Causes and Treatments of Foot Fatigue

Do you have to stand and walk for long periods of the day? At the end of the day, do your feet and legs ache? Your body endures constant jarring; however, the feet, legs, and lower back take the worst of the pounding. If you have ever worked for long periods of time on concrete flooring, chances are you have experienced the agony hour after hour, day after day until your muscles and joints become extremely fatigued and aggravated.

Causes of leg pain in the lower leg - muscles, fascia, two bones, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, and ligaments - can all lead to some type of pain. Here are some likely causes of leg pain. The actual treatments, causes of leg pain and medical prognosis for each should be determined by a physician.

Causes of Painful Feet - Pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole, or ankles. Causes of painful feet include:

Bunions -- a protrusion at the base of the big toe, which can become inflamed. Bunions often develop over time from wearing narrow-toed shoes.
Calluses and corns -- thickened skin from friction or pressure. Calluses are on the balls of the feet or heels. Corns appear on your toes.
Plantar warts -- from pressure on the soles of your feet.
Fallen arches -- also called flat feet.
Ill-fitting shoes often cause these problems. Morton's neuroma, caused by two bones on the sole of your foot rubbing together, leads to a sharp or burning pain in the ball of your foot (and sometimes toes). It is less common, but can be related to wearing tight-fitting shoes. Aging and being overweight also increase your chances of having foot problems.

Causes of Lower Leg Pain - When you experience lower leg pain, it can be a result of muscle fatigue or due to a muscle cramp. A muscle cramp often results from muscle fatigue or strain from overuse, excessive exercise, or holding a muscle in the same position for a long period of time.

Other causes include:

Dehydration or depletion of certain minerals like potassium, sodium, calcium, or magnesium.
Medications like diuretics which can cause you to lose too much fluid or minerals can often lead to muscle cramps.
Leg pain can also be caused by injuries to a torn or overstretched muscle.
Leg pain can be caused by an inflamed tendon, shin splints, or a hairline crack in the bone.

Causes of Lower Back Pain - Although pain or discomfort can happen anywhere, the most common area affected in most people is the lower back. This is because the lower back supports most of the weight of your body. Lower back pain may be acute (short-term), lasting less than one month, or chronic (long-term, continuous, ongoing), lasting longer than three months. While getting acute back pain more than once is common, continuous long-term pain is not.

Lower back pain can occur from:

Small fractures to the spine from osteoporosis
Muscle spasm (very tense muscles that remain contracted)
Ruptured or herniated disk
Degeneration of the disks
Poor alignment of the vertebrae
Spinal stenosis (narrowing of the spinal canal)
Strain or tears to the muscles or ligaments supporting the back

Pain or discomfort can be felt anywhere in the foot, including the heel, toes, arch, instep, sole, or ankles.

Treatments For Foot, Leg, and Back Pain

Are you experiencing the symptoms described above? At Viscolas, we understand the shock your body endures during an active day. Most pain treatment programs include several different components. Common treatments for these types of pain may include:

Apply ice for up to 15 minutes 4 times per day to reduce any pain and swelling immediately after any activity that aggravates your pain. Do not perform activities that involve heavy lifting or twisting of your back for the first 6 weeks after the pain begins.
Elevate your painful foot or leg as much as possible and reduce activity until the problem improves. Gently stretch and massage cramping leg and back muscles. To prevent reoccurrence, perform light cardiovascular training (walking, riding a stationary bicycle, and swimming are great examples). Such aerobic activities can help blood flow to your back and promote healing. They also strengthen muscles in your stomach and back.
Take over-the-counter pain medicine, like ibuprofen or acetaminophen (unless you have a history of any other condition that does not allow you to take one of these drugs).
For leg pain caused by varicose veins, leg elevation and compression with elastic bandages or support hose can help. For leg pain caused by nerve disorders or claudication, control diabetes, eliminate alcohol and tobacco, and avoid ill-fitting shoes.
Wear Viscolas Reliever Insoles. The Viscolas polymer has been specifically designed to dampen skeletal shock (the constant pounding on your lower body from walking on hard surfaces). Reducing the shock reduces the added aggravation to pre-existing painful conditions. By cushioning the lower body, Viscolas insoles help painful areas heal faster.
For foot pain caused by a stress fracture, an extended rest period is often necessary. Crutches may be used for a week or so to take the pressure off, if your foot is particularly painful.

Disclaimer: The above treatments are suggestions based on commonly experienced symptoms and do not represent medical advice. For anything other than minor pain or for persistent pain symptoms, please consult with a Physician for a professional treatment program.