high heels, or uncomfortable soles; Foot shape, with flat foot or very high curvature of the foot; Cracks in the feet and calluses that indicate the use of uncomfortable shoes or even that the way of walking is not the most correct; Heel spur, which is actually a bone callus that normally forms on the heel, causing intense pain when stepping due to inflammation of the plantar fascia; Bunion, which appears after wearing high-heeled shoes with a pointed toe frequently for years, which leads to a deformity in the feet.
Watch the following video and see what exercises you can do to treat the bunion:
To completely eliminate foot pain, it is necessary to follow a specific treatment and eliminate the cause of the pain. A trip to the podiatrist, orthopedist or physiotherapist is essential to be able to definitively identify and treat pain in the feet.
How to fight foot pain effectively
Some therapeutic options include the use of insoles and appropriate shoes, with soles up to 5 cm high, made of rubber and in anabela format. 'Flat sandals' and slippers as well as sneakers with no heels should be avoided because they are also uncomfortable.
If the pain in your foot is mild and occurs after a long day at work, some homemade techniques like soaking your feet in warm water with a gentle massage with sweet almond oil can alleviate the symptoms.
Raising your feet slightly on the sofa arm, or on the wall, for example, can help to detach your feet and legs, bringing relief from symptoms. See also how to do a relaxing foot massage.
The habit of wearing uncomfortable shoes daily can aggravate the situation, causing orthopedic diseases such as bunions, spurs and arthritis in the fingers, for example. Therefore, the ideal is to wear comfortable shoes on a daily basis, leaving those that can create more discomfort, just for special occasions. This ensures the integrity and health of your feet.
