Tortured Toes

Your feet hurt after walking in high heels for a while.

Fast 411: The numbness comes from the nerves in your feet being pinched by shoes that don’t fit correctly. High heels compound the problem, says Caroline Tiglio, a podiatrist in Newark, Del., by putting extra pressure on the balls of your feet. Giving yourself a toe massage will bring back feeling, but if you’re in a place where that’s not OK — like in a business meeting — slip your foot partially out of your shoe and wiggle your toes. “Switch to flatter shoes with a roomier toe-box,” adds Tiglio. Or try padded shoe inserts, like Dr. Scholl’s Massaging Gel Ball Foot Cushions, $7, drugstore.com.

Burnt Tongue

You scarfed down a spoonful of steaming soup — and ouch! You were reminded again how tender the skin on your tongue is, and how easily it swells and stings.

Fast 411: “For instant relief, dull the pain by sucking on something very cold, like an ice cube,” says Peter Jacobsen, D.D.S. If the sting is unbearable, Jacobsen recommends sucking on a throat lozenge like Cepacol or applying a canker sore ointment like Orabase: both contain the numbing ingredient benzocaine. Your tongue should heal within a day. If you see blisters on its surface, or are still in pain after 24 hours, call your doctor.

Paper Cut

Though considered a super-ficial wound, the pain can cut pretty deep.

Fast 411: Massachusetts paramedic Jonathan L. Epstein recommends immediately washing the cut with water, applying direct pressure for a few minutes to stop the bleeding, then applying a triple-antibiotic ointment. Bandage the wound, too, he says; it may not quell the pain, but it will help prevent infection.

Pulled Muscle

That sore feeling in your leg, back or arm is probably the result of a strained muscle. Overuse, a sudden, awkward movement and improper stretching are the most common culprits.

Fast 411: To speed recovery time, think “RICE” (rest, ice, compression and elevation), says Kathleen Cowling, spokesperson for the American College of Emergency Physicians. Avoid using the strained muscle as much as possible and apply an ice pack for 20 minutes every three hours. Wrap the injured area with an ace bandage and — if it’s your arm or leg that’s affected — elevate it so it rests above, rather than in line with, your heart. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, says Cowling, will also help alleviate soreness.

Toothache

On the pain scale, these can range from “slight” (sensitivity to hot or cold liquids) to “excruciating” (it hurts to chew!).

Fast 411: Switching to a desensitizing toothpaste can remedy temperature sensitivity, says Jacobsen. But if you’re in constant pain, by all means, call the dentist, he advises: “It means a tooth is in trouble.” For a little relief while you’re waiting for your appointment, take 400mg of ibuprofen four times a day.