I put my favorite pair of sneakers in the trash today. Now I’m sad.
They were New Balance slip-on sneakers — no laces to tie when I was running late, just slip my feet in and keep moving. Perfect for wearing to my part time job at the cats-only boarding facility, because they were so easy to put on and take off (we change into scrubs when we get to work and change back when the shift is over — another place where not having to tie shoes is SO handy).
But after more than a year of being my favorite shoes, they started to let me down. Shoes wear out, you see (as if you didn’t know that already), and my babies were worn. I was coming home from work every day with my feet aching, and wondering why I was so miserable.
Finally I had to admit that I had a traitor in the house. A pair of traitors! Sneakers that were sneakily not living up to their cushiony, comfortable, on-the-go promises. *sob* I should have realized something was amiss when I started begging strangers for foot rubs. Okay, not really. But my feet were REALLY hurting!
I’ve very reluctantly switched to sneakers that tie, since I’ve got three nearly brand-new pairs sitting in the closet, with only each other for company. Already, my feet feel better. Still, I miss the carefree, tieless, easy days with my old slip-ons.
If your feet are aching, check your shoes for signs of wear. It might be time for a replacement. But here are some other things you can do to relieve the pain:
- Soak your feet. Warm water with Epsom salts can feel great if your feet are tired and achy. Heat increases circulation.
- Ice things down. If your feet/ankles are swollen, ice might feel better than heat AND help reduce swelling.
- If you can’t talk a friend into a foot massage, do it yourself. There are foot-massaging rolling pins with ridges that give a decent massage. Or just rub lotion into your feet!
- Put your feet up. Letting them dangle can make the ache worse, so grab the footstool and get those feet up.
- Check for other sources of foot pain, like corns and bunions, and deal with them, too.