Hi I'm a nursing student working two jobs as a tech on ICU and aide at nursing home. I'm about a month into the jobs and being up on my feet 24/7 is already taking an amazing toll on my feet. I wake up in the morning and its really painful just to walk around. I'm off today and just walking around everywhere is ridiculous with the pain. Whats the inside secret (God, please let there be one) on how best to learn how to deal with this or avoid. Are there particular shoes out there that help. If so, please let me in on the brand and EXACT model shoe. I'm dieing over here and I feel like a total wuss for posting this. I'm a guy too so my ego is going out window when I'm talking about something like this (booo hooo don't cry for me Argentina!). :crying2:
Wow, this thread is so timely for my issues at the moment. I have an upcoming interview for nursing home job.( I swore off LTC, but we had income drop, and need to pay the bills.) Anyhow, I have been asking if I would be able to handle the pain on my feet. I have been having much pain with my feet. I have been trying to walk to lose weight, but it gets so painful. I bought the Dr. School inserts.
Went to a podiatrist, and I do not care for him, but only one in my network. All he did was glance at my feet and put some inserts in my shoes. Oh yeah, first he offered me a shot. I declined wanted a more conservative approach and know the shot is only temporary relief. He told me to come back in a week. He came in the room and asked what he could do for me, Um... shouldn't he have my chart on him. He just had a basket of supplies. I was grossed out at my last appointment. There was a basket of toenails left in the room. The nurse did not remove them, and it didn't seem to bother the dr. Also, he did not wash his hands prior to my visit, nor after. He touched my feet, too! That was enough to get me running for the door. I decided that I am going to a shoe store specialist and invest in some orthopedic shoes. I had an orthopedic surgeon remove a bunion from my left foot, a few months, ago.(now have one on right, too) He told me that I should go to store, and he would be happy to write a prescription for them if I needed one. I may have plantar fascitis, but have other problems as well. I have pain in the ball and the heel. Also, have the bunion, bump on my heel, and rheumatoid nodules on my feet. I took the Dr. School inserts out, and my feet actually feel a little better. However, I had something under the insert, for the ball of my feet. I think I had too much inserted in my shoes. There are some exercises for plantar fascitis. Years ago, I did the exercises and the pain ceased. I just started doing these exercises today. Hopefully, the exercises and ortho shoes will do the trick!
I have always worn good athletic shoes. I can not wear anything, but sneakers. I even started wearing them to church, instead of suffering with dress shoes. I plan on buying some decent dress orthopedic shoes, if they will help. I have worn reebok, nike, new balance, avia, and now have easy spirit. I think it is time to shell out for the orthopedic shoes. If it will keep me working, pain free, it will be worth it.
Oh, another thought, was to try socks for diabetic. I am not diabetic, but think they would help anyone with foot problems. Hope you find some relief:)
Six months into working, my feet started hurting really bad. So much that I could barely hobble out of bed without being in pain. I've been wearing Shape-ups with Powerstep orthotics (bought em on Amazon.) I tried Dr. Scholls inserts but Powerstep by far has drastically helped reduced my foot pain. They're more expensive but worth the price to me. Lately I've been wearing compression stockings to work and sometimes wear them to bed if I'm working a few nights in a row. I just bought some expensive compression stockings as the ones I bought at Walmart weren't tight enough for me. I haven't worn them yet so I'll have to see how good they are. I spent a lot of money just on my feet lol but it was better than quitting nursing when the pain was so horrible I didn't want to get out of bed!
The previous poster that mentioned going to a professional and get fitted is dead on! I wear Shox at work but if I try to run in them ooooh do my ankles and shins scream in pain! My running shoes are asics or mizunos which aren't comfy for a 12 hr shift, go figure lol I'm seriously thinking about trying Danskos however because I'm wearing the tread of my shoes every 6mos! even with buying my shox on sale or clearance it's still adding up, and fast lol
I spent years trying to "tough it out" and thought I would get use to it but, like you said, it's just painful. I wear mine with some of their custom insoles too. Haven't found anything better, and haven't even felt the need to look. They are that good.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
I went to the good foot store. I had a lot of issues and have an extremely high arch. Was expensive but worth it. They are the only feet I have so it's worth the investment.
Haven't read all the responses, but I agree with those who say to go a running shoe store where they will do a gait analysis. You may pronate or supinate, and/or benefit from orthotic insoles. Good luck!
You may want to go to a podiatrist to see what is going on. There may be more than just shoes that is causing the problem. Another sticky issue: are you carrying around more weight than you should?
Another question: what shoes are you wearing. I had similar problems and I bought numerous shoes till I found a brand that work. I can't wear clogs as I have a very narrow footwith high instep. The SAS [aka San Antonio Shoe Company] lace up shoes worked for me. They have numerous styles but the ones that work for me are not that stylish but do the job. Company offers a huge amount of lengths and widths. They are pricy but, for me, worth the splurge.
Absolutely, take your feet to a podiatrist! I've been a nurse 34 years and my feet are ruined. I have extremely flat feet; the bones in my feet have completely collapsed until they are on th eflo At this point I can only wear New Balance, and not the cheap ones. The $150 ones that i buy at a special New Balance store. I cannot wear Danskos at all--they kill my feet. Can't wear Crocs--no arch support. Can't wear anything pretty. My podiatrist put me in orthotics about 11 years ago. Since that time I have also developed a chronic, progessive condition called post-tibial tendinitis--very very painful. I have at times had to wear a non-weight-bearing cast due to PTT. At this point i am seeing a sports medicine specialist once a year and prn flare ups. I have to have new orthotics every 18 months because they wear out. They cost $600 and are not covered by insurance. But what are ya gonna do?
Take care of your feet now before it's too late. Once they're damaged it is very hard to get them rehabilitated.
Specializes in Emergency Dept. Trauma. Pediatrics.
Wanted to add since the Good Feet Stores are pretty expensive. They give a years worth of adjustments until what you have works good and a lifetime replacement warranty on the insoles.
:crying2:
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iwanna
470 Posts
Wow, this thread is so timely for my issues at the moment. I have an upcoming interview for nursing home job.( I swore off LTC, but we had income drop, and need to pay the bills.) Anyhow, I have been asking if I would be able to handle the pain on my feet. I have been having much pain with my feet. I have been trying to walk to lose weight, but it gets so painful. I bought the Dr. School inserts.
Went to a podiatrist, and I do not care for him, but only one in my network. All he did was glance at my feet and put some inserts in my shoes. Oh yeah, first he offered me a shot. I declined wanted a more conservative approach and know the shot is only temporary relief. He told me to come back in a week. He came in the room and asked what he could do for me, Um... shouldn't he have my chart on him. He just had a basket of supplies. I was grossed out at my last appointment. There was a basket of toenails left in the room. The nurse did not remove them, and it didn't seem to bother the dr. Also, he did not wash his hands prior to my visit, nor after. He touched my feet, too! That was enough to get me running for the door. I decided that I am going to a shoe store specialist and invest in some orthopedic shoes. I had an orthopedic surgeon remove a bunion from my left foot, a few months, ago.(now have one on right, too) He told me that I should go to store, and he would be happy to write a prescription for them if I needed one. I may have plantar fascitis, but have other problems as well. I have pain in the ball and the heel. Also, have the bunion, bump on my heel, and rheumatoid nodules on my feet. I took the Dr. School inserts out, and my feet actually feel a little better. However, I had something under the insert, for the ball of my feet. I think I had too much inserted in my shoes. There are some exercises for plantar fascitis. Years ago, I did the exercises and the pain ceased. I just started doing these exercises today. Hopefully, the exercises and ortho shoes will do the trick!
I have always worn good athletic shoes. I can not wear anything, but sneakers. I even started wearing them to church, instead of suffering with dress shoes. I plan on buying some decent dress orthopedic shoes, if they will help. I have worn reebok, nike, new balance, avia, and now have easy spirit. I think it is time to shell out for the orthopedic shoes. If it will keep me working, pain free, it will be worth it.
Oh, another thought, was to try socks for diabetic. I am not diabetic, but think they would help anyone with foot problems. Hope you find some relief:)