Tuesday, April 17, 2018

17 Home Remedies for Tendonitis Foot

tendonitis foot

Tendonitis foot refers to the inflammation of the tendons in your foot. A tendon is a fibrous cord that links the muscles to the bone facilitating all movement in the body. Tendonitis of the foot occurs due to excessive strain on the tendon and can impact the large Achilles tendon or the smaller extensor tendons responsible for toe movement. The condition can occur due to any activity such as walking, running, or any job that involves standing for a long time. Wrong shoes, obesity, bone spurs, and obesity are some other reasons for this problem. In some cases, ganglion cysts can on the tendons, further adding to the discomfort. If you want to know how to treat tendonitis in the foot, then we’ve got you covered. Our home remedies for tendonitis foot will help reduce the swelling and soothe the pain.

Home Remedies for Tendonitis FootWhat is tendonitis in the foot?

The are two types of foot tendonitis to consider:

Extensor tendonitis

  • Foot extensor tendonitis manifests with an aching pain. If the pain of tendonitis on top of foot is in the dorsal area, then this is a clear sign of an inflamed extensor tendon.  The pain will build up with time as you continue to use the tendon to walk.
  • The tendons will weaken, finally restricting your ability to run, jump or hop. Any prolonged activity can make the pain worse.

Achilles tendonitis

  • Achilles tendinitis is a repetitive strain injury of the Achilles tendon, the fibrous band of tissue that links the calf muscles to your heel bone.
  • Achilles tendinitis is very common in runners who increase the intensity of their runs or middle-aged persons who take up sports.
  • However, physical activity usually just provokes inflammation of the tendon where underlying symptoms had been developing for some time.

The symptoms of tendonitis foot for either type of tendonitis can differ from person to person. In some, they resolve within weeks while others experience it for months.

The symptoms generally depend on the severity of your injury. It also depends on the amount of inflammation you have developed. The sooner you adopt home remedies for tendonitis foot, the better.

Symptoms of tendonitis in foot include: [2]

  • pain in leg
  • muscle weakness
  • swelling of foot
  • increased pain upon exercising or moving
  • trouble sleeping

If you suffer from this problem and are wondering how to treat tendonitis in the foot, keep reading. Mentioned below are some of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot that you can rely on.

How to treat tendonitis footHome Remedies for Tendonitis Foot

  1. Prepare an Ice Pack

cold compressIf you want to know how to treat tendonitis in the foot, then the first thing to try is an ice pack.

Using ice to treat ailments is known as cryotherapy. It works by reducing blood flow to the affected area. This, in turn, reduces the inflammation and numbs the nerves.

Inflammation, especially around joints and tendons is the main cause of pain from tendonitis of the foot and a cold compress will help reduce foot tendonitis healing time.

If you have no ice, then try a bag of frozen peas or other small vegetables will do. [3]

To use ice as a home remedy for tendonitis foot, crush the ice. Place it in a plastic bag and wrap it up in a towel.

Now, put this cold pack on the inflamed area for at least 15 minutes. Repeat the process twice every day.

  1. Massage with Olive Oil

olive oilMassaging can help to treat tendonitis foot.  Olive oil is the best home tendonitis treatment. Massaging is works because it can increase the blood flow towards the affected area. [4]

To use olive oil, heat a little bit of this oil and place it on the affected area. Now, gently massage your foot for 10 to 15 minutes. Continue doing it every day until your pain disappears.

If you do not have olive oil, try using mustard oil or sesame oil as an alternative.

  1. Buy some Epsom Salt

epsom saltsEpsom Salt is another tendonitis home remedy as the heat generated will help heal your foot. Magnesium sulfate absorbed from the Epsom salt will strengthen the muscles by providing magnesium ions.

To use Epsom salts for an inflamed foot tendon

  • Take one-half cup of Epsom salt and mix it in a bathtub filled with water.
  • Soak your feet in this water for 60 minutes.
  • Repeat this remedy thrice every week. [5]

Or

  • An alternative way is to mix 2 tablespoons of the salt in a cup of hot water.
  • Soak a piece of cloth in it and place it on your foot.
  • Keep repeating this unless you observe results

Remember that Epsom salt can dry your skin. So, moisturize the skin right after treatment.

  1. Apply Apple Cider Vinegar

apple cider vinegarApple cider vinegar is one of the most effective home remedies for tendonitis foot. This is because it is anti-inflammatory in nature and can help with the pain. [6]

In addition to this, apple cider vinegar is also good for your general health. So, opting this remedy will do you no harm.

To use apple cider vinegar for an inflamed foot tendon

  • Mix two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass full of hot water.
  • Throw in a teaspoon of honey and mix well.
  • Drink this solution thrice every day.
  1. Vinegar Wraps

vinegarVinegar can also be applied topically to treat tendonitis. Hot and cold vinegar wraps can get rid of the inflammation and the pain associated with this condition. [7]

Heat wraps, in particular, reduce the pain and heal the sore muscles. Cold treatments, on the other hand, can help reduce inflammation. Vinegar itself is anti-inflammatory and can help with the process of healing.

To use a vinegar wrap

  • Add white vinegar in equal parts with hot and cold water. Take a towel, soak it in the hot vinegar solution and place it on the foot for ten minutes.
  • Follow this by soaking the towel in the cold solution and repeat the process.
  • Keep repeating this process three times to observe effects.
  • In the end, apply some moisturizer on the foot to avoid dryness.
  1. Use Cayenne Pepper

pepperCayenne pepper is loaded with a chemical called capsaicin. Capsaicin is a pain reliever and can naturally treat any aches in the body. It also has a warming effect that soothes the body. [8]

To use cayenne pepper as a tendonitis foot remedy

  • Mix a spoonful of pepper with half cup of olive oil.
  • Mix well and apply the solution to the affected foot.
  • Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash it later.
  • Repeat this several times every day until you observe improvements in the condition.

Be careful that this solution is not applied to open wounds or broken skin.

  1. Get Carbonated Water

water cleanerCarbonated water is one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot. Through a process of reverse osmosis, it can reduce the excessive fluid build up in the foot and help with the inflammation.

It is also very easy to use. All you need is a big pan full of carbonated water.

Soak your feet in this carbonated water for 15 minutes. Do those two times every day. This can not only relieve the pain but make you feel refreshing.

  1. Go for Sage

sagePhenolic compounds derived from plants have received much attention during recent years owing to their potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

Plant phenolics also interact to prevent various diseases and can prevent cell damage from free radicals.

Sage is one plant that is full of these plant phenols. It is these phenols that make sage a wonderful home remedy for tendonitis foot as the phenols have been shown to reduce inflammation and pain. [9]

To use sage for an inflamed foot tendon,

  • Take some fresh sage leaves and rub these between your hands to break the leaves up.
  • Boil these leaves in half cup of apple cider vinegar for 5 minutes.
  • Remove it from the heat and soak a piece of cloth in it.
  • Apply this cloth on your foot after wringing out the excess water.
  • Keep the cloth on the affected area for at least 10 minutes.

Alternatively, you may also use sage leaves to make yourself a nice cup of herbal tea.

  1. Asparagus

asparagusAsparagus has strong diuretic properties. It can help remove all the excess fluid from the system. It is this build-up of fluid around the inflamed tendon that causes the inflammation and pain. [10]

To use asparagus as one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot, consume it in your diet every day. Be sure to use it in freshest forms only.

You may also try steaming the asparagus and eat it along with fresh fish and yogurt.

10.  Soak in a lot of Vitamin E

vitaminVitamin E has antioxidant properties and can help reduce the levels of free radicals in the body. Vitamin E is one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot. [11]

Vitamin E can also boost your circulatory function, speed healing, and reduce swelling. To use vitamin E for this purpose, apply vitamin E oil on the affected foot.

You can also try eating food items rich in vitamin E.

  1. Turmeric

turmericTurmeric is one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot. It has curcumin which can reduce the swelling and pain linked to tendonitis. [12]

To use turmeric for tendonitis

  • Mix one teaspoon of turmeric in a cup of milk.
  • Let it boil for 5 minutes and remove from the stove.
  • Add a bit of honey and drink it to fasten the healing.
  • Curcumin supplements are also an option but it is preferable if you stick to the natural sources.
  1. Apply Aloe Vera Juice

aloe veraAloe vera is a great way of reducing inflammation and can reduce the signs of tendonitis. In fact, it can be one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot. [13]

To use aloe vera, extract the juice from 2 aloe vera leaves. Mix it in half a glass of water. Mix it and apply the solution on the affected area.

Let the solution stay for half an hour before removing it. Rinse the foot with the help of warm water.

  1. Try Acupuncture

acupunctureMost of the time, the blocked energy pathways can cause pain. In these circumstances, it might be worth trying acupuncture. This technique can unblock all the energy pathways and reduce your suffering.

Acupuncture is one of the best home remedies for tendonitis foot. The technique leads to the release of opioids in your nervous system and calms you down.

  1. Wear a foot brace

foot brace for tendonitis

Extensor tendonitis tends to happen when because you spend a lot of time on your feet or ill-fitting wearing shoes.

If you feel a pain on the top of your foot, this is probably an inflamed extensor tendon.

An extensor tendonitis foot brace is a fantastic home treatment for these inflamed tendons. It is always a good idea to provide extra support to the tendons. If one tendon is strained, the body tends to overcompensate by using the other tendons more.

A foot brace takes the strain across all the tendons allowing the foot to rest properly.

An extensor foot tendonitis foot brace also constricts the foot which reduces the build-up of fluids.

Less fluids and a relaxed tendon will speed up your recovery.

  1. Make a Potato Paste

potatoYou can try making a potato paste as a home remedy for tendonitis foot.

  • Get a big-sized potato and boil it.
  • Let it cool down and mash it down.
  • Apply the mashed potato on the affected area.
  • Cover the area with a clean cotton cloth after it.
  • Leave the paste on the foot for half an hour. Repeat this remedy twice for three days to reduce swelling and pain. [14]
  1. Tea Tree Oil

tea treeIn response to many infections and mild abrasions, the body produces substances known as cytokines, and these cytokines cause an inflammatory response in the damaged tissue.

Our home remedies to treat tendonitis work because they reduce the body’s production of cytokines, reducing the inflammation.

Tea tree oil is highly anti-inflammatory. It is especially effective as a tendonitis treatment because, in one lab experiment (15), tea tree essential oil was shown to reduce the cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-10) which are known to be produced in patients with inflamed tendons.

  1. Ginger

gingerGinger is another great home remedy for tendonitis in foot.

Studies on rats have shown that ginger extracts again reduce anti-inflammatory cytokines which cause the chronic tendon inflammation. (16)

Ginger is also an excellent antibacterial agent and demonstrates an ability to kill microbes for up to 2 weeks in laboratory experiments. (17)

To use Ginger for tendonitis

  • Mix one teaspoon of crushed ginger in a cup of water.
  • Let it boil for 5 minutes and remove from the stove.
  • Add a bit of honey and drink it to fasten the healing.

Try and include as much ginger as possible in your cooking.

Do’s

  • Give rest to your foot
  • Consume an anti-inflammatory diet
  • Reduce your alcohol intake

Don’ts

  • Do not take part in any hard exercises
  • Avoid drinking too much caffeine
  • Do not consume too much salt

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