Natural Remedies for Nurses’ Feet Pain

Foot pain bothers many nurses considering that they spend many hours on their feet working in long shifts. Severe pain on the feet or ankles can prevent a nurse from working and become a form of disability. Luckily nurses can use natural remedies to manage, eliminate and prevent feet pain.

The valuable methods for management of nurses’ feet pain are:

1. Wear the right shoes

Choose nursing shoes that are comfortable with adequate wiggle room for the toes and a firm grip on the heels. Lacing shoes are good for nurses and the best time to fit when buying is at the end of a shift when the feet are bigger. You can determine the correct size that will accommodate the feet even if they swell by trying new shoes when feet are at their biggest. Nursing shoes should also have excellent arch support and cushioning to prevent overpronation. Consider adding shoe inserts that make shoes to accommodate specific food conditions like high arches, flat feet or plantar facilities. A custom shoes insert by a podiatrist ensures that you get the right product.

2.Alternate and replace shoes often

The structural support of a shoe starts breaking down after using months. It is essential to check and replace if necessary after every 8-12 months. Wearing the same shoes everyday wears them faster .it also makes them get into contact with same points of pressure by the feet, increasing risk of repetitive strain injury. It is important for nurses to have at least two pairs of shoes.

3.Wearing cushioned socks or compression stockings

Cushioned socks protect the feet especially when fats pads on the feet wear away as fat pads advance. Compression stockings can prevent swelling on the feet and legs for a while.

4.Vinegar

Vinegar is one of the useful natural remedies right in the kitchen shelves and can help much in reducing inflammation that causes muscle strain. Vinegar helps to reduce feet pain by using it in one of these variations. A.Hydrotherapy Vinegar for hydrotherapy should be in equal amounts to the water. You should prepare two containers of cold and hot water and add the same measure of vinegar to each. Soak a small clean towel into the water a wrap it around the foot for 5 minutes. You should alternate wrapping the towel between the cold and hot water repeating the process for up to four times. B.Footbath Add 2-3 tablespoons of vinegar to a warm bath. Add Epsom or sea salt to the water and soak the feet in it for 10-20 minutes.

5.Herbal oil massages

Herbal oils help to loosen tight tissues and increase circulation if you use it to massage the feet. The herbal oil contains distinct medicinal properties that also help to alleviate foot pain. A gentle massage on the aching feet provides quick relief because you can feel the tension and pain easing while the oil warms on the skin. Some of the recommended types of herbal oils are:

• olive oil
• mustard oil
• chamomile oil
• lavender
• clove oil
• sweet marjoram
• rosemary
• eucalyptus
• thyme
• peppermint

Nurses with sensitive skins or open breaks can dilute the herbal oil with a teaspoon of extra coconut or olive oil before using it to massage the feet.

6.Ginger

Ginger more so turmeric ginger has anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce inflammation that causes pain and swelling on the feet. Nurses with low blood pressure or any blood disease should not use this remedy.

7.Diet

Change of diet is a general act when dealing with arthritis or any other feet pain malady. One of the ways to reduce feet pain is to avoid eating food that increases inflammation like animal products and citric foods. The best diet to take when having feet pain should have a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids like cold water fish, flaxseeds and walnuts. It should also have plenty of carbohydrates. Cherry fruit or juice also helps t reduce inflammation because it contains antioxidant properties. Drink diluted fresh juice or eats at least 10 cherries every day. A serving of three-ounce pitted dark cherries gives 82-297 milligrams of anthocyanins (antioxidant properties that relieve inflammation).

8.Exercising

Stretching exercises targeting the legs, back, shoulders and neck before work activate the body’s nervous system and prevent strain injuries .exercises prepare the feet to endure physical stresses and enhance performance. Performing similar stretch exercises and some yoga poses after work hastens recovery of the foot muscles from any minute injuries after a shift. Nurses might not avoid feet pain due to much walking, but natural remedies help to restore the comfort without pooping pain relievers.