Tips to Relieve Foot Pain From Psoriatic Arthritis

Medically Reviewed by David Zelman, MD on August 04, 2022
3 min read

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) can be painful, especially for your feet. Their soles may be sensitive and your heel may ache (enthesitis), or individual toes may swell (dactylitis). You could have areas of scaly skin and even damage to your toenails.

Not to mention, you can have general swelling and pain in an entire foot or both feet at the same time. It’s no wonder that this can make it hard to do regular activities.

Thankfully, you have options for treating your foot pain. You may not be able to completely get rid of your symptoms, but it is possible to keep active and enjoy life.

Pamper them. At home, you can relieve tension by doing foot stretches, soaking your feet in warm water, or even massaging them with your hands or a tool like a foam roller. While you sleep, you can also wear a splint on your foot and leg that keeps them at a 90-degree angle. The splint will relieve stress from your Achilles tendon and the tissue between your heel and toes on the bottom of your foot.

Try hot and cold methods. You can wrap a warm cloth around your feet and let the heat soothe your symptoms. Another way to calm aching feet and bring down swelling is by resting them on a bag of ice or pack of frozen vegetables covered by a towel for about 10 minutes. You can also get the same benefits from a frozen water bottle when you use it to massage your feet.

Kick bad habits. Alcohol and nicotine aren’t only bad for your overall health, they can also make your symptoms worse and disrupt your treatment.

Buy the right shoes. You should skip shoes that cram your toes into a small space. Wide and open-toed shoes are a much better choice, since your feet and toes will still be comfortable even if they swell. You should also look for shoes with ankle support, which reduce pain and can help prevent injury.

Consider acupuncture. A licensed acupuncturist puts very thin needles into specific areas of your body. The process doesn’t usually hurt, and it can help your body provide natural pain relief. Studies haven’t proved that acupuncture can treat psoriatic arthritis pain, but a review of studies did show benefits for people with chronic pain.

Get orthotic shoe inserts. You can use shoe inserts from the store or ones custom-made for you to ease pressure and support your feet. Your podiatrist can tell you the right kind of inserts to buy, based on examining your body and watching how you walk.

Stay active. Exercise can still be a part of your life, and smart movement might even help you lessen pain and stiffness. You could focus on strength training or water aerobics instead of workouts that put constant pressure on your feet. If you aren’t sure where to begin, a physical or occupational therapist can help create a plan that won’t make your symptoms worse.

Lose weight. If you’re overweight, losing some of it could greatly relieve the pressure on your joints and help ease your foot pain. Studies show that weight loss can also make your treatment more effective, especially if you’re obese (BMI of 30 or higher) and lose at least 10% of your body weight.

Avoid certain activities. You should stay away from hobbies or tasks that make your pain more intense. When you do spend long amounts of time on your feet, take regular breaks to sit down and rest.