Osteoarthritis causes the cartilage around your joints to wear down and often affects the joints of your big toes, heels and ankles. When cartilage wears down, you can experience joint inflammation as the bones have no protective layer and are left to rub against each other every time you use those affected joints. Foot pain caused by osteoarthritis can be treated with prescription painkillers and corticosteroid injections, which bring down inflammation, but there are alternative treatment options that don't involve taking medication. Here's an overview of three drug-free treatments:

Paraffin Wax Therapy

This gentle, soothing treatment is carried out by a podiatrist and uses a combination of heat and massage to soothe pain, reduce stiffness and improve circulation. Your feet are submerged in warm paraffin wax, which is left to set. This part of the treatment seals in heat and boosts your circulation. Blood carries oxygen and nutrients to your tissues, so improving blood flow can encourage healing and reduce inflammation. When the wax is removed, the podiatrist will give your feet a soothing massage to bring relief from stiffness. Paraffin wax therapy works best if it's repeated regularly, and the podiatrist will advise you on the recommended frequency of appointments.

Topical Capsaicin

Capsaicin is the active compound in chillies that gives them their fiery kick. It's extracted and used in alternative medicine as a natural pain reliever. Capsaicin effectively blocks the chemical in your body that transmits pain impulses to your brain. Although the effects are only temporary, and you need to keep repeating the treatment, capsaicin can offer quick relief from foot pain when massaged into the site of the pain. Topical capsaicin can be bought as a cream or lotion, and if your local pharmacy doesn't stock it, they should be able to order it in for you.  

Orthotic Insoles

When cartilage wears away, it's common to experience misalignment of your joints as they no longer have enough support. Custom-made orthotic insoles can be used to provide support to your joints. The insoles prevent your foot arches from collapsing and alter the distribution of weight across your feet to prevent any area of your feet experiencing too much stress.  A podiatrist will measure your feet and assess their condition before writing you a prescription for insoles that will be tailored to the needs of your feet.

The foot pain caused by osteoarthritis can prevent you enjoying an active lifestyle, but prescription drugs can cause side effects, such as headaches and gastrointestinal upset. If you'd like to avoid taking painkillers and anti-inflammatory medication, give these alternatives a go.