[Fresia]

This is going to sound ridiculous but am not sure what to do. I started a new job and am on my feet all day, standing in particular and not moving which would be better but just standing is killing me. It has taken me all week to find even somewhat comfortable, supportive shoes to withstand this, 4 pairs later we're talking. However the damage is already done that my feet are so very sore and tingling with pain, and some swelling. I can hardly walk now. Thank goodness for the weekend to try to recover some and hopefully the new shoes will help next week that just got that seem to be the best. However, meanwhile, any suggestions as to what can I do to help them, to alleviate the pain, soreness, swelling, and tingling?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions.

[glok]

Hello, Fresia. I would talk to your employer to see is some accommodations could be made. Maybe be allowed to walk around more. Better yet. A chair or stool that would not hinder you from doing your job.

I wish you well.

[MotownJohnny]

Soak in warm water with Epsom salts added, then apply Aspercream, put on warm socks, keep them elevated. Alternate gentle heat and gentle cold.

Freesia, your post isn't ridiculous at all. Foot pain is very serious. I work in a cafe, so on my feet constantly. Some suggestions...get a pedicure (massages and stimulates your feet), get a foot and lower leg massage (or use an electric massager to massage your feet yourself), see your doctor - you might benefit from a short course of a muscle relaxant, invest in quality insoles (such as Happy Feet or Super Feet). Top-quality insoles make a HUGE difference (the average drug store insoles are a waste).

[jenniy122]

Not ridiculous at all! I just went to my podiatrist about this, I was having terrible, like couldn't walk the next day, foot and ankle pain after just 4 hour shifts at work. I took in my shoes for him to evaluate (can't afford new ones right now, and this pair was very expensive and only a year old), and he sold me high quality insoles for them. I also put on peppermint lotion when I get home and sit with my feet on an electric massager. The kind you can find at like Target or Bed Bath and Beyond, mine's a Conair and has a heat option that I'll use the day after. You want to do cold the first 24 hours, and heat after that. Also I was suffering from a minor injury from a couple months ago, so I got steroid/lidocane shots in my toes where I hurt them, those are always an option if the pain is in a specific area.

[SnakeCharmer]

I agree with Jenniy122 and other posters. Your complaint is not ridiculous in any way and going to a podiatrist can help.

I had painful feet for about a year over 25 years ago. Everything healed and I thought it was over. Then about 12 years ago it became chronically painful on a daily basis. Both feet. I foolishly accepted it as just one more place on my body that chronically hurt from past injuries and autoimmune disorders that cause pain. I bought sensible shoes and I suffered for ten years. Finally I limped into my primary, he took one look at my feet and he immediately sent me to a podiatrist.

For some odd reason, I had a prejudice against podiatrists. I didn't think they were real doctors. Wrong. Long story short -- the foot doctor fixed the worst of my foot pain in one appointment. One appointment! He did x-rays, which I didn't like, but when I saw what my foot structure looked like on the inside I was amazed that I was walking at all. All the pain, swelling, numbness and tingling was coming from a structural problem.

He checked my shoes, approved, and didn't try to sell me anything. (I expected him to try to sell me expensive orthotic shoe inserts. He said it might be something I wanted to consider if nothing else worked, but he didn't recommend it.)

He did say that if I had been wearing the wrong shoes for my feet he would have strongly recommended a change, including insoles, inserts or the shoes he sold out of his office. He said most of his patients come in wearing shoes that don't fit right. Even expensive sensible shoes can cause problems if they're not right for a particular foot.

He created a treatment plan that required a treatment once every six months for a year and then once a year. Long story short, since seeing the podiatrist I can go a year or so with no foot pain whatsoever. None. It's been a year. The pain came back suddenly two days ago, to the point where I am really suffering. I'll make an appointment on Monday.

Here's my sad tale: I have two autoimmune disorders, one that's known for causing severe anxiety and depression, the other causes severe pain. I've been in car crashes, plane crashes, thrown off a horse, fallen down a mountain, been the victim of a criminal assault and had my parents, siblings and very best friends in the world die too young. I've had serious head injuries, a broken back and nerve damage. In other words, more than my share of physical and emotional trauma. I've been diagnosed with PTSD and several neurological problems from injuries sustained from falling out of the sky.

Nothing has ever depressed me or put me into a tailspin as much as not being able to walk from foot pain. I've had back and nerve pain that's much worse than the foot pain, but it doesn't do my head in like the feet do. I don't know why it impacts me so severely, but it does. It's the only thing that's ever turned me into an emotional eater or left me crying hopelessly, feeling abandoned and unloved and effing useless.

So, Fresia, please don't ever ever ever think or feel that it's trivial to complain about feet problems. It's not trivial.

Sending you hugs and hope that you'll get a referral to a podiatrist as soon as possible. And that the foot doc can help you quickly!

P.S. My H also had a long standing foot problem that caused pain and made one of his feet kind of ugly. I insisted he try my podiatrist. He was cured in one appointment. The doc sold him a $30 prescription medication to use at home at the first sign of the problem recurring. Best $30 he ever spent. He now has two handsome feet.