My Aching Feet

Specialties Emergency

Published

Yesterday was my second day as a graduate nurse in the ED and right around lunch I could hardly walk. When I got home my feet were throbbing so bad....I would say a 10 out of 10. I have the Dansko Clogs which to me is very comfortable and I broke them in for 3 weeks before work. The first day was fine but the 2nd day in a row was just horrible. Please tell me this is normal for a student that has been sitting down for 4 years.

Specializes in psych, addictions, hospice, education.

Something that helped me alot was Birkenstock shoes. It takes awhile to get used to them, but afterwards they're like walking on air. My bunions even went away!

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Specializes in EMS, ED, Trauma, CEN, CPEN, TCRN.

I wear different shoes each day ... it helps my feet and feeds my shoe habit. :D I primarily favor Danskos and Keens for work. I tried to wear Danskos when I first started in the ED, but they felt too hard on my heels. So for a while, I was wearing softer clogs, like Klogs and Quarks. Then my feet start to REALLY hurt, to the point where I was limping. And this was after being used to working on my feet!! So I tried the Danskos again, and I've been a Dansko addict ever since. They just seem to have the right support for me.

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Specializes in Emergency, Critical Care (CEN, CCRN).

I have the lightweight Danskos (I think Kelsey is the style name; the Professionals were far too heavy for 12 hours of running, let alone having exceptionally hard footbeds). Love them to pieces - they're supportive, nonslip and just cushy enough. Also, it's always been my habit to shower and change as soon as I get home, so I've learned to fill the tub for a minute and add a little bath salt before turning the shower head on. Presto - foot soak while you shower. I'd heard conflicting reports on TEDs, but it sounds like I'll have to try them sometime. :)

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Specializes in Cardiac Telemetry, ED.
I wear different shoes each day ... it helps my feet and feeds my shoe habit. :D I primarily favor Danskos and Keens for work. I tried to wear Danskos when I first started in the ED, but they felt too hard on my heels. So for a while, I was wearing softer clogs, like Klogs and Quarks. Then my feet start to REALLY hurt, to the point where I was limping. And this was after being used to working on my feet!! So I tried the Danskos again, and I've been a Dansko addict ever since. They just seem to have the right support for me.

Me too. I was struggling with some (self-diagnosed) compression fractures in my left foot following running or extended periods of walking on concrete/asphalt. The pain was so intense, I was NWB on that foot, taking ibuprofen, and wrapping it with Acewrap and elevating it. The only shoes I could wear and bear weight on my left foot were my Dansko Professionals. The footbeds are constructed in such a way that my feet are supported in all the right places. The only problem is that they are hard, but the soft inserts help tremendously. When my Professionals wear out, I would like to replace them with something lightweight, as they certainly are heavy. But Danskos last so long, especially if you wear one dedicated pair for work, that it'll be a while before I switch.

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

You might see a podiatrist. I did for my foot pain and although it took a while, I am pain free. I was fitted with custom orthotics. I use these with a good quality athletic shoe (I use Brooks walkers or New Balance). Sure, my legs get tired if I'm on my feet a long time, but so are the rest of my old bones! Being without foot pain is a biggie!!

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Specializes in Family medicine, cardiology, hematology.

I had the same problems. My fix came with 3/4-length orthotic inserts (Dr. Scholl's type--a LOT cheaper than seeing podiatrist). I slip them in which ever pair of shoes I'm wearing. It took a few days for the pain to completely go away, but I'm pain free now.

Last week I tried on a pair of Sketchers that have the "rocker sole" that are supposed to tone your legs while you walk. They were the most comfortable shoes I have EVER tried on!!!! I'm trying to talk DH into buying me a pair for clinicals (they're $99) since I quit my job to go back to school full time.

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Being without foot pain is a biggie!!

It is a biggie, I love checking on my patients constantly but with foot pain it makes it difficult. Thank you for the advice I am going to try all other recommendations and if all else fails then I will visit the Podiatrist. I wonder why it took awhile....what did you have to go through?

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Specializes in cardiac-telemetry, hospice, ICU.

When I say a while, I meant only 2 months or so. The podiatrist took casts of my feet in plaster, sent them off to a lab. A couple weeks later the orthotics came back (space age carbon fiber composite). These things really form fit. However they take some getting used to. I was told to wear them for only 2 hours a day at first and slowly use them more. In my case they still never felt right. The doc modified them a couple of times and I tried again. Still no go. Finally they recast me and we tried over. Perfect! Now I wear them all the time. They really support my feet. Good news is these are supposed to last 5+ years. They cost like $350, but my insurance covered all but a copay. Good luck!

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When I say a while, I meant only 2 months or so. The podiatrist took casts of my feet in plaster, sent them off to a lab. A couple weeks later the orthotics came back (space age carbon fiber composite). These things really form fit. However they take some getting used to. I was told to wear them for only 2 hours a day at first and slowly use them more. In my case they still never felt right. The doc modified them a couple of times and I tried again. Still no go. Finally they recast me and we tried over. Perfect! Now I wear them all the time. They really support my feet. Good news is these are supposed to last 5+ years. They cost like $350, but my insurance covered all but a copay. Good luck!

Thank you, wow that is really intense. I am sure my insurance will cover that as well. Again thank you for the advice.

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Recently my plantar fasciitis became so painful that I could barely get out of bed in the morning without some help. A trip to the podiatrist and some new shoes worked wonders.

The shoes: Nikes. I can't tell you what model. I mention them only because I took a friend's advice and went to a store for runners. They had me stand on some kind of diagnostic machine and watched me walk around the store to analyze my gait. I was skeptical, but the shoes they chose for me are terrific. I need a stiff arch support and well-cushioned heels. Knowledgeable salespeople were able to find exactly what I needed.

I also followed my podiatrist's advice; fortunately, he favors cheap solutions. First, if you've got shoes that you bend back easily from the toe (pushing toward the heel over the top of the shoe), get rid of them. They're not stiff enough. (Danskos easily pass this test, but as much as I love the way they feel, I can't run for 12 hours in them.) Second, ice your feet every night for 10 minutes. Third, roll your feet on a soup can for a few minutes twice a day (I use a water bottle that I keep in the freezer). Fourth, twice a day stretch your achilles tendons by standing on the edge of a stair and dropping your heels. Fifth, put a Dr. Scholl's insole with an arch support in your shoes, including running shoes. (My doc claims there's no difference between the Scholl's model you can pick up for $8 at the supermarket and the $40 Happy Feet you see at walking stores.) All of these work together, but I have to tell you that my pain was so bad that I went for a cortisone shot before starting this regimen. The relief was immediate, and it was worth it, since it allowed me to get started on the stretches.

I think icing has made the most difference for me because my feet are so inflamed at the end of the day. I also pop naproxen sodium occasionally, especially if I'm working back-to-back shifts. I've also been to physical therapy in the past and was surprised at how quickly my pain was relieved.

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Recently my plantar fasciitis became so painful that I could barely get out of bed in the morning without some help. A trip to the podiatrist and some new shoes worked wonders.

The shoes: Nikes. I can't tell you what model. I mention them only because I took a friend's advice and went to a store for runners. They had me stand on some kind of diagnostic machine and watched me walk around the store to analyze my gait. I was skeptical, but the shoes they chose for me are terrific. I need a stiff arch support and well-cushioned heels. Knowledgeable salespeople were able to find exactly what I needed.

I also followed my podiatrist's advice; fortunately, he favors cheap solutions. First, if you've got shoes that you bend back easily from the toe (pushing toward the heel over the top of the shoe), get rid of them. They're not stiff enough. (Danskos easily pass this test, but as much as I love the way they feel, I can't run for 12 hours in them.) Second, ice your feet every night for 10 minutes. Third, roll your feet on a soup can for a few minutes twice a day (I use a water bottle that I keep in the freezer). Fourth, twice a day stretch your achilles tendons by standing on the edge of a stair and dropping your heels. Fifth, put a Dr. Scholl's insole with an arch support in your shoes, including running shoes. (My doc claims there's no difference between the Scholl's model you can pick up for $8 at the supermarket and the $40 Happy Feet you see at walking stores.) All of these work together, but I have to tell you that my pain was so bad that I went for a cortisone shot before starting this regimen. The relief was immediate, and it was worth it, since it allowed me to get started on the stretches.

I think icing has made the most difference for me because my feet are so inflamed at the end of the day. I also pop naproxen sodium occasionally, especially if I'm working back-to-back shifts. I've also been to physical therapy in the past and was surprised at how quickly my pain was relieved.

This is really great advice and kudos to your podiatrist who goes for cheap first. I told my nursing friends about the water bottle in the freezer idea and they loved it. Thank You for your time and advice.

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Never thought about the iced water bottle. Sound like a good idea. Today I hurt my heels are SO bad !!!:cry:

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