Heels might be the type of shoe that you will only wear to special events and so you may only be wearing them very occasionally, but even wearing them for a few hours can come with some consequences. It’s true that you’ll look good and stand out at an event and sure they will also be perfect for that new designer dress you have, but the pain that follows can be unbearable and it’s often not worth it in the long term. Many ladies will just ignore the pain until it gradually goes away after a few days, but heel pain or heel hangover can sometimes be intolerable.
Before you vow never to wear heels again, it’s good to know that there are several things you can do to relieve the pain and in some instances even prevent it. Whether your heel hangover is mild and a little achy, or intense and severe, here are five ways of getting the relief that you desire.
Stretches and Exercises
Wearing heels will force your feet to adopt an unnatural position. This position tightens the Achilles tendon, and this is one of the reasons why your feet will be painful. Once you realise that you have heel hangover, the first step should always be to do some stretches and exercises to relax your Achilles tendon and the surrounding muscles. A runner’s wall stretch and a few yoga poses should be enough for your aching feet, but anything that will entail stretching the calf muscles will also be helpful.
Soak your Feet in Epsom Salt Bath
Soaking your feet for a few minutes can work magic when dealing with the foot pain that comes from wearing heels. You can make a simple foot bath with Epsom salt and a few drops of your favourite essential oil. Apart from relaxing your achy feet, an Epsom salt soak is also helpful in soothing sore feet, which is just what you need to help get rid of the pain. The body will absorb minerals in the Epsom salt, such as magnesium and sulphate, through the skin and offer you almost instant relief. Also, the magnesium will help to repair and build tissues and is therefore good for the health of your feet in the long term too.
Deep Massage
A deep massage is a must-have after a night out wearing heels, and it can be one of the quickest and most useful ways of dealing with heel hangover. The deep massage will help to alleviate anxiety, encourage the flow of blood in your legs and also help to relax your tense muscles. Deep tissues massage doesn’t require any specialised equipment, and you can even do it on your own. Using some essential oils or a massage oil with a sweet scent can also be very helpful and relaxing.
Treat the Open Blisters
Sometimes the foot pain that you get from wearing heels is as a result of open blisters, and so you need to treat them first before you try the other remedies. Various things can cause blisters, but the heels of your shoes being too tight or having a rough material on the inside of the footwear that causes friction are the leading causes. When you treat the blisters it is essential to avoid the temptation of popping the ones that are yet to run their course, as this only makes them more painful and can cause some nasty wounds and increases the risk of infection.
Wear Sneakers
It is vital to make sure that you allow your feet enough time to rest after wearing heels. And one of the best ways to do this is by wearing sneakers or some comfortable flat shoes. Even if the sneakers don’t go well with the outfit, you should wear them and give your feet time to recover if you don’t want any long-term damages. Also make sure that the sneakers have sufficient cushioning to protect your sore feet and you can even wear padded socks with them to get extra cushioning. Sometimes even this will not be enough, in which case you would be well served to invest in a pair of shoe insoles from Protalus. These can help to correct alignment issues with your feet and reduce pain from heel spurs, plantar fasciitis, and many other foot conditions. Check this list of shoes for heel pain
Conclusion
Heel pain should never stop you from wearing that pair of heels that you love or makes you look trendy. There are numerous things that you can do to get some relief the next day and also to prevent it in future. The five points above will help you deal with the pain the next day, but if you want to avoid foot pain altogether, you should make sure that the shoes fit well, so go for ones with thick soles and get rid of the ones with thin soles. The bottom line is to make sure that the heels are as comfortable as possible and also avoid wearing them for too long continuously. Doing this will minimize the heel hangover and make it easier to deal with afterwards.
*collaborative post
