Our Legs and Feet

kerric511 · Aug 18, 2009

I don't know about the first two.... but Croc's I've heard are AWFUL for your feet, as they are made of cheap foam, and not supportive. Plus, don't Croc's have holes in them????

In my ER we were not allowed to wear crocs, or ANY shoes with exposed toes / holes, things of that nature, they were very specific, no mesh, must be closed back.

I am a guy, and I wear Dankso Professional's .. I live in them! I wear my clogs with pride too! They are great, then can be expensive though, but they last forever, and well worth it.

neonatal_nurse · Aug 18, 2009

Yes this problem is common. Even I have small veins starting to appear on my legs due to looong hours of standing which cannot be avoided in our line of work.

I think it's interesting that a guy would be concerned so much about this.

I have a guy friend in OR and I asked him to show me his legs and he wouldn't do it. Go figure.

Stockings, yes some "claim" to work. I used to wear some when I was a student but the heat and not to mention those things take time to put on so more hassle for me so I do away with it.

Don't really know any exercises though I'm into yoga too.

I think the best way to prevent them is not to stand for too long. Or if you do elevate your legs 10-15 degrees up when you get home and not to wet them immediately, wait for about 30 minutes to an hour.

There are shoes designed for different types of feet why don't you search online i'm sure you'll find some.

When all else fails, there is a procedure called Sclerotherapy. Hehe.

Good Luck! :)

SlightlyMental_RN · Aug 18, 2009

I just bought a pair of Saucony shoes--just did my first shift in them, and they were AMAZING! Got a good price at Famous Footwear, too. :)

Lala27poodles · Aug 18, 2009

YAY!!!!

A moment for me to maybe make help someone out 1/3 as much as you all have helped me!!

I can DEFINITELY help you with number three, I am a shoe expert professional. I have been working in shoes since i was 16 (it still sucks though lol).

The number one shoe that I sell to nurses is the Dansko "Professional". It is available in widths narrow through wide. First, you should have your foot professionally measured to make sure you are in the correct size...

But let me tell you about this shoe:

The professional is a leather clog style shoe, built on a platform designed to relive pressure on your lower back and improve your feet. It is designed based on a foot's natural arches and curves, and depending on what width you are, can conform to any foot. It may not be the most padded and cushy shoe on the market, but PLEASE nurses, don't be fooled by "cushy softness". It does NOTHING to support you where you actually need it, and when your feet swell after being on them all day (and they do swell, trust me) that cushy padding will become painful and restrictive. The clog is open, airy, and designed to be less of a "shoe" and more of a support system for the bottoms of your feet and back. It is designed loose fitting on the sides, top, and back......in fact, your foot is not supposed to touch the back of the clog. It only has a back to make it work safe and keep it on your foot.

To cut myself short, it's my favorite shoe. Many companies offer great look-a-likes, but Dansko is the real deal. They originated that style, patened it, and no other shoe can quite compare.

If anyone every has any shoe questions, or questions about European sizing, please shoot me an IM. :)

Hope I helped. :typing:typing:yeah:

nerdtonurse?, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2009

With the "please check with your doctor before starting any exercise program, yada yada yada..."

One thing that I used to do when I ran was heels together, knees bent and tap your toes, left right, left right, etc. It helps keep you from getting shin splints. I also will dart into a stairwell, put the pad of my foot on a step and bend my ankle to stretch out the tendons (like a lunge). It helps with standing on your feet all night, too. I think a visit to a good footwear store (the kind where they've got a machine to measure the pressure patterns / arches) and getting any kinds inserts would help. If you're in pain, I really would give a podiatrist a visit. An army may travel on it's stomach, but a nurse travels on their feet....

While it's not as much an option for you, I've noticed if I wear heels when I'm off, it also seems to help; maybe it's just putting my feet in something completely different....

crb613, BSN, RN · Aug 18, 2009

I have Danskos, Shox & Crocs......I like my Crocs the best. I work in the ER & have the ones without holes. I have posted before about the shoe thing....my Shoxs worked for a while but started hurting my feet. Could be time for another pair. I liked my Danskos at first...now I can only take'em for part of a shift. Crocs are the ONLY ones that do the job. They may be made of plastic but they sure work for me. I also do not wear the same pair everyday.....as soon as they start to feel flat....I buy more. I have very narrow feet & the Crocs still fit me great.....the only problem I have is a Croc stop every now & then! Good Luck

Lala27poodles · Aug 18, 2009

I want to send out a warning about crocs.

While they may be comfortable, I have seen many a bad, BAD accident happen in crocs. Remember, I'm a manager of a shoe dept.

The shoe is light as a feather, because it is made out of injection molded plastic! No seems, the support base in the design of the footbed. This means that it can move and bend easily.... especially certain crocs with a weaker top. I have seen people get the front rubber part caught up on something or a certain type of flooring and do serious damage...so be careful. That rubber can trip you up sometimes.

Which brings me to point number 2:

They can also melt if certain acid based chemicals are dropped accidentally, so if you work in a lab, I suggest something more protective. They cannot withstand high heat, and I have heard of people seriously burning themselves with coffee (but then again that's pretty silly, but still could happen...) The ones with holes in the top are certainly unsafe for a nurse...I don't care what anyone says.

Lastly, I have heard that they are dangerous on escalators, I have never seen this or heard of this where I'm from.....but evidently it has happened before.

Just use extra caution when wearing them.

Other good brands are Ecco, Merrell, and Mephisto. Mephisto is absolutely amazing. Handmade comfort shoes, they feel amazing.

RN007 · Aug 18, 2009

I started wearing Asics Cumulus 11. They take the floor pounding and support my feet well.

CandyGyrl1985 · Aug 18, 2009

Get support stalkings. If worse comes to worse- run to the bathroom to take them off - if they get annoying.

ROM exercises help me. I usually will do the ankle and knee exercises every half an hour to hour depending on how long I have been standing and throw in a couple of hip rotations if you wont look nuts LOL. I just try to keep my circulation flowing - I am terrified of getting a clot!.

CECE,RN · Aug 18, 2009

When I was pregnant on the floor, no shoe worked for me for long....tried the dansko and that was the closest to comfort I'd got. Also support hose was a life saver...could tell when I wore them and when I didn't at the end of the shift. If you don't care for the Dansko shoes, make sure you get a shoe with some type of small elevation of the heel area.

Try bouncing on your tip toes while stretching your arms as high as possible a few times a shift to alleviate some of the tension that affects most of the muscles that usually cause the most pain from standing long periods of time. Make sure you are bearing weight on BOTH feet at all times, not putting most of your weight on one foot at a time while standing.

phosophorus · Aug 18, 2009

Sclerotherapy... that's so what i want to avoid. I'm not vain, but varicose veins hurt and generally I'm into my vasculature not becoming useless

Thanks for the recommendations all, I probably will try the danskos and see how they work. I do always stand crooked and put weight on one foot, I seriously need to get my posture and whatnot under control pronto!