My Feet Hurt

[Johnny Moo Man]

After 7 years of nursing and all the hooks that come with a steady paycheck (buying a home/cars/vacations etc etc), my 36 hour week has become 48-60 hours. And my feet are killing me all the time. Lying in bed, my legs get to me. At work I've taken to wearing TED hose and it's helped a lot. But not enough. Do any of you have any suggestions to take the pain off?

Thanks in advance.

[EmmaG, RN]

Memorial Hospital in Chattanooga, Tenn., looked at massage therapy as a component of healing. "We wanted our work environment to be more conducive to relaxation in order to take the edge off of the hectic pace in a hospital environment," says Tracy Smith, Wellspring program coordinator for the hospital. "We wanted our hospital to be as sensitive to the needs of our 2,000 employees as we were to needs of patients."

While looking for a way to help reduce stress for their personnel. Memorial realized that one of the biggest problems was that many employees could not take off 30 to 40 minutes or longer to go someplace and relax. "Nurses, in particular, have a difficult time coming off the floors even for classes or lunch." Smith says. "That's why having a massage therapist come to them right where they work seemed like a wonderful way to give them a break and help them reduce stress."

The typical on-site masssage is performed in a portable "chair," which places the employee in a sitting position, leaning forward. No clothing is removed and no privacy is required for the massage.

Therapists can set up just about any place that is convenient for the employees and the company. Memorial even has a massage chair in the emergency room.

The typical chair massage lasts from 10 to 20 minutes, "about the same amount of time an employee would take for a cigarette break," says Robin Egal, president of New York-based Back to Work Inc., a company that provides massage therapists for businesses. "The employee gets a neck and shoulder massage without having to leave the building. You don't have to do anything but come in, sit down and relax. So, there's not much wasted time."

Smith finds that hospital employees work together to arrange time for the massages. "They cover for each other so they can take advantage of this service. It's worth it to them to find the time to help each other."

I think I just found my next assignment

[MustangSallie1997]

sell the house pay the car off, take fewer vacations and cut your work week back a few hours !!! Are all the material things really important enough to you to harm yourself physically ??

I know this is drastic, and I dont actually mean it, well I do in theory, but if you are not willing to cut back the hours may I suggest a pair of BIRKENSTOCKS. They are wonderful !!!

GOOD LUCK TO YOU, AND YOUR FEET !!!

[leslie :-D]

wow.....

you know how some nurses give backrubs?

well, i always give foot massages.

think there's a little projecting going on here?

leslie

[Ginny Weasley]

for myself, the most comfortable shoes i find working in are my addidas shelltop tennis shoes believe it or not. i also have them bar-laced, which helps so my shoes don't get to tight and it looks pretty cool as well. i'm a cna, so i'm constantly on my feet.

[rosygirl]

Check with a podiatrist, many make custom orthodics, and if you have a FSA (flexible spending account) with your insurance it will usually pay for it.

[PMHNP10]

Z-coils; my wife wears them and she reports immediate relief when she puts them on; she also has a pair of crocs, but prefers the Z-coils and I've heard a number of others who swear by them; they are costly ($200+) but your feet are worth it

[CaseManager1947]

Shoes are as individual as the person whose tootsies go inside... having tried nearly everything, I finally found Merrill's. They are a clog type slip-on... feels like I'm wearing my bedroom slippers to work... I swear.