Dang shoes!!!

Might want to look at different pairs of Danskos. They used to make a shoe that had a more rubberized sole and were a little more giving.

Also try gel arch supports.

Hi, Tess
I wore Danskos for years, then started having trouble w/my back and feet after moving to a much busier OR. I hated to go the sneaker route, but trail runners have changed my world! They have more support and my entire body is more comfortable since I made the change. Good luck. Linda

Crocs just came out with a bunch of new styles. I currently have the ones that don't have holes on the top, but there are side vents for ventilation. I believe their new name is the "professional" style. They are six months old, and I work full-time so I need to replace them soon, per the company's recommendation. I can see them wearing down. Maybe you just need a new pair?

I'm ordering the new "relief" style - looks just like the ones I have but are more supportive and orthopedic-like. If you don't mind the holes on the top (though in the OR I'm guessing that's a bad idea) there is a new style called "cloud" that is made for diabetics who have sensitive feet.

I mean, for $39.99, Crocs are one shoe you can experiment with a bit.

www.crocs.com

A lot of people rave about the Z coils for sneakers, but you know how ORs are: Cords and Cable Central. The coil would get snagged on suction tubes, slave cables, SCDs cord and tubbing.

Before I wore Crocs and Danskos, I always bought white Sketchers. Never had a problem with my feet wearing those.

Meanwhile i had the opposite problem. The first pair of shoes i bought for the OR were Sketchers. My feet ached so bad, i might as well had walked on the bare floor.

The Cardiovascular Surgeon told me about Merrills (possible spelling error, they are in the locker at work and I am at home.). They are a slip on with just a small heel rise, almost a clog but stay on your feet much better. I have had mine for 8 months now and they are great. I have put in a couple 16 hour days scrubed in and in x-ray lead and my feet were fine. My back killed me from carrying around the lead but that's another story. A couple days ago had a blood spill and thought I had ruined them but it only got on the outside and never soaked throught to my white socks. I washed them and allowed them to dry for a day and am back in business. Sure missed them that one day though. A friend told me that when you find a pair of shoes that you like you need to buy two pairs and allow them to dry for 24 hours before you wear them again. She says she can make two pairs last 4 times as long that way. I'm going to try is some day and post an answer in 2010.

I've never found anything for 12 hr days... in or out of the OR. I keep extras in my locker and switch from crocs (most comfy) to sneaks (OK comfy) for the last few hrs. I wnder if Z coils would work with shoe covers to protect the sides from snagging? I've only seen them in pictures though.