A podiatrist will help you to manage the pain in your feet if you are on oestrogen blockers for breast cancer
If you are a breast cancer survivor in your fifties and your tumour was oestrogen receptive, you will be on long term oestrogen blocking medication. You will also know that joint pain is an inevitable side effect of this medication, particularly in your ankles, wrists, knees and feet. In fact, pain in the feet is often associated with oestrogen blockers. To manage this pain, you should consult a podiatrist.
The role of the podiatrist
A podiatrist is a specialist in treating problems with feet and will understand how to help you to cope with having chronically sore feet. The treatment for this may include pain relief medication, special exercises and advice on what behaviours to avoid that may make the pain worse. Another part of the treatment will be advice on what shoes to wear and may include the design and production of orthotics that are placed inside your shoes to help with the support of your feet.
Get up and get moving
One of the best ways to treat any form of joint pain and especially the pain in your feet is to do exercise. This does not mean that you have to aim to run a half-marathon, or to cycle a major race, or any race at all. It is about mobilising your joints with regular exercise according to the parameters your doctor may set for you. You should also be guided by the degree of pain you feel and your tolerance for the pain.
Whatever exercise you do, make sure you use the correct shoes because supporting your feet properly will be an important part of treating them. In this you should be advised by your podiatrist, who will also look at your stride and your tread when considering what shoes it would be best for you to wear.
Manage the pain
If you weigh up the benefits of taking the oestrogen blocking medication with the pain it causes in your joints and in your feet, you will inevitably accept that the medication is necessary. What is not necessary is to have to suffer through the period of treatment. You need to find ways to manage the pain to make sure that it does not impact on your lifestyle too much. In order to manage the pain in your feet specifically, you should consult a podiatrist who will be able to help you to achieve a tolerable lifestyle while undergoing the long term treatment.
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