Foot Problems While Working

I do hair and have had problems with my feet also, I went to a chiropractor and this has worked wonders for me. He also told me to get a golfball and roll it under my foot this helps relax the muscles in the foot. I have been doing this and it has been working.
Hope this helps
B.

Hi L.! Have you tried Crocs shoes? They are amazing and not expensive. The most popular style has holes all over but there are many styles that would be appropriate for waitressing. Many people in the food industry wear them as well as health care, a very slippery profession:) go to www.crocs.com to see what they have and read how they have helped people!
Blessings!

Dear L.,

Stretching (especially legs and back), strength training, regular massage therapy, and good shoes.

Rodney Yee's "A.M. Yoga" tape is good... it is less eastern religion and I find it easier to follow than the more religious yoga series out there. There are also non-yoga stretching videos out there if religion is a concern for you.

I, too, have heel pains, as do my Dad and husband. My husband and father have both been diagnosed with plantar facitis, which is what I believe your pains are probably caused by. My understanding is that the tendon that goes from the arch of your foot and around your heel is injured. I work at a daycare and am on my feet 5-6 hours a day, this can be extremely painful. The advice we have gotten from doctors is to buy shoes with good arch supports. If the arch supports in your existing shoes aren't very good, or if they've worn out, you can buy arch supports at a sporting good store or Walgreen's. Not just the cushions, but ARCH SUPPORTS. The arch supports might be uncomfortable at first, but try to stick with them, they have really helped me. You should also wear slippers or house shoes while at home with arch supports in those as well. You should NEVER go without arch supports or you will continue to injure the affected tendon.

To stretch your foot you can gently roll your foot over a can of soup. You can also face a wall with both hands on the wall at about shoulder height. Place one leg back and gently lower your foot to the ground to get a stretch (kind of like a calf stretch). Theoretically you should be stretching your feet two to three times a day and again, never ever walk without arch supports.

It will take a long time for your heel to heal, but I've been symtom free for a couple of months now (it took about 6 - 8 months to fully heal). I did reinjure my foot for a short time because I stopped wearing my slippers in the house, but I went back to always wearing arch supports and my feet are much better.

I hope this helps and good luck!

Hello L.!

I can't be sure, but it sounds as though you may have plantar fascitis. When you first step out of bed in the morning, is the pain in your heel enough that you limp? That is a classic sign. There are several things you can try. First of all, if you can tolerate it, try taking an NSAID such as ibuprofen daily to try and break the inflammation cycle. Next, take a water bottle and freeze it in the freezer. Several times a day, roll the bottle on the floor through the arch on both feet - for about 15 min if you can spare it. As for the Dr. Scholls inserts - if they are the "gel" kind, they will not help much - you need a firmer support, one that helps to support your arch and not necessarily cushion your heels. The root of the problem is a long ligament that stretches from your heel to the ball of your foot - the plantar fascia - that acts to support your arch. Sometimes this ligament gets inflamed and tight, and when you walk on it, it pulls away from the heel bone, resulting in "heel spurs." It is not the spur that is causing the pain, rather, the spur is the result of the tight ligament. The more attention you can focus on this ligament, the better... Ultimately, you should visit your local podiatrist for xrays and a thorough exam to rule out any other problems.

Good Luck!
K.

L.,

Sounds like heel spurs. Go see an orthopedic doctor. He can also prescribe some orthotics for your shoes that are better than Dr. Scholl's.

L. :)

I had the same thing when I worked, I went to the doctor and I had heel spurs, he zapped them out in office, and had me wear shoes with high arches or customize your shoes with arch support.

Go to a foot doctor to get diagnosed and treated. After years of working on my feet, my arches started to fall...very painful! I had molds taken of my feet and arch supports special made. The best thing that I found were Sketchers shoes. The soles are thick and cushy and I've found that I can stand longer and walk further without pain (with my arch supports inside!). Sketchers were also one of the few shoe brands that I've found that don't already have arch supports in them so that I can put my own supports into the shoe. Good luck!

Hi L., I have the same problem and finally went to the Dr. It sounds like you have the same thing I do...it's called Plantar Faciitis. There is a tendon that runs through the bottom of your foot and can become inflamed. It is VERY painful and can come and go. My right foot is worse than my left one but both pretty painful. This tendon attaches at the heel, hense heal pain! The physical therapist gave me stretches which help TREMENDOUSLY!!! Buy shoes with GREAT support. Do you have flat arches? High arches? Ice it in the evenings! And then there is a exercise you can do to stregthen the top of your foot. They said that this will go away with time, but it is something that can flare up whenever it feels! NOT FUN! I have information on this and sheets that I can copy if you would like me to mail them too you! Or feel free to call me even ###-###-####)! Let me know! T. Hughes

Go see Dr.Minser who is a chiropractor in St. Cloud. My son was complaining about his ankles during football. I took him there and she said he was flat footed so he wears fitted footpads and has had no problem since. It has been about 4 years now and things are going good.

Try icing the bottom of your feet and stretching your toes up until you feel a stretch and then try a cross friction massage while they are stretched. Cross friction is from side to side not up and down your foot. You can ice with a frozen pop/water bottle by rolling it under your feet.

You might want to check into seeing a podiatrist. I injured my heel many years ago, and the only thing that made it any better was seeing a foot doctor. You could have bone spurs, or you could have torn the muscle on your heel. My doctor gave me inserts that were formed to the shape of my foot. They did help once I got used to them. Now I no longer need to wear those inserts, but I do buy new women's walking shoes every three months or so. I've found that Reebok has great walking shoes with a gel in the heel (I think they're called DMX). I find them at Kohl's and usually try to look for a sale to save a little money on name brands. Or you could try a shoe from Easy Spirit, they also have great walking shoes with arch supports which will help with your knees and back. Easy Spirit might have something that will work on the slippery floors as well. They are a little pricier, but worth it.

L.,

Go to the FEET STORE if you have one nearby. Our's is in the mall. They will help!

I sympathize! I worked on my feet for years and had similar problems. Although I changed professions, I am overweight and they still bothered me occasionally. Last summer was the final straw. After 10 days on my feet during our family vacation--I could hardly walk by the time I came home. I went to a foot and ankle clinic and they gave me something for swelling and sent me out the door. Not to be discouraged, I picked up the phone and called another F&A Clinic and this Doctor was wonderful. They took weigh bearing xrays of my feet, unlike the other clinic. (Weigh bearing gives them a true picture) They ultimately fitted me with orthotics, which cost about $400, but were well worth it. My husband was having heal problems after recovering from a broken foot later in the summer and he went to the same clinic, but he needed shots in his heals and they fitted him with orthotics. By getting treatment for our foot problems, the pain is gone and we can do so much more!! I'm actually loosing the weight now because the pain is gone. I wish we had known what we know now and had gotten treatment years ago. By not taking care of my feet, there is permanent damage to my feet. Take care of your feet--it's going to make your quality of life much better!

Hi L.,
I too have had foot problems, 1st it was my left foot (heel to be exact) after it was so bad I went to the DR and found out I had plantar fasciitis. He had me take anti-inflammatory meds, get orthodic inserts for my shoes, do stretches and ice, but none of that helped, I finally had to get a cortisone shot. It worked! and my heel hasn't hurt since. But since I have really high arches I still wear my orthodic insert and only buy really good shoes with arch support. Now lately my right heel has be aching so next time I go to the DR, I'll see about a cortisone shot. I have also been taking Glucosatrin (from market america www.marketamerica.com/vanderson), which has alleviated some of the pain.
Good luck.
V.

I had the same problem when I waitressed and did carpentry work (sometimes both in the same week!). I would have given you the same advice as Shannon M. Stretches (like a calf stretch, but focusing on the arch of your foot) really help.

One more thing: I went to get a professional massage and the therapist worked on my feet. She told me that there's a layer there (maybe fascia was the word?) that separates from the arch of your foot. As you massage it, it feels like little bubbles bursting. It's weird, but if you keep rubbing very hard until most of the bubbles have smoothed out, you end up feeling much better. I guess what it does is put those layers back together (although I can't say for sure because I'm not a professional massage therapist). So, try that on yourself, or have some other very caring person (your husband) do it for you. :)

Hi. I've had heel pain, and it is very painful. I went to the doctor, it is heel spurs. The doctor prescribe an antiflamitory medicine. This helped the pain go away before I would finish the prescription, but I'd continue them until I finished them. This helped the first time, then apx. a year later I had the pain again and the doctor gave me another prescription for the antiflamitory medicine. That was about two years ago and I haven't had a problem since. I do wear good athelitic shoes for work and replace them apx. every 6 months. I work as a mail carrier that delivers out of my vehicle.

I do not think most of the people who responded realize that you are required to wear non-slip soled shoes. I found shiesforcrews.com when I was waitressing and bought the clogs which were really nice. Hope this helps!

About 4 yrs. ago, I broke my leg right above the ankle and it also went down into my ankle on the outside of my foot. I was off of work for 11 months. When I went back to work it hurt beyond belief. I would call off alot because I couldn't walk at home. I actually had to hold onto walls and furniture to get around my home. I am a cashier at a Walmart so if I couldn't walk at home I certainly couldn't stand at a register for 8 hours. For 2 years this went on, I went to Finish Line and got Nike Shox(yes they are very expensive) that helped a little. Then I heard about Good Feet and my husband said go see them it won't hurt. I was never so glad I went. I can work with almost no pain. I'm not stumbling all over the place-it's amazing!!!!! I don't work for them so I'm not trying to drum up business-just go-IT'S AMAZING!!!!!!!

A.

I had this same problem. Mine was plantar fascitis. Like the responses above I never went to a podiatrist just did home exercises. But if yours is bad enough maybe you need the orthodics like they have suggested. But one thing for sure never go barefoot at least until you are pain free for a long time and never wear cheap flip flops. Good quality shoes. One thing that really helped me and did the trick was every morning before getting out of bed I would pull my toes up towards my knees and then bend them back down as far as I could. Repeat this ten or twelve times. Do this exercise after sitting for a period of time also. Will help you tremendously and you get to the point you will be doing it when you are sitting and not really even notice. What I was told was that when you sit and sleep (pay attention tonight when you get in bed) YOu point your toes down and then the muscle in the back part of your leg gets shortened/tightened up and bunched up so to speak so when you get up and put your foot flat on the floor it gets injured and that is what causes the pain. So if you flex it like I said it will gradually get better. Took mine about six months or so to get completely better just keep up with the flexing constantly. Keeps this muscle from tightening up and reinjury(Will not do you any good if what you have is heal spurs see podiatrist for that) Podiatrist can tell you which one you have. Good luck and where good quality shoes the whole time you are working.

S. K

I did it for the last5 years and found thatno foot insert will help...it is number one caused by hard foundation. What I would suggest would be get some good shoes. New balance makes amazing shoes. Also there is this cream it is homeopathic called Arnica cream. Not too sure where you can get it in wisconsin. Possibly a health store..I would suggest internet. For info onthe cream just google it and should give you all the info. I am only 23 and have severe problems from serving. Staying active helps too.

I would definitely reccomend going to your pediatrist. Who knows if there is something going wrong with your foot? I would also reccomend going to an aqua chi session. Best of luck!

J.

Get some Birkenstock. They are the best for your feet and they have inserts you can buy for you current shoes. They support your feet so well and have changed my life. Also, never go barefoot at home. Get a pair of birkenstocks to wear around the house. You can get them at reduced cost on ebay. My sister in laws pediatrist told her to always wear birkenstocks or newbalance.

I had all the same problems your feet are giving you and more! What you need are called Orthotics. You can get them from a foot doctor and they are covered by a lot of insurances. If you dont have any insurance, go to a place called the Good Feet Store. I am sure they are online, too. I live in Wisconsin- there is one in Madison- also one in Rockford, Ill. I am sure there are many stores in other areas. The orthotics they have are about $80 but the ones you get from a foot doctor are from $300 to $400. It is an insert you put right inside your own shoes. They did wonders for me and my daughter wears them too. Please check them out, I know you will be glad yoou did! J.

It could be something more serious such as bone spurs etc. Have you had your feet looked at by a dr. I also have to say that working on your feet all day is hard on your body. Do they have a cushion for you to stand on by the sink? It may help.

It sounds like you might have heel spurs. My mom had them and had to see a podiatrist and have them shaved down. It was very painful to her everytime she walked and the spurs were the diagnosis.

Hi L. P,

I am a 28 yr old mother of a 9 yr old boy with the 2nd boy on the way. For the last 7 years I have worked in the hotel industry as from desk and housekeeping. I devoloped a foot condition called planter fasclitus. The pain is usually crippleing and either at the end of the arches or the very base of the heel. I had to get special arch supports and started doing some theropy excersises to keep it under control. If it gets severe there is surgery, but recovery time for that is very long and painfull from what I hear. Look up planter fasclitus and see if this sounds right and/or call your Dr. I hope this helps and hope you get to feeling better. I know how fusterating it can be being a working mother fulltime and feeling it interfere with my abilities to work and be there for my children.

Blessings
T.

Have you been to the doctor to have the pain checked out? It sounds like you may have a heel spur. I know that I was very concerned with I thought that I was developing one, and went to my doctor expecting to hear that I would need either cortisone shots or surgery, but instead he told me that yes I had a heel spur which was being caused by not having enough arch support in my shoes. He told me to buy Birkenstock sandals, and wear them ALL of the time, not go barefoot at all, and the heel spur would heal itself in about a year. Now I know that you can't wear Birkenstocks all of the time, but on their website - www.birkenstockusa.com you can purchase insole inserts for your shoes. Cost is $59.95 plus their shipping which sounds pricey, but it is much cheaper than shots, doctor visits and surgery. The pain started to get better within several weeks, if I remember correctly and by the end of the year - I was pain free. It is at least something to think about.

One thing to check out is plantar fascitis. I have struggled with this for years, with pain ranging from my achilles tendon area to the arch of my foot, but mostly feeling centered on the heel. And like you, at times I could barely stand or walk. It does seem to be hereditary and my sister's went so far as to become a stress fracture with the constant pulling on the heel bone (by tendons). I saw a podiatrist who gave me a couple of cortesone injections (painful at the time, but helped) and recommended a moldable Red Wing brand shoe insert. It turned out that I needed more arch support than cushioning to help relieve the pressure on the fascia. Now I just move those supports from shoe to shoe and I'm much better!

Hi L.,
My husband had a similar problem and went to the "Good Feet" store and got inserts. They are expensive, flex did cover them and they worked. I believe he tried Dr. Scholl's inserts. Sometimes going to a Chiropracter can help as well.
Best of Luck,
S.
Homeschool Mom of a 13 year old son.
http://www.YesToSuccess.net/S.
Helping families with health and wealth for almost 12 years

L.,
I know you already have a lot of responses...but I had the same problem (mine is plantar faciaitis (sp?))- I think stemming from step aerobics - but I got perscription orthotics - i did physical therapy at a sports medicine clinic (Park Nicollet on hiway 7 & Vinehill in Shorewood) - I wear my orthotics with every pair of shoes - Keen makes shoes that are a little wider, and still cute, and i put my orthotics in those. I haven't had problems in years since i have the orthotics! Good luck!

My experiences with heel pain were bone spurs on the heel(both heels). I also tried all the different types of help with the orthotics and inserts. I found that the higher heel I had, the less pain I had. I had standing appointments with a podiatrist. When the cortisone shots that he would give me no longer were helping, he could only offer surgery. I found that if I stretched my feet every morning before I got out of bed, my heels didn't hurt as bad. I would soak my feet every night. Those 'pillows' for your feet have vibrators in and they were a huge help. Also there are some booties that you can put in the microwave from Walgreens that were also a help. Good luck-P.

A chiropractor should be able to help you with this, especially since the pain has affected your knees and back.

It sounds like you may have plantar fascitis (I may have mispelled that) also known as heel spurs. YOu should see a podiatrist, you may even need surgery to release the tight fascia (connective tissue) in your feet. YOu can also try getting you feet massaged as often as possible, it really helps to squeeze the sides of your heel. Good luck!

Hi L.!

I am a 57 year old grandmother. I had the same problems that you are talking about when I was your age. It got so bad that I could hardly walk. One day when I was looking for a good pair of shoes I found a pair of Seknoa Tennis Shoes...They were $150.00 shoes, but the blessing for me was they were on sale and I got them for half price. They saved my feet! It was just a matter of a few days and the pain was gone! It has been many years now and I don't have to spend that much on my shoes. Through trial and error I have found that the New Balance Tennies are the best for my feet. They are made well and don't break down as fast as other ones! Believe me I NEVER buy shoes at Walmart or stores such as that anymore!

Shoes are very important, but I have found over the last couple of years since my daughter started selling AVON that one needs to take time to take care of your feet like you do your face. I use the Foot Works from AVON and it is a wonderful product. They have a foot soak that would be great for you when you come home from work. Become a dealer and it will save you lots of money and you can even make some money when you sell the product to your friends.

Good Luck! I hope that your feet will feel great soon!

That is a major problem because like you said - it affects your entire body when you have a pain like this. My advice is to get into a foot specialist (not just a family practice doctor) as soon as you can. You really need someone who specializes in this... S.