“When my feet hurt, I hurt all over!”  Podiatrists hear this so frequently.  This is how people feel about their foot pain.  They can’t think clearly or focus because of the aching pain.   Pain is the number one reason a person will seek professional care.  I know that, when I get rid of their foot pain, I am helping them “all over”.

People can be unnecessarily mean when their feet hurt.  It is not easy to get along with someone under these circumstances.  When their feet hurt, “people skills” go out the window.  When I help one of my patients who has a particularly bad problem with their feet, that I know has just got to hurt miserably, I advise them to go back and apologize to everyone who head they bit off!  It tickles me to see that “How did you know?” look of guilt on their face!

Astute psychiatrists recognize that when their patients do not respond to the antipsychotic medication, it could be that their feet hurt.  Inability to cope with life’s stresses can often coincide with neglect of personal health needs.  When the patient’s foot pain is properly addressed, they respond better to the psychiatrist’s therapy, reducing the amount of medication needed to control their symptons.

So the next time you notice how irritable a person may be, ask them, “Do your feet hurt?”

                                                                                                              -Dr. Rene Settle-Robinson