Shoes in the ED

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iridesingltrack

iridesingltrack

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So, as best I can tell it has been a few years since this topic came up and I'm in the market since my beloved Merrell clogs need to be put down. They fought the good fight and got me through medical school. But, the body fluid stains just don't look very professional, or so Mrs. iridesingltrack tells me 😎. So, I'm looking for your suggestions. What's worked for you? What shoe was a disaster? Is the Dansko hype for real...or is it merely a hospital fashion trend? Also, share your shopping secerets: deals and steals...Thanks for helping out.
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I wear flip flops.. that way i can just wash my feet after work.. the blood comes off easy

Seriously... i have a pair of Dansko's I love and a pair of crocs.. i alternate em..
 
iridesingltrack said:
So, as best I can tell it has been a few years since this topic came up and I'm in the market since my beloved Merrell clogs need to be put down. They fought the good fight and got me through medical school. But, the body fluid stains just don't look very professional, or so Mrs. iridesingltrack tells me 😎. So, I'm looking for your suggestions. What's worked for you? What shoe was a disaster? Is the Dansko hype for real...or is it merely a hospital fashion trend? Also, share your shopping secerets: deals and steals...Thanks for helping out.
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Those plastic clogs are great, as they repel bodily fluids quite effectively. Any of the clogs are not great if you have flat feet.

I wear dark brown hiking shoes, as they provide good support for walking around all day. The brown color tends to blend in most of the fluids that get on them.
 
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iridesingltrack said:
So, as best I can tell it has been a few years since this topic came up and I'm in the market since my beloved Merrell clogs need to be put down. They fought the good fight and got me through medical school. But, the body fluid stains just don't look very professional, or so Mrs. iridesingltrack tells me 😎. So, I'm looking for your suggestions. What's worked for you? What shoe was a disaster? Is the Dansko hype for real...or is it merely a hospital fashion trend? Also, share your shopping secerets: deals and steals...Thanks for helping out.
Click to expand...

Danskos are what the hype is. They are the only dress shoe I've been able to wear all day without suffering any effects. I have plantar fasciitis, so I also have custom made orthotics in them. I would recommend getting the orthotics even if you don't have a known foot problem. I know one podiatrist got all his workers the orthotics, and none of them ever complained of hurting. Of course many insurances don't cover them, and they run about $300 for a pair. Well worth it in my opinion, but it may be biased. (They also can make them so that if you know hammer toes run in the family, they have pads to help prevent the normal progression (just slows it).) I am getting a new pair before heading to the wards in the fall. Oh ya, and if you have an anatomical short leg, you can get the lift added into it as well.
 
the dansko's are clutch for off service rotations when you might have to wear dress clothes (cardiology and neurology for us). they're durable and comfortable. my 2 issues are that they don't breathe well and your feet get real hot, and I find that they really lack ankle support. In the ED I wear Nikes. although i got blood on them last week after a pelvic, and it definitely would've come off of the danskos....the nikes not so much.
 
Danskos are great unless you have underdeveloped ankles. Seriously, I've seen people break their fibulae with those. Most people turn an ankle or two at the beginning, it is like learning to walk with heels.
But they make your feet feel great all day. If I don't wear them when I'm on call, my legs are killing me at the end of the day. I guess that is nature's way of telling me to lose weight.
 
When I was in high school and was in the 50th %ile in weight, I had a dr tell me to lose weight and that would help me with the plantar fasciitis. What a crock he was. Next time I saw him, he gained 20 pounds and I lost 5 (not meaning to, just happened). Didn't go back to see him after that. His solution was always to just cast me for a month.
 
Another big Dansko fan here. I've tried multiple other shoes and inserts, but the Danskos are the only ones I can wear on the long shifts without my feet hurting by the end of the evening.
 
EctopicFetus said:
I wear flip flops.. that way i can just wash my feet after work.. the blood comes off easy
Click to expand...

Flip flops would be ideal right up until things got bloody or someone drops a needle...ouch.

EM2BE thanks for the suggestions on orthotics; $300 is a little too much for me given that I don't have any foot problems. I am sure that they add to comfort though.

Dr.McNinja, I've heard of people turning their ankle with Dansko's but a broken fibula...I guess it's all fun 'n games 'till you break a bone, eh? Actually, I wondered about the stability of the Dansko. Those heels just don't look very stable. Anyone else have issues with these?

General, I'm not familiar with the plastic clogs...are you talking about Crocs?
 
iridesingltrack said:
Flip flops would be ideal right up until things got bloody or someone drops a needle...ouch.

EM2BE thanks for the suggestions on orthotics; $300 is a little too much for me given that I don't have any foot problems. I am sure that they add to comfort though.

Dr.McNinja, I've heard of people turning their ankle with Dansko's but a broken fibula...I guess it's all fun 'n games 'till you break a bone, eh? Actually, I wondered about the stability of the Dansko. Those heels just don't look very stable. Anyone else have issues with these?

General, I'm not familiar with the plastic clogs...are you talking about Crocs?
Click to expand...

I still say it's worth calling the insurance company to see if they cover them for any reason and not for any reason. $300 is steep, but necessary for me, and I fork it out every 2-3 years. If they only had the same styles every time, I wouldn't have to buy new shoes as often.

Edit: Yes, I am female, and I hate having to go out and buy shoes.
 
I personally love my hush puppies zoom clogs:
1. They are one of the few clogs I can find in size 15
2. They can take a beating including getting run over by gurneys and the portable x ray(twice..who's driving those things ray charles?)
3. I can place my orthotics in them and not have an exposed ankle (feet flatter than Denver)
4. They look great
 
dont poo poo the flip flops.. sometimes i poo poo on them myself.. And needles? please they just bounce off of my feet.
 
iridesingltrack said:
Flip flops would be ideal right up until things got bloody or someone drops a needle...ouch.

EM2BE thanks for the suggestions on orthotics; $300 is a little too much for me given that I don't have any foot problems. I am sure that they add to comfort though.

Dr.McNinja, I've heard of people turning their ankle with Dansko's but a broken fibula...I guess it's all fun 'n games 'till you break a bone, eh? Actually, I wondered about the stability of the Dansko. Those heels just don't look very stable. Anyone else have issues with these?

General, I'm not familiar with the plastic clogs...are you talking about Crocs?
Click to expand...

If you have a high arch you can go to a nice shoe store and just buy an arch support insert.

I have a pair that cost me like $50 and I just put them in whatever shoe I'm wearing that day.

Danskos are like having your feet in heaven itself. I actually find them to be therapeutic as well as preventative. By this I mean that if my feet are hurting from another pair of shoes sometimes I'll slip into the Danskos for an hour or so when I get home.
 
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I have fears of breaking my fibula in my Danskos, I sprained my ankles numerous times back in the day and whenever I've had a long day, anything can trip me up in them... I turn my ankle all the time. As far as I'm concerned though, my Dansko's are the way forward. Hopefully the fracture rumor really isn't true or I may be in for it! :scared:
 
Dr.McNinja said:
Most people turn an ankle or two at the beginning, it is like learning to walk with heels.
Click to expand...

All I have to say is that's one heck of a mental image that has scarred my memory bank forever. 😱
 
I have weak ankles (can't tell you how many times I have twisted them) due to sports injuries

I resisted the dansko thing for a long time. I had merrills but then blood got all over them and ti kind of ruined it for me.

I finally finally broke down adn got the danskos. I love them. I have a hard time NOT wearing them when I am not going to work. I love love love them.
 
i have horrifically flat feet, and have to wear orthotics to keep my feet happy.

I usually wear a pair of new balance shoes, but for people with flat feet, who need to accommodate orthotics, crocs actually work pretty well for that. the cup is deep enough to hold a custom pair, and the inserts don't slip out. I'm usually pretty happy in those.
 
The hype is real with danskos. I remember I tried the year before I got them not to buy into the hype--wore tennis shoes (new balances) and other reported comfortable shoes....but I would find that my feet would still ache. It was not until I got my danskos...(which as stated before is great because you can wear slacks with them on your looking-half-decent days) that I have never noticed my feet after long 12 hr days.

It might take 2wks to a month for your feet to mold into to them but after that it's great. And I have twisted my ankle (not really sprained) more than a few times, but I still love them.
 
You said it yourself... "beloved Merrell clogs." Go get another pair. I am on my second (work shoes, that is), and have Merrell sandals and hiking boots. Best. Shoes. Ever.

And I wore Danskos pretty much every day for 3rd and most of 4th year of med school. They never seemed comfortable, and the risk of breaking an ankle bothered me. The first time I slipped my toes into a pair of Merrells I knew I'd found my shoe. Do I wear my Danskos? Um, not really. Occasionally. But they are nowhere near as comfy as the M's. I also wear custom orthotics, but I have done that since high school, so it wasn't a factor. Mine used to be "primo" slides, but I think they've renamed/remodeled them and are calling them "encore" now; the blood/vomit/snot/etc wipes right off. i can slip them on and off at a moment's notice, and I will buy them again when these wear out.

Danielle
 
I've tried to work in crocs. I really wanted to. But for some reason, my plantar fascia absolutely hates them. Seriously, I can feel the burn after maybe 4 hours of standing. So I gave them to my wife.
It took awhile before I stopped rolling my ankles in my danskos. I still am cautious on stairs when I'm post call.
I miss my Merrell's, and would like another pair because the suede is good for clinic days. I just haven't gotten another pair yet.
 
I've had Dansko's since the end of my third year of med school (too much blood on the merrells)....6 years now, same pair. A bit worn but going strong. I rarely turn my ankle anymore. 🙂
 
What's with all these body fluids on your person (well, feet)? (It took me 9 years on the ambulance before I got blood on me - I had a partner that said that I "could walk through a puddle of puke without getting any on" me.)

I wear Rockport wingtips with a rubber sole. No foot pain - ever.
 
doc martin steel toes. i've had them for 11 years and they're still great.
 
I had a non-medical job where I had to stand all day and bought a pair of Danskos. One of the arches was higher than the other, which was agony, but merely some defect in that particular pair. I'd recommend them, just don't buy the Mary Janes no matter how cute they are, they make the shoe flip-flop with every step.

You might consider buying them at Nordstrom - they accept returns with a receipt even if you have worn them a lot.
 
Nike AIRMAX 360. Expensive, but light, vented and blood wipes off it easily. Plus while your standing at sign out you can massage your feet by shifting your weight.
 
Dram sandals so you can party after your shift right awayjust kidding
 
Danskos are well worth the hype. They take some getting used to, but I wear them when I'm outside of the hospital b/c they're so comfortable. They look really cute with jeans too! I own 6 pairs of Danskos, so I guess I have a little obsession...
 
I don't recommend Danskos or any other kind of rocker-sole shoe unless you have a particular foot problem that necessitates their use. The problem with these shoes is that they negate the normal function of the foot and thereby cause atrophy and dependency.
 
Hey, since you're getting new shoes...remember that you will be flying in a year and will need boots with ankle support. You will actually need these starting in Jan for buddy flights. So think about this when you're shopping. I suggest trying on the Ecco boots...about 200 dollars, but super comfortable and goretex/waterproof to the ankle. Kinda nice when you're landing in a muddy corn field in the middle on the winter. Just a thought.
 
I have to put my vote in for Earth Shoes. Very similar to Merrill's (probably even made by them) but usually a bit easier on the wallet.

As far as style goes, I go for the "mocs" style. Comfort and ease of slipping on/off, but with the back, so they won't slide off when walking backwards with a stretcher.
 
Oh, and if anyone here does ever try to get custom orthotics, try to find a podiatrist that does them by digital scanning of some type. Pretty much call around and ask if they put your foot in a box / make it from plaster. Some have really good luck with that method, I never did (for 5 years messed with trying to 'get it right').
 
What a timely thread. I'm shoe hunting.

I HATE buying shoes. It's almost pathological for me. Regardless of what I do, where I go, I'll screw it up and buy something that isn't very comfortable.

I decided to buy Danskos. Unfortunately, there aren't any dealers here in Temple so I bought online. The first set didn't fit. The next pair didn't fit. Grrrr.

I drove down to Austin and bough a pair of Merrill slip on clogs. I was very rushed and traffic of any sort puts me in a horrible mood so I bought quickly. About half way home I realized I just bought a pair that are about a 1/2 size too small.

I HATE buying shoes.

Take care,
Jeff
 
I love my Dansko's!! I have a lot of trouble with my feet and I can wear Dansko with out my orthotics. I have 4 pair and I wear them all the time./ I have not had back or leg pain since I started wearing Dansko closed back clogs.
 
Jeff698 said:
What a timely thread. I'm shoe hunting.

I HATE buying shoes. It's almost pathological for me. Regardless of what I do, where I go, I'll screw it up and buy something that isn't very comfortable.

I decided to buy Danskos. Unfortunately, there aren't any dealers here in Temple so I bought online. The first set didn't fit. The next pair didn't fit. Grrrr.

I drove down to Austin and bough a pair of Merrill slip on clogs. I was very rushed and traffic of any sort puts me in a horrible mood so I bought quickly. About half way home I realized I just bought a pair that are about a 1/2 size too small.

I HATE buying shoes.

Take care,
Jeff
Click to expand...

oh no. 🙁 if you get danskos that fit, they are a dream.
 
Birkenstocks!!!

I have two pairs of leather clogs... brown and black... work for dress shoes
I have a pair of rubber clogs... anytime I wear scrubs. The footbed comes out, and the rubber shell can be run through the dishwasher... or dipped in a bucket of bleach water... whatever. Most comfortable shoes out there!

Once you get a good pair... you will not wear anything else!
 
An update on my shoe saga...

On my day off, I drove back down to Austin (I brought my wife to beat some sense into me) and went to a Birk store.

I waked around the store for a long time in a pair of Alton's. I've been wearing Birks around the house for years and love them but I needed something with a heel so I could walk backwards and not come out of the shoe.

I bought a pair of Altons but they didn't have the color I wanted. Sigh. My new shoes are in the mail.

I swear....buying shoes is never easy for me.

Did I mention I HATE buying shoes?

Take care,
Jeff
 
Jeff698 said:
An update on my shoe saga...

On my day off, I drove back down to Austin (I brought my wife to beat some sense into me) and went to a Birk store.

I waked around the store for a long time in a pair of Alton's. I've been wearing Birks around the house for years and love them but I needed something with a heel so I could walk backwards and not come out of the shoe.

I bought a pair of Altons but they didn't have the color I wanted. Sigh. My new shoes are in the mail.

I swear....buying shoes is never easy for me.

Did I mention I HATE buying shoes?

Take care,
Jeff
Click to expand...

I have two pairs of altons... black and brown! They are fantastic!
 
I hate to admit this, because I think of myself as being very athletic and coordinated, but I've actually gone down a few times in Danskos.:laugh: Dammit. Always with an audience, of course. Still, I have used them exclusively and they are very comfortable.

BUT, I was just on a cardiology rotation and the guy I was working with is an interventionalist and he swore by his Ecco Manta Ray clogs. They looked super cool, so I ordered them. I LOVE THEM. He says blood washes off of them easily. I have yet to test that theory, but I'll let you know if it is a problem.
 
A pair of black New Balance running shoes will do well. The black leather is great for blood, amniotic fluid, etc. with easy clean up. They're inexpensive and they're comfortable.
 
I wear Nike running shoes...I like to be able to move fast and comfortably through the ER
 
I like my Keens. The leather kind with the rubbery toe cap. I've seen alot of EM interns/residents wearing them. Good footing, good protection from sharps or other hazards. I put some athletic cushion insoles in them to add comfort. Only downside is that they squeak for a while until broken in. Also, I forgot to put booties on one day during my Surgery Sub-i and a GSW came into the trauma OR. This poor guy bled out about 14 units (his own plus multiple transfused) onto my shoes, now one is much darker than the other.
 
I liked my crocs until the toe got sucked into the top of an escalator and nearly ripped part of my foot off... then a bunch of tourists walked by and laughed and pointed at me trying to free my shoe and sock while causing a pileup of people trying to get off the escalator...and then I had to go work a shift looking like I had just been attacked by a dog with my toes sticking out the front of my shoe...

Now I wear Danskos or Keens, both of which I like, and neither of which I worry will get stuck in an escalator!
 
Anyone have a high instep? I tried on some Dansko clogs and found them really tight over the top of my foot. Anyone else have a similar experience and what worked for you in the end? Thanks.
 
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