Should I quit nursing school because of my medical condition?

[Npski]

Hello All, I am new to this forum and I want all of your advice. I have been thinking a lot and it's driving me insane.

I am in my 2nd semester of my nursing program in my Associate degree. I finished fundamentals and moving into Medsurg. 6 months ago, I was diagnosed with posterior tibial tendonitis, plantar fasciitis, and ball of foot. YES... I'm so unlucky right now. I have mostly all of the feet medical problem and it is making me scared of the future as a nurse. I do physical therapy three times a week, ice, and stretching. Great shoes and expensive orthotics. My concern is I am not feeling 100% better and after 2 hours of nonstop walking, my feet starts to hurt like crazy.... To the extent that i can't barely walk.

I will have Medsurg this Fall 2014 and 8 hours of clinicals. I don't know what to do. I already took a leave of absence last semester. I have been thinking and thinking a lot lately.. and I came to realize that I don't think I want to do nursing anymore. I love Nursing but with my medical condition, I feel like it is going to kill me physically and emotionally in the end. I know that within time, my condition will fully heal but I am so afraid that it will occur again if I do too much walking and standing for my future clinicals and job.

I know nurses walks/stands/runs almost the whole day. :cry:It's making me depress that I can't do that with my medical condition. I am so scared that if I get better, it will happen again in the future if I continue this. I know that the right shoes will help lessen the pain but as we get older, our muscles tends to degenerate. I am only 21 years old..... Should I quit nursing school? I am also considering switching my major into something else that doesn't not really involve with standing/walking for the whole day. I can walk and stand but not for a long period of time.. Any suggestions what field I should go into? Any advice? I want to be in the medical field... but I am also open to other options. I am planning to do med tech. Is it good?

I am sorry about my long message. but thank you for taking your time reading this. I really appreciate it. :)

[RschIVF40]

And yes, regarding cortisone shots..yes, they hurt initially like the dickins! There usually is a day or two of increased inflammation after the shot, but then the cortisone should start absorbing in after that and start working.. It may take getting a couple of these to really help...My podiatrist always taped my feet after my cortisone shots.. I was in sports-medicine so I also learned to tape my own feet after that...It helped to support my arches. The pain is from your feel pronating, so wearing the orthotics all the time is essential, as well as getting good shoes. The brief pain of the cortisone short is worth it in the end.

[Npski]

Okay, I will consider taking the shots again. How many cortisone shots were you given?

Are you talking about KT tape? And thank you for your help...

[llg, PhD, RN]

I got custom made orthotics when I was in my early 30's. They worked beautifully if I wore them 100% of the time (even with my bedroom slippers). After they wore out (after about 3 years), I didn't get another pair and was fine for a few years.

My problems came back again in my mid-40's. I took 3 cortisone shots in each heel and that worked great, too. The first shot only helped about 50%. A month later, I got the second shots and got no result. A month later, I got the third shot in each heel and the pain went away completely.

Since then, I have not been doing bedside nursing -- so I haven't been putting as much stress on my feet. The pain has not returned (and I am now 59).

Another thing that helps (told to me by an orthopedist) is to never wear the same shoes 2 days in a row. No matter how good a pair of shoes is, they put the strain on your foot in a particular way/spot. You want to make sure you are not putting the strain on the exact same spot every day. That orthopedist even suggested that I might find it a good idea to change my shoes mid-day. I wear the same shoes all day, but will rarely wear the same shoes 2 days in a row. I know it has helped my feet and bad knees. I have suggested that strategy to friends and they always doubt it at first -- but when they try it, most find it very helpful.

[Npski]

Thank you.. You inspire me. This gets me going strong everyday. This really helps me a lot. I will try your shoes advice! I'm over here putting ice on my feet and will go to PT in an hour.. :) I have decided I will continue my medsurg this Fall.. I hope it will be in less pain this september!

[Graduatenurse14]

Good luck to you Npski!!! Stay strong!!

[Npski]

Thank you... I will... you give me strength!

[NurseGirl525, ASN, RN]

I know it's hard, but it will heal up. My mom and my ex husband both had plantar fascitis. They both had a horrible time walking. It just takes a very long time to heal. My mom wear Dansko shoes all of the time now and she is not a nurse. Keep going to physical therapy and stretching. I would also reconsider the shots. I know they are extremely painful for a couple of days but it should give you some relief after the injection site heals. I have gotten them in my neck and base of the skull before and they would last me a while.

[Npski]

Thank you! I am becoming stronger each day. I am doing my best to heal. I even bought first aid cold packs during my travels to school and clinicals. Golf balls for stretching while i study at library. . I am praying that this will soon end. It's just so crazy because it is affecting me emotionally but I'll be strong!! Thank you for telling me your story. :)