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August 28, 2010 - Chronic pain and shoes

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This week, Dr. Cassaro discussed Chronic pain and shoes.

Many chronic pain conditions can result from poorly fitting shoes; especially women's shoes. In addition to chronic pain in the feet, chronic pain can occur throughout the body as well.

Please enjoy the show review, and if you have any questions, feel free to contact Dr. Cassaro radio@painlessliving.net

Q- What types of shoes are generally considered bad?

A- Most shoes are not bad, or good for that matter...they just don't support your feet very well. Over time; this lack of support can lead to chronic pain in the feet and throughout the rest of the body. Perhaps the leading culprit for this pain is women's shoes (i.e. high heels)- there is not only a lack of support, but the very design of these shoes encourages lots of health complications.

Q- What are some pain conditions in the feet that result from poorly fitting shoes?

A- Here are just a few of the pain conditions that can occur in the feet; and can be directly caused by poorly fitting shoes:

Morton's Neuroma
Plantar Faciitis
Arthritis
Arch pain
Bunions
Bone spurs
Ligament/tendon weakness
Circulation issues

Q- Are there effective treatments for these conditions?

A- Yes! Each condition listed above can be treated by a physician, or foot specialist. However, if you continue to wear the shoes that caused the pain, the pain will return. Here are some treatments "in-office" and "at home".

Condition	In-office treatment	At home treatment
Morton's Neuroma- nerve tumor (non-cancerous)	Injections, surgery, exercise recommendations, nerve blocks, metabolic analysis	Topical medications, Epsom salt baths, fish oil, Alpha Lipoic Acid, restrict sugar, restrict grains, wear proper-fitting shoes
Plantar faciitis	Injections, nerve blocks, surgery, physical therapy, anti-inflammatory medications, thyroid testing/metabolic therapy	Epsom salt, rolling tennis ball or soup can under arch, daily walks, sugar restrictions, wear proper-fitting shoes
Arthritis	Injections for pain relief, prescription-strength topical medications, diet recommendations, thyroid/metabolic testing/adjustments	MSM lotion, topical medications, Epsom salt soak, exercise, wear proper-fitting shoes
Ligament/tendon weakness	Injections to strengthen ligaments, exercise recommendations, metabolic testing/therapy, surgery	Epsom salt baths, topical medications, eat right, sleep right, exercise often, stop wearing poorly-fitting shoes (constrict ligament/tendon movement)

Q- What are some chronic pain conditions that may result from wearing my poorly-fitting shoes?

A- Although the list of pain conditions that are caused ultimately by poorly-fitting shoes, here are some of the most common:

Upper back pain
Low back pain
shoulder pain
Knee pain
Hip pain
Headaches
Irritable Bowel Syndrome
Digestive complications
Dizziness
Fatigue
Sleep conditions (insomnia)

Q- Putting it all together...?

A- The main concern when discussing poorly-fitting shoes is the way they can alter the preferred curvature of the spine. A very complex network of crucial nerves travel along the spine...when it's natural curvature is altered (wearing poorly-fitting shoes), these nerves are pinched, crushed, and stretched. Since these nerves regulate digestion, balance, heart-rate, circulation, and many other things...these functions may all become compromised. In most cases, treatment for all of these conditions is rather simple: STOP WEARING POORLY-FITTING SHOES. Yep, that's it...that simple. Although your doctor can treat each of these conditions with pain medication, surgery, and other treatments...they are short-lived. True effective, (lasting) relief will only come after you begin wearing shoes that are made to support your feet properly.

Q. What is the most important factor in a full recovery?

A. You are the most important factor in treating your pain. What you eat, how you sleep, and how often you exercise all influence your body greatly. The best treatment is prevention. People who eat right, sleep well, and exercise have a much lower chance of having any chronic pain condition. If you are in pain now, adding these three key components will reduce the length of time and level of severity in which you suffer. It sounds too simple to be true, but it works!!

REMEMBER:: EAT RIGHT + SLEEP RIGHT + EXERCISE

Eat right- Avoid sugar, grains, and starchy foods. When shopping at the grocery, stay in the fresh produce section, and buy fresh meat from the butcher counter. Avoid the rest of the store, and eat NOTHING that comes in a plastic bag (all processed foods).
Exercise- Do this every day...even a brisk, short walk does wonders for your metabolism, joints, and circulatory/nervous system.
Sleep- Your body repairs and maintains itself while you sleep. If your job puts strain/stress on your body, you need rest (good sleep) to heal from these daily stresses. After a major injury, be sure to get lots of restful sleep. remember, being unconscious is not the same thing as sleeping....alcohol and sleep medications may render you unconscious, but your body's natural healing and bio-rythym cycles are disrupted, resulting in bad or no healing.

There are many in-office treatments for chronic pain; including metabolic, hormonal, diet, nutrition, medications, etc. To learn more about your options, click here

LISTEN TO THE FULL SHOW HERE!

Other treatments for chronic pain conditions

Things you can do at home:

Nutritional supplements- There are two in particular that help to restore function, lubrication, and reduce chronic arthritis pain: Glucosamine, and fish oil. These can be purchased at just about any drug store, grocery store, and nutritional-specialty stores. Although easy to purchase, the effectiveness of these vary greatly. Most store brands, and generic brands lack purity and efficacy. To get the most from your nutritional supplements, choose a brand you can trust.

(If you want the highest quality, choose Painless Living Brand Glucosamine and fish oil)

Inversion table- You can purchase one of these devices at a very reasonable cost (especially when you factor in the savings from reducing frequent trips to the doctor's office). Inversion tables are most effective for arthritis pain in the hips, legs, back, and neck.

Apply heat- Applying heat can greatly reduce the pain from chronic arthritis. Try to appl;y a heating pad, or soak in a warm bath frequently.

NSAID's- Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID's), are a class of non-prescription medications that can reduce pain and inflammation associated with arthritis. These include ibuprofen, Aleve, Motrin, Tylenol, and aspirin.

Topical medications- Try applying topical medications and creams to painful joints that are close to the surface of the skin (knuckles, elbows, wrist, ankles, etc.). These creams may not help deeper joints as effectively.

Exercise- Try to take a walk every day. Even a short walk is very beneficial to the healing process. If you are in so much pain that you are unable to walk, try a heated pool therapy program.

Drink lots of water- Hydration is very important to the joints. Reduce intake of all non-water beverages.

Sleep- Get restful sleep, go to bed early, and eliminate distractions. When considering sleep, it's not "quantity", it's "quality".

Diet- Certain foods can add to inflammation and increase pain sensitivity. It's pretty simple: Eat lots of fresh vegetables, some fruit, and a little meat. Nothing in a box, nothing with an "explanatory label", nothing that man has processed, and ZERO sugar.

Here are some treatment to discuss with your doctor:

Prescription topical medications- Just like the ones listed in "home remedies" only much stronger. These creams are made by a compounding pharmacist. You can download a guide to share with your doctor here.

Radio frequency- This treatment uses small pulses of micro-wave frequency applied through the insertion of needles pinpointed at the exact spot the pain is coming from. This is especially effective for nerve pain associated with arthritis.

Spinal stimulation- A small device is surgically implanted that reduces pain by "scrambling" the pain signals sent to the brain. This is a good treatment for chronic arthritis pain in the back and neck.

Chiropractor- Chiropractors can manipulate the joints that are causing the pain, relieve pressure and restore stability.

Diet/nutrition modifications- Dr. Cassaro can provide a personalized nutrition profile, and make recommendations for complete diet changes that will reduce pain, and improve overall health and wellness. More information.

Injections- There are several different types, some to control pain, some to block nerves, and some to inject lubrication into the joints. Some injections (prolotherapy) encourage growth of scars on injured ligaments, which help to strengthen and reinforce damaged ligaments.

Physical therapy- Specialized exercises that strengthen neck.

If you want to contact Dr. Cassaro before the next show with your pain question, email radio@painlessliving.net