Oh, my aching feet!!!!

[GrammyCat066]

So, like most bedside nurses, I am on my feet non-stop, for 14-15hrs a shift. I have HOKA high-mileage rated running shoes, and KURU work shoes, which I alternate each shift (costing a pretty penny!). I also wear support socks. However, by the time I get home, the pain in my feet (primarily heels and achilles tendon) and lower legs is enough to make Mother Theresa swear. Currently, I slam 400mg ibuprofen and elevate legs in bed on a giant pillow to sleep, so I can stand to stand in the morning and do it all over again. Three shifts in a row compounds the problem to near-agony. Has anyone come up with a better solution? Getting someone to massage my feet is nearly impossible, though I am not beyond begging.

FWIW, I log about 10-14,000 steps per shift, on a VERY busy medsurg floor. I don't know how I am going to do this for the next 20 years.

[Kallie3006, ADN]

I have found that inserts for plantar fasciitis help.

[Night__Owl, BSN, RN]

It sounds like your shoes have too high of a heel. I wore running type shoes in nursing school, feet hurt after 8 hours. Traditional running shoes have a thick heel to cushion the heel when running. So, when walking/standing, that translates to your body weight being held more over your heels for most of the day.

I have low arches in my feet as well. For me, it worked best to get a pair of low-drop sneakers. I'm on my third pair of Saucony Kineta Relay shoes, because they have a good arch, and it doesn't look it, but the heel is very low. So it puts me standing more on my arches than my heels, if that makes sense. Skechers used to make a very similar shoe too, but it's been awhile since I bought a pair, so I don't know if they still do. In any case, it pretty much solved my foot pain, worst I get now is a little soreness at the end of a really tough shift, and it's gone by the next day.

[AnnieOaklyRN, BSN, RN, EMT-P]

Sounds like you may have plantar fasciitis, I am not a doctor though so you may want to make an appointment. They may be able to do some things to give you some relief if that is what is wrong.

Good luck!

Annie

[meanmaryjean, DNP, RN]

My daughter had similar problems and sought out high quality custom orthotics. Saved her career. She can put them in ANY shoes (except flip-flops) and they have made a huge difference. She got them from a place called the Good Feet Store- I believe they are a chain.

[Ashley_SF, BSN]

I've had the same issue, especially when working my shifts back to back. As soon as possible after getting home I fill a container with hot water and add some Epsom salt (and a little lavender oil). I soak my feet for about 15 minutes. After the foot soak I elevate my feet while reading and relaxing before bed. I also try to elevate my feet at work when I'm on break. This has helped me a ton!

[DisneyNurseGal, BSN, RN]

The way I survive my plantar fasciitis is a foot roller. Do an amazon search for "foot roller" and you will see the contraption that I use and the end of my shift. 15 minutes per foot does the trick. I was experiencing the same symptoms as you, and once I started doing this intervention, I have not had any problems since!

Good luck, I hope you find something that works for you! PF pain is no joke!

[CBlover, BSN, RN]

I can totally relate and as a matter of fact, I also wear HOKA, and they seem to work ok for me. However, yesterday was an odd exception. I was in terrible pain in my feet and lower legs as well. One thing I have found, and it may seem crazy to some, is that sneakers wear out for me after about 18 months of wear. I stick to one pair of them and don't swap up. My HOKAs have done a good job of helping with the ache so I don't necessarily feel the need to wear several different pair. Another important thing that Ashley_SF pointed out is soaking them. When I got home, the first thing I did last night was take a hot bath. When I got out, my foot pain was literally gone. Now when you're at work and you start aching at the 8 hr mark that's not pssible to do and you still got 4+ hours of misery left. One thing I would like to recommend, and some may deem laughable SIT WHEN YOU CAN. Don't chart standing!! Even it it's 3 mins off your feet REST THEM.

[TriciaJ, RN]

One more reason I never agreed to 12 hour shifts. It was bad enough when 8 hours translated to 10. You got good advice about shoes, epsom salt soaks, foot roller, inserts, sit down when you can, etc.

Another thing: see a podiatrist. They can work miracles. I, too had plantar fasciitis from hell. I swapped my Danskos out for New Balance with custom inserts but that wasn't enough to solve the problem once it was in full swing. My doctor referred me to a podiatrist. The first thing they wanted to do was give me a cortisone shot, which I vetoed. Thought I'd save it for last resort.

I ended up going a total of two visits, no cortisone. Had ultrasound treatments, feet wrapped, course of antiinflammatories, and a splint to wear at night to keep my foot flexed. Cured. I worked another six years on that floor without problem.

Hope you get some relief, soon.

[Ashley_SF, BSN]

I second "SIT WHEN YOU CAN." Sometimes it's tough, but I have also found this to help.

[DelightfulNP]

If you don't want to invest in a fancy foot roller yet, try freezing a bottle of water and rolling it over each foot like the person above describes. The cold from the bottle might also help to give you some relief.

[vampiregirl, BSN, RN]

Another idea for a foot roller is a tennis ball. Works great for me. A purchased a Dollar Store 3 pack - which I share with my cats:)