I'm about to enter my first year of pharmacy school and I have just been diagnosed with osteoarthritis in my knees. I'm questioning whether or not I'll be able to handle standing all day once it progresses. Do you think it will make it difficult for me to work as a pharmacist? Any comments from pharmacists with this problem would be greatly appreciated.
-
CycleTrack and SDN are teaming up to make medical school admissions more transparent and accessible! Read the announcement to learn how we’re supporting the future of CycleTrack’s free application-tracking tools .
Standing in Retail
Started by LV1992
Get help with your application
Use all the free resources available to you from SDN: articles, guides, expert advising, forums discussions, and school research.
Better get your foot in the door at a hospital then.
I have a bad back (sacrum/coccyx area;weight lifting injury) and it makes me feel like a cripple when I get off work after 10hrs of standing in retail. I have put up with it for a couple years, and ice it/beer upon getting home somewhat numbs the pain. It has definitely given me the motivation to ensure I do not have a future in retail (at least not for 30+ years). I may do it PRN a day or two a month though.
I have a bad back (sacrum/coccyx area;weight lifting injury) and it makes me feel like a cripple when I get off work after 10hrs of standing in retail. I have put up with it for a couple years, and ice it/beer upon getting home somewhat numbs the pain. It has definitely given me the motivation to ensure I do not have a future in retail (at least not for 30+ years). I may do it PRN a day or two a month though.
I have a chronic condition. In time, my hip joint will degenerate and I will need a replacement. Even though right now, I don't have any visible joint damage, I don't have the stamina to stand for long periods. My thigh muscle can be completely strained. I forced the issue of a stool by getting a note from my physician. Even still, sometimes I can't sit enough. You need to be firm on your rights through the ADA.
I never sit in front of patients but I will sit for a few minutes every few hours or if it's slow. I don't care what a manager says, if the work is being done who cares?
Here is your joint saver.
http://www.gelpro.com/eco-pro-medical
http://www.gelpro.com/eco-pro-medical
After almost 40 years on my feet my knees had enough. My doctor recommended these mats and I can personally attest they work. My kness are still stiff at the end of the day. The pain is gone. I went from daily apap and the occasional 3-4 course of NSAID to zero analgesic pills for my knee.
http://www.gelpro.com/eco-pro-medical
http://www.gelpro.com/eco-pro-medical
After almost 40 years on my feet my knees had enough. My doctor recommended these mats and I can personally attest they work. My kness are still stiff at the end of the day. The pain is gone. I went from daily apap and the occasional 3-4 course of NSAID to zero analgesic pills for my knee.
You'd think they'd consider workplace safety issues regarding their employee's health
Nah. Break their backs, knees and hips. Let them leave. Hire new grads for less. Rinse and repeat.
Don't be naive
I was told that sitting gives the appearance of laziness to the customers. I agree with whoever said it above, as long as the work is getting done, who cares if you are sitting?
I used to be a runner but my legs are so tired at the end of the 10 or 12 hour shifts that I never want to run anymore. My knees are okay but they were very strong before, I used to run 500-1,000 miles per year. My feet hurt and sometimes my lower back gets sore too. I can only do this for a couple more years maybe.
My lower back already gets sore when I have been standing for a while, and I find myself wanting to bend over to try and stretch my lower back..... is this bad news for me already?
I guess one of the perks of the night shift...I have plenty of time to sit in my (nicely padded)stool!!
Here is your joint saver.
http://www.gelpro.com/eco-pro-medical
After almost 40 years on my feet my knees had enough. My doctor recommended these mats and I can personally attest they work. My kness are still stiff at the end of the day. The pain is gone. I went from daily apap and the occasional 3-4 course of NSAID to zero analgesic pills for my knee.
Those mats did nothing for me. If you have a severe issue, only sitting will help. I avoid drugs because I am only at the beginning stages. I don't want to loose their efficacy for when I really need them.
If you work retail, be prepared to stand anywhere between 6 to 8 to 12 to 14 hours a day. You will sit when you have free time. The problem is, nowadays with retail chain stores, there really isn't that much more free time. There are some places which removed stools and chairs completely! How this happens, I don't even know, as it is so f*cked up.
If you want a place where you can sit 8 hours straight, then hospital is the way to go. There are some pharmacists that come in over here, sit down, and don't get up unless they have to go on a lunch break or to the bathroom. I kid you not.
If you want a place where you can sit 8 hours straight, then hospital is the way to go. There are some pharmacists that come in over here, sit down, and don't get up unless they have to go on a lunch break or to the bathroom. I kid you not.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/852987
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/861316
These medscape articles came out somewhat recently...conflicting findings of course. I think corporate could justify their rationale with the increased mortality from sitting. I frankly want to know why anyone would waste money doing these studies.
Bending down & standing up continuously doing C2 counts (safes are floor level) for a solid hour is way more grueling than standing 12 hours...the syncope, dizziness, & head rush make me want to pass out at times.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/861316
These medscape articles came out somewhat recently...conflicting findings of course. I think corporate could justify their rationale with the increased mortality from sitting. I frankly want to know why anyone would waste money doing these studies.
Bending down & standing up continuously doing C2 counts (safes are floor level) for a solid hour is way more grueling than standing 12 hours...the syncope, dizziness, & head rush make me want to pass out at times.
i have arthritis on my knee also. CVS removed the chair that we had, and does not allow stools to sit on. so i resort to sitting on a step ladder to verify scripts. its dirty, and the tech look at me weird, but this is cvs pharmacy. this is how to tell you're a dispenser, NOT a doctor.. i feel embarrass when cvs customers call me doc. but i'm just there for the paychecks.
Everything in moderation though. If you're standing so much it causes fatigue and soreness, that ain't right. These are quite common occupational health and safety issues
Standing up is healthier, you don't die as early. You don't get as fat and burn more calories. I prefer standing up most of the time unless it's super slow that it actually hurts if you just stand not doing sh1t. I can stand 13h/day and no ill effect on me.
This is why more and more people install a standing desk.
This is why more and more people install a standing desk.
http://www.zcoil.com/
Fitted for these initially by a DPM and was gifted them from my family the day I was hired for Walgreens as an intern. Replaced them every two years or so even though I don't practice anything that has me standing at all. I'll still wear them if I know I need to on my feet all day. There's also Kuru's on the market, but I've never worn them.
If you have these sorts of foot problems/concerns, this is where a visit to our DPM colleagues is probably in order. We're not foot specialists, for these sorts of matters, you should actually consult real foot specialists. Yes, there are lifestyle modifications, but we are in the 21st Century medicine where we have options. Orthotics has really come a long way even in the last ten years from the material science improvements.
Fitted for these initially by a DPM and was gifted them from my family the day I was hired for Walgreens as an intern. Replaced them every two years or so even though I don't practice anything that has me standing at all. I'll still wear them if I know I need to on my feet all day. There's also Kuru's on the market, but I've never worn them.
If you have these sorts of foot problems/concerns, this is where a visit to our DPM colleagues is probably in order. We're not foot specialists, for these sorts of matters, you should actually consult real foot specialists. Yes, there are lifestyle modifications, but we are in the 21st Century medicine where we have options. Orthotics has really come a long way even in the last ten years from the material science improvements.
Losing weight is also important and helps you stand longer.
Have you ever tried to go running in the Zcoil shoes?
Hey guys, new grad here and already feeling the effects of transitioning from part time intern work to full time Rph work. As recommended on here, I got a pair of Danskos (walker shoes, not the clogs) and they feel good, especially when walking. But as the Rph, most of the time I'm just standing in one spot. The heels of my feet hurt the second half of my shift which causes my overall posture and everything to be off and then my back seems to be effected by the time I'm done working. I think it's because I have high arches that there's extra pressure on my feet. I'm young, healthy, and active so even though it's "not that bad" I want to get ahead of this. I figured instead of spending $50 on Dr. Scholls orthotics or more expensive shoe inserts, I might as well see an expert and see what they have to say. I was wondering what experiences Rphs have had with podiatrists (or chiropractors?) for custom fit orthotics. Would ya recommend it? Also, random question, is it okay to shift your weight on to one foot when they start to ache and then switch off or just try to keep the weight even the whole time?
TLDR: How have your experiences seeing a Chiropractor or podiatrist been for custom fit insoles/professional advice? Who would be the better option to go to? Also, any general tips for standing all day if you have it.
I 'would' recommend it especially if you do stand all day as that gets rough in year 20-30 of practice. For me, it's kind of the same thing as having an athletic trainer looking at your lifting or running technique every 2-5 years or so just to make sure you aren't developing bad habits on technique that are injury prone. It's far easier to pay even for a useless consult given our level of insurance coverage than throwing out your knees or back from bad technique or posture. I'm also normal weight for my height and race (125 lbs at 66 inches), so it's more from a preventative than a treatment issue.
Amazon product ASIN B00YNN8IU4
I sit on one of these at my independent retail gig.
I sit on one of these at my independent retail gig.
125 lb for a 5'6 male is incredibly thin. You fall on 10% lower than your IBW. I'm 6'0 if I drop 10% weight off 178 lb I look like a scrawny Asian dude about to be blown over by winds... So I bulk up and hit the gym. I'm 180+ now.
http://www.cchrchealth.org/health-calculators/body-mass-index-bmi-adults
Asians are arguably 'supposed' to be 10% or so less than the general BMI criteria (unless they man up musclewise like what you're doing). I'm a scrawny Asian and small boned as you've probably guessed, so I'm within my BMI criteria and not even especially on the thin side (I'm a 29/30 waist). And who am I supposed to impress with the gym visits, my wife? Besides having ab exposure from being thin enough, I'm already bulky enough where it counts...😀. And yeah, I run. I bought hook, line, and sinker the Ed McBain line about the relationship between if you're curious about what your love would look like after a certain activity that you should try to get a look at their face and body after they've had a good, hard run or spin.
More seriously, the podiatry visit was and is due to the fairly sessile positions we stand in. I don't work counter or hood much anymore, so it is not that big an issue, but I injure myself enough running that I do care about making sure I don't blow out my ankles and knees. Saw one too many knee replacements for my own comfort. And about standing desks, people forget that the reason sitting desks were developed were due to people from the early 1900s throwing out their backs at standing desks, and they were in far better shape than we were. It's been my experience that it's worth the time to get preventative medical help: podiatry for your feet, ergonomics or OT to look at your work environment, orthopedics to do workout physical checkups. Why not considering that it's trivial for our level of health coverage?
Asians are arguably 'supposed' to be 10% or so less than the general BMI criteria (unless they man up musclewise like what you're doing). I'm a scrawny Asian and small boned as you've probably guessed, so I'm within my BMI criteria and not even especially on the thin side (I'm a 29/30 waist). And who am I supposed to impress with the gym visits, my wife? Besides having ab exposure from being thin enough, I'm already bulky enough where it counts...😀. And yeah, I run. I bought hook, line, and sinker the Ed McBain line about the relationship between if you're curious about what your love would look like after a certain activity that you should try to get a look at their face and body after they've had a good, hard run or spin.
More seriously, the podiatry visit was and is due to the fairly sessile positions we stand in. I don't work counter or hood much anymore, so it is not that big an issue, but I injure myself enough running that I do care about making sure I don't blow out my ankles and knees. Saw one too many knee replacements for my own comfort. And about standing desks, people forget that the reason sitting desks were developed were due to people from the early 1900s throwing out their backs at standing desks, and they were in far better shape than we were. It's been my experience that it's worth the time to get preventative medical help: podiatry for your feet, ergonomics or OT to look at your work environment, orthopedics to do workout physical checkups. Why not considering that it's trivial for our level of health coverage?
if you have a note from a doctor that u cannot stand long hours, then they have to give u a stool. at our store we "had" a chair. then the DM took it away from us, and i have to sit on a filthy step ladder.. its very important who your DM is. the DM i have tries to make everyone miserable, everyone including the customers. they keep complaining n complaining on that survey each week n he read through them, but does nothing. what a mtha fking excuse of a pharmacy manager. he screw up the entire district.
Standing for long periods may speed progression of atherosclerosis:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10901115
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10901115
