Trouble standing for long periods of time?

[xnfs93hy]

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I just recently shadowed my private practice primary care physician. I was wearing good shoes, but it was painful to stand in them for long periods of time. Luckily, my doc was nice enough to let me sit down off and on when he was with his patients. The problem is, my feet hurt very badly when I stand too long. I'm slated to shadow a surgeon soon, and sitting down in the OR really isn't an option. You have to stand up. I've been doing some research online and am thinking of investing in a pair of Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts for my work shoes to help cushion my feet. I know that in medical school, and especially residency, I will be on my feet for long periods of time without sitting down. Does anyone else have this problem? How do you deal with it besides purchasing inserts for your shoes?

 

[BeancheBlanco]

It's odd, I never really noticed how annoying it is to stand in place for several hours until I shadowed in an OR. God damn, that was painful. I don't know if it was because I wasn't actually doing anything or if I just can't stand.

 

[popopopop]

What shoes do you have now?

 

[xnfs93hy]

It's odd, I never really noticed how annoying it is to stand in place for several hours until I shadowed in an OR. God damn, that was painful. I don't know if it was because I wasn't actually doing anything or if I just can't stand.

This is what I'm worried about. Standing in one place for a long period of time without support for my feet is excrutiatingly painful.

 

[xnfs93hy]

What shoes do you have now?

I've been wearing men's business shoes to shadowing gigs. They hurt like hell with just socks on.

 

[Ismet]

Danskos. They're not the nicest looking shoes, but they're pretty popular among med students/physicians.

 

[xnfs93hy]

Danskos. They're not the nicest looking shoes, but they're pretty popular among med students/physicians.

Are they comfortable to wear without any inserts or anything? I might just buy a pair, if that's the case. I don't really care how nice they look, to be honest. I just need something that I can wear for 6+ hours comfortably.

 

[Ismet]

Are they comfortable to wear without any inserts or anything? I might just buy a pair, if that's the case. I don't really care how nice they look, to be honest. I just need something that I can wear for 6+ hours comfortably.

Yes. Although inserts can make any shoes feel 10x better.

 

[popopopop]

If it hurts with just socks on, then it's probably the shoes also. Dansko are sold in some department stores. I think I almost bought a pair (or a high price equal) at one point, but opted for some nice sneakers that did the same thing and doubled as running shoes. Go to a store and just try different brands.

 

[blackroses]

I can't wear anything like Danskos. They are extremely heavy and because of that very painful for me to walk in. I finally found some very lightweight Nike Free 5.0 running shoes that are fantastic, however they do not come in "office appropriate" colors that I have seen. If you think you can get away with it (depends on the doctor you're shadowing) some lightweight running shoes combined with either gel inserts or a molded plastic arch support (depending on the source of the pain) are a complete lifesaver.

 

[el_duderino]

Danskos are like the official shoe of the local hospitals here. It's crazy.

My suggestion would be to go to a real shoe store that will do a quality fitting for you, complete with custom inserts. A running store might be a good place to start.

 

[popopopop]

I can't wear anything like Danskos. They are extremely heavy and because of that very painful for me to walk in. I finally found some very lightweight Nike Free 5.0 running shoes that are fantastic, however they do not come in "office appropriate" colors that I have seen. If you think you can get away with it (depends on the doctor you're shadowing) some lightweight running shoes combined with either gel inserts or a molded plastic arch support (depending on the source of the pain) are a complete lifesaver.

Yeah, he/she has to go try some. There are some good dress shoes with good padding vs. some that have very thin cushioning and you're basically standing on a piece of wood. I know everyone praises Clark's, but I have some rather unknown dress shoes that are way more comfortable. Nike 5.0 are not for heavy guys like me unfortunately, simply not enough padding for my weak knees.

 

[Pandaeac]

Another suggestions if changing shoes doesn't help is to shift your weight back and forth between your feet instead of just standing straight up in place. I've had to stand for hours at a time in the OR and this is the only thing that works for me. Obviously if you're scrubbed in or something you can't be hopping around, but if you're just standing and observing, no one should be off put.

 

[Optimus-Prime]

I run a good deal, and have always worn running shoes when on my feet for long periods of time. That being said I also have a good set of arches.

Under armor RC CHARGEs are my favorite right now, they handle mileage pretty well = long bouts of standing shouldn't be too bad. The colors are are tacky as hell though

 

[turayza]

@xnfs93hy have you heard of superfeet? They're a 40-50$ insert that has worked wonders -- I had an arch injury for 5-ish months that refused to heal, but then I bought the inserts and my foot was fine in days.
I used them in high school track and they fixed shin splints back then, too.

 

[Frostbite22]

Are you used to standing for long periods of time (not being mean or anything like that!). I recently took a week vacation from my job and my feet were killing me until I got used to it again. If it is something you are not entirely used to that may also be contributing to the problem. Plus I can imagine men's business shoes probably aren't the most comfortable.

 

[SOOyC52H1Sof]

I've been wearing men's business shoes to shadowing gigs. They hurt like hell with just socks on.

I think its partially due to you not being used to it, although when I worked as a cashier, its definitely not something you ever get used to: it just always hurts by the end of the day.


My Johnston and Murphy shoes are comfortable though, but they did cost me about $135 dollars.

 

[BostonBobo]

Bring a pair of comfortable sneakers with you when you shadow a surgeon. When you change into scrubs you can put them on in the locker room.

 

[CPedJosh]

Shoes only do so much. You need to have your feet and gait looked at. I deal with people on their feet all day everyday and a lot of time they are barking up the wrong tree. Shoes only do so much! Once your feet have been checked out for callusing patterns, wear patterns in your shoes, and how flexible your feet are, a proper support and shoe can be suggested for you.

When you're in pain, it controls your lifestyle. I have been making orthotics and selling shoes for 11 years now and I'm telling you that you need to wear the proper supportive footwear for most of the time. Especially at work. Don't think that just because your feet, knees, hips, and back don't hurt that you shouldn't wear good shoes. Some new clients come into our store and they say that they do not have any pain and I tell them "ok, just wait till you hurt, then come back."

Best brands for dress and casual = Mephisto, Finns, Neil M, and Ziera
Best athletic shoes = Xelero Genesis (they are more pedorthic looking, but hard to beat) and Brooks Beast/Ariel/Transcend/Adrenaline

Shoes are just blank on the inside. They have removable footbeds or liners that need to come out in order to put the most important pieces in, which are good orthotics or at least an appropriate prefab insert.

Depending on what state you are in, there are stores similar to ours in most states and most of them have trained pedorthists in those locations. I'm in AZ at a franchise called Foot Solutions and you can look up on the main website store locations. Help and assessments are free.

 

[235009]

I second Johnston and Murphy. Good balance between professional look and comfort. Sneakers are never appropriate in a medical office setting but fine for the OR.

You also kinda just need to suck it up and deal with it. Standing for long periods is gonna suck no matter which shoes you're wearing. You are a (presumably) healthy young man and shouldn't need to be accommodated by a physician who is probably twice your age.

 

[cherrycokezero]

Another suggestion, particularly if you are standing as opposed to walking: compression socks! They keep the blood from pooling in your feet and can help a lot with foot/leg pain. They're pretty cheap and you can get some at a drugstore. I'd recommend looking at online reviews. I got mine, which are actually pretty nice looking, from amazon

 

[RogueUnicorn]

Another suggestion, particularly if you are standing as opposed to walking: compression socks! They keep the blood from pooling in your feet and can help a lot with foot/leg pain. They're pretty cheap and you can get some at a drugstore. I'd recommend looking at online reviews. I got mine, which are actually pretty nice looking, from amazon

Took the words right out of my mouth.. hands? Anyways yea if your feet are hurting from shadowing a PCP then you definitely gotta get your house in order

 

[Command]

My grandpa wears SAS Shoes.

They're targeted for old people, but they have decent styles that look better than Dansko

 

[Omppu27]

Maybe it's the shape of the shoe you're wearing. I've heard people suggest flat footed shoes for some people. The surg tech that was working while i shadowed in the OR had on converses.

 

[xnfs93hy]

I just wanted to update you all on my situation. I bought a pair of Dr. Scholl's Custom Fit Orthotic Inserts for my men's business shoes and they appear to have done the trick. I used them on my last day of shadowing my PCP and was able to spend the whole day on my feet comfortably. Feet, legs, and back didn't hurt anymore! I guess that I just needed some support for me feet. Also, I invested in a pair of Dansko shoes, which I can comfortably wear without any inserts at all. Thank you all for the help!