Today, my doctor told me I have Plantar Fasciitis (heel-spur syndrome). What a bummer!
I've been experiencing a lot of pain in the bottoms of my feet for about a month now, but it's getting worse as time goes by. Thought I'd better have it checked out, and low and behold....I have "sick feet".
My switching to part time status...8 hour shifts on nights...couldn't be more timely as the doctor thinks 12's is way too much for me to continue working.
Had to go to the Orthotic Lab within the hospital today for fitting of some special cushions for my shoes in hopes it will relieve the pressure and the pain on the bottom of my feet, especially my heels. If not, surgery may have to be done. I hope not.
We need our feet to be healthy, so I am going to do whatever my doc tells me to do to keep them healthy. Please send up prayers...positive energy...healthy thoughts...whatever your belief happens to be...for me. Much thanks!
Badbird, so glad your foot problem is over. I'm looking forward to my feet healing permanently again too. Today I wore my new shoes to work with the silicone pads in the heels the doc gave me and they felt great, but I only worked four hours too. :chuckle
I'm doing the foot exercises faithfully, icing the feet with the frozen peas, and will buy an orange and freeze it to try that under my feet as suggested earlier by TouchRN.
I'm so glad I came here to allnurses for advice. You all have helped me tremendously! Thanks over and over to you all for all the great tips and for taking time to share of your own battle with "PF". :kiss
Just read another tip on another BB from a massage therapist. Take a golfball and roll your foot over it concentrating on the area where the arch meets the heel. Sounds good to me already!
Wow. Sounds like you found an answer. However, since you asked if you type in Bergenstock key word to your search engine, I am sure you can find them as they are on line.
I think this is the best way as I don't know what stores are available in your area. You won't find them in the big chains. These are usually small shoe stores that specialize in earthy shoes. Also you can find limited selections in some uniform places.
Just read another tip on another BB from a massage therapist. Take a golfball and roll your foot over it concentrating on the area where the arch meets the heel. Sounds good to me already!
Tennis balls work great too...not to mention they work great for trigger points in the lumbar area of the back...just throw em on the floor, lay down, position them in the right spots, move around a bit and presto...a nice little massage. They might hurt a bit if you are really tender or have never had massage before, so use with caution. Someone had mentioned NMT massage as well, thats a great technique, I was trained in NMT by Mr. Thunderthumb himself Paul St. John. NMT can be quite painful at times but it literally works miracles.
Golf balls, tennis balls........nurses are awesome!
We are definitely in the "right business" nurses! Look how much we help each other, share with each other, and feel for each other. I'm thankful for nurses and all they give of themselves for others. :kiss :balloons:
Specializes in LTC,Hospice/palliative care,acute care.
Originally posted by Agnus
Wow. Sounds like you found an answer. However, since you asked if you type in Bergenstock key word to your search engine, I am sure you can find them as they are on line.
I think this is the best way as I don't know what stores are available in your area. You won't find them in the big chains. These are usually small shoe stores that specialize in earthy shoes. Also you can find limited selections in some uniform places.
I think it is spelled BIRKINSTOCK or Birkenstock -try some variations if you can not find them.They remind me of the old earth shoes...Ugly but people swaer they are super comfy...I worked a double yesterday and everything hurts today...My legs feel like a toothache..but my feet are good...I think it is time for suppprt hose...or at least support socks..yech
Hey my feet are flatter than pancakes too Renee! Try Nike Airliners I swear they are so light it feels like walking on feathers. They cushion your feet like nobody's business ESPECIALLY ON CONCRETE FLOORS!! I'm so grateful for mine especially after a grueling 12 hr shift. Also try soaking your feet in HOT water with Johnson's foot soap. Works like a charm for me. Hang in there!! WW.:)
Hey just wanted to let you know of some specialty shoes that look a little funky, but get results and keep your feet healthy!! Just remember when birkenstocks came out people thought they were hidious looking orthopaedic shoes. Now a majority of the nurses where them. SO if you want to start a new trend in your workplace and help your feet as well you should give them a try!!! They have diffrent styles to accomodate you. Dont know what your workplace dress code is for shoes, but they do carry nursing style cloggs, as well as tennis shoe style, and even have work boots and hiking style shoes. They are called Z-Coil shoes. you can go to the web site I think its. http://www.Z-coil.com to type in a search to see hear of others who have had success with the shoe. I believe there are some posts and discussions on this board as well. You can only get them at selected disributors, and they have to be fitted the first order to ensure you get the proper shoe and support. They run about $ 140.00 but last!, And what are your feet worth?? you have to take care of them you nees them for the rest of your life. As well as if you break your feet down they reek havok on the rest of your body and joints, not to mention back problems begin with your spine out of alignment. Not sure where you live or the closest distr. but you can get that info on thier web sit. Hope this helps! You might check 0ut Ebay as well I have seen some on there. Just beware of that, because again the shoes really need to be specially fitted. Good Luck hope your feet will be on their way to healing soon.:kiss Darci
I used special inserts with my sneakers--only worked
a couple of hours.
Then I tried Dansko--A pair for home and a pair for work. Also, bought a foot spa for use at home. I wear TED Hose at work(I get lauged at, but I feel I have 20 more years to work---so let 'em laugh)
Hi Theresa! :) Thanks for the tip about the Nike's Airliners. Don't think I've checked those out yet.
My hubby told me to buy myself three different shoes for work and alternate wearing them, so that is what I'm going to do. I've got two pair, and need one more.
I'll look on the Birkinstock and Z-Coil websites to see what their shoes look like, too.
Today I worked just four hours, and at the end of the four hours, my right foot was screaming for a break and some ice or I would have volunteered to work four more hours. The unit was very busy, so know they could have used me, but THE FEET were screaming so loud I couldn't think of anything except getting home and icing my feet and taking Tylenol.
Nighty night all! Time to put these doggies to bed. :kiss
Hi Renee. Don't forget to soak those tired puppies!! Johnson's foot soap has oatmeal and borax in it and is sooooooo very soothing on your feet. Just really gets the kinks out of those tense muscles. Hope this helps. WW.
I will definitely pray for you- I know prayer works! There is an alternative therapy I have been told about called Ossatron therapy. From what I understand it works much the same way that lithotripsy does for a kidney stone. They use it to treat things like tennis elbow and plantar fasciitis.
My husband had plantar fasc. last year (before we knew about Ossatron) and was healed by prayer. He had been in pain for 6 months and his doctor told him he was going to have to cut back at work. He went wading in the creek where he was baptized and the pain went away two hours after he came out of the creek. Miracle? Yes!
What a bummer! 
live4today, RN
5,099 Posts
Badbird, so glad your foot problem is over. I'm looking forward to my feet healing permanently again too. Today I wore my new shoes to work with the silicone pads in the heels the doc gave me and they felt great, but I only worked four hours too. :chuckle
I'm doing the foot exercises faithfully, icing the feet with the frozen peas, and will buy an orange and freeze it to try that under my feet as suggested earlier by TouchRN.
I'm so glad I came here to allnurses for advice. You all have helped me tremendously! Thanks over and over to you all for all the great tips and for taking time to share of your own battle with "PF". :kiss
Night night all!