Painful Feet Relief Guide to Foot Comfort

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Does Foot Pain Prevent You from Shoe Shopping?

I hate shoe shopping. Okay, so I know I'm in the minority. Lots of people love to buy new shoes. But I don't. I HATE getting new shoes because it means I have to try them on, break them in, and suffer through the discomfort of wearing stiff new shoes.

The thought of painful feet is enough for me to avoid buying new shoes. So, I usually stick with the worn out and broken in shoes I already own. When I know I'll be traveling and walking a lot, that's when I go on the hunt for ultimate foot comfort!

In this guide, I'll discuss some of my favorite

muscle fatigue

soreness

foot and ankle support

arch support

Supportive Shoes

Allbirds

Kizik

Do You Prefer Sandals or Close-toed Shoes?

After the birth of my last baby I realized that my feet had grown along with my belly! In fact I now have one foot that is over a half-size larger than the other foot - how annoying is that?! And it makes it nearly impossible to purchase certain shoe styles. I suffer with having one shoe too tight or the other flopping off.

That's why I tend to choose sandals over any other shoe type. Fortunately I live in Southern California, where I can wear sandals 75% of the year! Here are a few of my favorite sandal choices that are comfortable for long distance walking. I discuss more sandal options in my post, Best Shoes for Disney Parks - Why I Love Sandals! 

Orthodic Inserts

Plan to work up to wearing inserts for a full day. Start by wearing them for an hour, increasing daily until you're comfortable wearing them for the entire day.

Insoles

Invest in insoles if you're looking for arch support, or more comfortable foot cushioning for shock absorption.

Heel Cups

I first started looking at heel cups when my teenage son was diagnosed with Severs disease. This is basically an inflammation in the heel, usually in active, growing children. Heel cups help support and cushion the tender area.

Stick with What Works

I legit own 8 pairs of shoes total. Four of these shoes are exact duplicates of each other, just in different color schemes. I know what works for my feet so I tend to purchase two at a time.

I gave up a long time ago trying to wear regular high heels. Now if I'm dressing up I wear my favorite crocs Women's Leigh Ankle Strap Wedge Sandal. I have them in oatmeal and black and they're versatile enough to wear with either a dress or jeans. And the best part is that I can actually dance and walk comfortably all night in them (and not revert to the barefoot walk back to the car at the end of the night!)

If you have a favorite shoe, next time buy two so you can switch out between them!

Comfort Aids for Inside Shoes

Adding extra support where your foot needs it is a great way to get comfy. A little lift here, a little cushion there and your foot pain can be greatly relieved. I recently tried Silipos Active gel products. These conform to your body reducing friction, abrasion and burning sensations during high impact activities.

I tried Silipos Active Ball of Foot Gel Cushions. Slip the loop around one of your toes and the cushion rests underneath, covered by a sock. These cushions are so thin I wondered if they'd make a difference. I tested them on a 5 mile hike we took across concrete and gravel. I could really tell the difference after walking as I didn't have the usual ache in my foot bones that I usually do after walking on that type of terrain.

Ever worn a pair of flip-flops when the center post cut into your toes? That is just the worst! Silipos Active Sandal Toe Protectors slips over that post to cushion between the toes.

Upgrade Your Socks

Painful Feet Relief with Heat or Ice

Using a variety of both warm and cold treatments can help with foot pain and muscle tension.

Microwavable booties offer cozy warmth

Ice can help with inflammation, but traditional ice packs are inconvenient to apply onto the feet. These ice pack foot sleeves are worn on the foot for all over cooling.

Do Compression Socks Help with Swelling?

Several years ago my husband and I flew overnight to Europe. It was my first long-haul flight and I made the mistake of taking off my shoes and putting on cozy socks while I slept. When it was time to get off the plane, I had to cram my swollen feet back into my shoes. By the time we reached the taxi I had blisters on every toe, across my heel, and several of my toe nails were broken! Not the best start to a 10-day trip.

Use compression socks for prevention and recovery

The next time I flew long distance you can believe I was wearing compression socks! I'll be honest: I always thought that compression socks were for "old people" or if you were in the hospital and couldn't exercise. But these adorable patterned socks from Vim & Vigr changed my mind (they are so cute!)

These nylon compression socks from Vim & Vigr have a multi-dimensional weave and 400-needle count that allow for comfort, flexibility, and breathability. They even offer socks for wide calves.

I've worn the Vim & Vigr socks on each flight since. These compression socks also help with muscle recovery and rejuvenation after walking or exercise.

Relief for Achy Feet

Despite your best efforts to break away from foot pain, sometimes it's inevitable. You may have spent a lot of time standing or walking, and your feet are sore. These are a few ways to relieve foot pain once the shoes come off.

Elevate

For the ultimate in at-home spa relaxation, this elevation leg pillow offers comfort to reduce swelling while you recline.

Epsom Salts

An Epsom salt soak is a helpful relief for sore feet, but not always practical. I'm so glad to have found Epsom-It products! Their soothing lotion comes in a tube or roll-on, allowing me the benefits of magnesium sulfate without the tub soak.

Massage Tools

A variety of foot massage tools can offer hands-free relief with acupressure to the soles of the feet. Balls and rollers improve circulation and relax tight muscles.

Soaking Feet

A foot soak of warm water is both relaxing and restorative relief for painful feet. A warm bubbling foot spa with water jets can sooth sore feet. Add in a muscle recovery foot soak with sea salts and essential oils.

Relief for Painful Cracked Skin

Dry skin and callouses can make it uncomfortable to walk. If you're having trouble with pain in your feet due to cracked skin or build-up, start by repairing and healing.

Exfoliation

Sluff off excess dry skin or callouses with an exfoliation treatment. My favorite is Dr. Scholl's Nano Glass Foot File. I use it once a week to gently remove dead skin from the bottoms of my feet, which are left smooth!

Foot Mask

After removing dry skin, I love these hydrating foot masks. These disposable booties contain intense moisturizers to add softness back into skin.

Moisturizing Socks

Wear a pair of moisturizing socks before bed for deep hydration overnight. They can be worn many times over so you can wake up to silky soft feet!

Comfortable Shoes for Kids (No Breaking In Period!)

In my many years as a parent, I have bought lots of different shoes for my kids. I keep coming back to our favorite brand, pediped. They were the first shoes I bought for my son, my daughter, and my granddaughter.

When I saw how comfortable they were for the kids and how much they enjoyed walking in pediped, they quickly became the only pair of shoes I would buy for them.

I'll be honest about the price because it might be more than you're used to paying. Many people hesitate at a high price for kids shoes, preferring to buy cheaper shoes.

I'd much rather purchase something of high quality that is comfortable for my child, supports her feet, and won't fall apart or look worn after wearing just a few times. My kids only have 2 or 3 pairs of pediped shoes and rotate between them (instead of a dozen pairs of "cheap" shoes).

Because many pedipeds are washable they uphold their look. And the high crafted quality means they last and last. My son is currently wearing pediped sandals he had last summer and they still look in perfect condition! We also hand them down to younger cousins.

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