Which is Best for Foot Pain – Heat or Ice? Relieving foot pain and inflammation requires proper treatment. Applying ice or heat to the affected area can provide significant relief, but you must pick the appropriate method for your issue or condition. If heat and ice therapy don’t work, see an emergency foot doctor for a proper diagnosis and treatment. Understanding cold therapy Cold therapy constricts blood vessels and decreases blood flow to minimize bruising and swelling. It also has a numbing effect on the nerves and tissues to ease inflammation and pain. There are many ways to apply cold therapy on a painful or inflamed foot. The most convenient way is using an ice gel pack, but you may opt for a cold bath or a pack of frozen peas. It depends on your preference. If you can, try socks with chilled gel packs. Some cold therapy products are not meant to be applied directly to the skin, so wrap them in a towel before use. If you prefer a foot soak, use cold, not freezing water. Whatever you use, it’s best to apply it to the affected area for 10 to 20 minutes at several intervals throughout the day, depending on your situation. A podiatrist can tell you more about this. Should you use cold therapy? Cold therapy is advisable as urgent care for foot pain caused by acute injuries like ligament tears, strains, fractures, or sprains. Your feet and ankles have so many joints and bones, making inflammation likely to occur on your connective tissues. An emergency foot doctor may also recommend cold therapy to relieve pain from conditions like Achilles tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, metatarsalgia, and gout. However, it’s not advisable to use ice if you have diabetes, cardiovascular issues, Reynauld’s Syndrome, or hypersensitivity to the cold. Understanding heat therapy Heat works by dilating blood vessels to improve circulation. Better blood flow nourishes the ligaments, bones, and muscles with oxygen and essential nutrients. It also encourages waste product removal to promote healing and ease the pain. The simplest way to apply heat therapy is by wrapping a hot water bottle with a towel or cloth. You can also use a warm towel, wheat bag, warm bath, or heat pad. Use a hot water bottle or heat pad for up to eight hours. If you’re using moist heat like heat packs or a hot bath, be sure not to exceed two hours. Ideally, you should apply heat therapy for 20 minutes at regular intervals several times daily. If you’re soaking in warm water, try adding some Epsom salts to enhance the therapeutic effect. It’s a mineral-rich compound that absorbs through the skin to soothe and relax sore muscles, arthritis, and joint pain. Should you use heat therapy? Don’t use heat for new injuries, burns, open wounds, skin conditions, or infections. Likewise, avoid it if you have a heart condition or high blood pressure. Always seek help from an emergency foot doctor before using heat to treat any pain in your feet or legs. What should you use? Consult a podiatrist for advice and get urgent care for foot pain. Urgent Care For Feet has board-certified podiatrists who can treat most foot and ankle cases seen in emergency rooms at a more reasonable cost. Our clinics are well-equipped to diagnose and treat foot pain.