Heel pain is usually caused by inflammation. You can have inflammation due to bone spurs, bad arch support or plantar fasciitis. The cause of your pain will determine which treatment option is the most appropriate for you.
If you have heel pain that is worse in the morning when you first get out of bed, it is probably plantar fasciitis. Plantar fasciitis is an inflammation of the “fascia” or connective tissue on your foot. This fascia stretches from your heel bone to the ball of your foot. If it is inflamed, it will hurt every time you put your foot down. The reason it hurts worse in the morning is because overnight your foot is relaxed and the fascia can shorten a bit. When you first get up, you are stretching that inflamed tissue out. If it is inflamed, that is going to hurt.
One of the most effective natural anti-inflammatory supplements is bromelain. Bromelain is an enzyme derived from pineapples. The bromelain is present in fresh pineapples only. Canned pineapple has been cooked, so the enzymes are destroyed. When taken on an empty stomach, it goes into your bloodstream to help treat inflamed tissue.
When you eat fresh pineapple, you might notice your tongue is red. Many people think they are allergic to pineapples due to this reaction. The bromelain can start to dissolve the inside of your mouth when you eat raw pineapple. The enzyme can work very quickly and your mouth and tongue can become irritated when the protective barrier is dissolved.
Bromelain supplements can be purchased as capsules or tablets. Enzymes are measured in active units, not milligrams. So, you could have a product that has the same number of milligrams but is much stronger. The dosage starts at 600 units and goes up to 3,000. If you take a higher dosage tablet, you can often get relief from one dosage.
If your heel pain is caused by plantar fasciitis, you will also want to consider using shoe inserts to support your arch. You can either go to a podiatrist for a custom fitted orthotic, or you can find them online or at your local pharmacy. Arch supports will help to relieve the pressure that is being placed on the heel. If you can give your heel a cushion, it can recover.
Another pain relieving option is glucosamine sulfate. Glucosamine is a very popular supplement used for back and knee pain. Since your heel is also covered in connective tissue, it needs the extra help of glucosamine to help it heal. Glucosamine works by giving your body the raw material it needs to repair connective or joint tissue. It is also a natural anti-inflammatory.
Topical pain relief creams are especially useful to treat foot pain. Boswellin cream has natural pain relieving herbs that can soak in and relieve pain faster than taking supplements. Most people feel relief within 5 minutes.
It is important to treat pain issues on two levels, externally and internally. Natural supplements like bromelain can be very effective to treat any type of pain.
Heel pain can be quickly resolved with the correct natural remedies. Heel Pain is a common ailment, but with the right tools, you can have fast pain relief.
