Hi all, just wondering if I will always feel this way?!?! I've been working as a nurse since September and my feet are miserable, my legs cramp up and by the time I get home from work I have blisters and can barely walk for a day or so.
I know a big part of it is my weight, I am overweight. But aside from that there has to be something I can do to get used to this?! I was wearing athletic shoes, Nike's because I thought that was the best option but my coworkers agreed with me that actually they were not great - b/c I was having lots of pain from them too. So I got some croc wannabees from payless - airwalks and they are great! But this past weekend my feet/legs started acting up big time again. Soooo what to do?
I can't take motrin otherwise I would LOL and that would probably help but I can't take it and tylenol does not work for me. So any suggestions?
PS I don't have any spare money right now to buy pricey shoes either so surely there has to be another option right?!
I can pretty much wear any shoe to work and be fine, however Danskos felt like torture! I would not suggest buying them until maybe you tried a friend's pair perhaps for a shift. They are very expensive to only wear a few times.
As a huge Danskos devotee, I wouldn't recommend borrowing someone else's. The shoes are made of leather with rubber soles and a partial steel shank (they will set off metal detectors like nobody's business). Over time the leather and rubber conform to your feet, making them potentially uncomfortable for anyone else. Wearing someone else's shoes is never really a good idea.
I have bought two brand new pairs at consignment shops for less than fifty bucks. I recommend trying there. Also, I did get a brand new pair at a thrift store once for five dollars. You never know what you'll find in those places!
I ordered a pair of rockers, and they look sooooo darned comfortable, but (at least for me) they were not true to size; they were much tighter and smaller than what I expected and I'd actually ordered a 1/2 size up from my usual size.
I think they do run a little small. Did you exchange them for a larger size? I wear a WW width, and mine are wide enough for me.
Another thing I love about them is that they are so easy to keep clean and sanitary.
After a shift, I just remove the insoles, and toss the shoes in the washer with bleach. I set them on a towel to dry, and they're dry by the time I need them for my next shift.
If I don't have time to wash them, I just wipe them down with Clorox wipes. If they get really stained, Comet cleanser works great to get them clean.
They come out looking new.
I tried Crocs, they are soft, but the heel is too low for me. I have a shortened Achilles tendon, and I need a little bit of heel.
I felt the same way when I started, It get better after awhile, you get used to it. Another way to lessen you walk is to get everything you are going to need for a room. My problem was going back to a room over and over because I forgot something. When it is a hectic day, there is no doubting your feet and legs are going to HURT BAD. If things are too tough, look into doing case management or something less physical.
I felt the same way when I started, It get better after awhile, you get used to it. Another way to lessen you walk is to get everything you are going to need for a room. My problem was going back to a room over and over because I forgot something. When it is a hectic day, there is no doubting your feet and legs are going to HURT BAD. If things are too tough, look into doing case management or something less physical.
I have come to much the same conclusion: if my brain isn't smart enough to figure out how to be an efficient nurse, my feet will just have to teach it.
Don't overlook proper amounts of calcium in your diet as well.
One thing you haven't mentioned is if your back is also bothering you, or if it's just your feet and legs.
A friend of mine who stocks shevles at Home Depot always wears a flexible, cloth back brace to help his back.
It takes pressure off his lower back and helps his legs at the same time.
Nope not my back, just my feet and calves, but mostly my feet. I have a history of back issues having had two back surgeries in the past 10 years (one last year). But the foot pain is what really gets me. I'm enjoying all of these suggestions thanks all!
I recommend the Masai Barefoot Technology sneakers (MBT's) - they are amazing shoes! I found out about them from a little catalog I get in the mail called Bliss (they sell beauty products). Anyway, when I first read about them, I thought they looked interesting... they claim to help with knee & back pain, help with circulation and even help you lose weight! I thought "yeah right!" They are also VERY expensive- about $250.
But one day I was talking with my mother in law. She works all day on her feet at a store in the mall. She is also very overweight and has diabetes, so taking care of her feet is super important to her. Well, she was tired of her aching, burning feet at the end of the day- so she bought and tried out a pair of MBT's. And she just LOVED them. When I told her how tired my legs and feet were after clinicals, she mentioned these shoes.
SO I was convinced- and bought them for myself. And I LOVE them too!! I don't believe they helped me lose weight (then again I didn't really try to, which I should because I am about 40 lbs over weight myself). But they have done wonders for my lower back pain and tired achy feet, the balls of my feet didn't feel like they were "burning" anymore. Of course I still get tired- and of course my feet are tired too, but no where near how they were when i used my traditional Nursing Mates shoes.
carolinapooh, BSN, RN
3,577 Posts
As a huge Danskos devotee, I wouldn't recommend borrowing someone else's. The shoes are made of leather with rubber soles and a partial steel shank (they will set off metal detectors like nobody's business). Over time the leather and rubber conform to your feet, making them potentially uncomfortable for anyone else. Wearing someone else's shoes is never really a good idea.
I have bought two brand new pairs at consignment shops for less than fifty bucks. I recommend trying there. Also, I did get a brand new pair at a thrift store once for five dollars. You never know what you'll find in those places!
Also - COMPRESSION SOCKS are a must...