That "Hate To Get Out of Bed" Feeling

Normal logic suggests that, all else being equal (strange saying, as nothing is generally equal to anything else in this life), when your feet hurt at the end of the day, a good night's sleep will make them feel better in the morning. Hogwash. That's what I said - hogwash. Something about your feet just laying there all night seems to make them even more tender first thing in the morning. That is, if they let you get any sleep at all. So, is there any way to change this situation?

The answer to this is - sort of. There are a number of things you can do to allow your feet a better night's sleep, and to reduce the amount of inflammation during the night so that the pain is actually reduced by morning. Note I say "reduced," and not "stopped." That is because we all have somewhat different levels of pain, inflammation, and abilities to recover. Plus, the greater the amount of activities that occurred the prior day seems to play into this equation, though again, it can vary.

So, here are some tips: (The links supplied should be copied and pasted into your browser's address bar.)

• Invest in a blanket raiser. This is a simple device, sort of a frame that slips under the foot of your bed to drape the blankets over, which allows your feet to stay warm without the weight of the blankets pulling them down. One such place to see what this looks like is at http://www.toespace.com/ where you can see how simple such a device is. Those of a more enterprising bent can easily make their own.

• Consider elevating your legs at night. The simplest solution is some large pillows at the end of the bed, but you can also acquire a large foam wedge. The idea is to get your legs above the level of your heart. This will help reduce edema - inflammation - significantly. If your legs have the tendency to fall outward, then simply place a couple of smaller pillows under the outsides of your upper legs. This will reduce pressure on the femoral head and the hip joints. Here is a link to one example (there are many places to buy these - this is not an endorsement of this specific seller): http://www.makemeheal.com/mmh/product.do?id=10052

• Ice packs - use ice packs or wraps for at least twenty minutes before going to bed. This is another way to get the inflammation down. Here is a link to a page with many examples of the ice wraps available: http://www.amazon.com/s/?ie=UTF8&keywords=ice+packs+for+feet&tag=googhydr-20&index=aps&hvadid=1099039481&hvpos=1t2&hvexid=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=18577333431008496381&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=b&hvdev=c&ref=pd_sl_3bblda0974_b

• Take some aspirin before bed. If regular aspirin is too much for your stomach - maybe you have an ulcer, in which case regular aspirin is NOT a good idea - you can take what is called enteric-coated aspirin. This type of aspirin doesn't dissolve in your stomach, but in your intestines, so is safe for those who have issues with aspirin. Aspirin is one of the very best medications for the reduction of inflammation, better than many prescription NSAIDs (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs). Cheaper, too! 

• Massage your feet. Use a nice lotion, maybe even something like Tiger Balm, or any other deep-heating cream or lotion. Stretch the joints of your feet slowly and as fully as you can. Move the joint to the end of it's range of motion and hold it for a few minutes before releasing it. Where possible, move each joint in both directions, to help open the joint spaces temporarily, thus giving them a little break. Be nice to yourself, especially to your feet! You deserve it! Some samples of good lotions and creams can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=deep-heating+pain+relief+creams+and+lotions&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Adeep-heating+pain+relief+creams+and+lotions

No one of the above suggestions will do the trick - you really need to try them all, until you find the right combination that works for you. But I am convinced that it is possible to wake up with your feet feeling a lot better than when you laid down to go to bed last night. Develop your own ritual. Be nice to your feet! And they will thank you for it!