(I’m fairly certain it’s a me problem, but I needed a title)
Hi, all. 30 year old man here.
I work in a factory and I’m constantly on my feet, walking back and forth on a concrete floor for 8, sometimes 10 hours a day during the work week. This has left me with some significant pain in my feet on a regular basis and it’s gone on for a few years now. I’m fine while I’m up and walking around. But, after breaks or if I get up to take care of something at home is when the pain hits me, albeit temporarily. I usually spend the first several minutes hobbling around like what I would imagine a blind, drunk duck would look like until I can walk normally again. I’m just wondering how any of you out there who experience foot pain remedy it or if you have some preventative measures that are helpful to you as I haven’t exactly been on top of self care up to this point in my life.
Thanks in advance.
Have a great weekend.
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Maybe go to a podiatrist? There are like, experts out there you can consult on this very topic!
It sounds simple, but buying new high quality shoes with good support cures a lot. When I hold on to a pair of shoes too long, the amount of relief I get from buying a new pair is almost tear inducing. I also do calf stretches to help with arch pain.
My wife, a nurse, buys compression socks that helps keep her feel and lower legs in better shape.
Sounds like a you problem my dude. Maybe your work boots need replacing? Get some good ones for the extra comfort.
Go to the doctor
I had foot/leg/back pain for years. What helped me: Shoes (or boots) with significantly better foot support. High quality insoles (custom, Powerstep, or better – and change them when they start to wear out!), and maybe have a podiatrist check you over to make sure you don’t have anything structural wrong. Do stretches for your arches and achilles heels. Not sure what your options are at work, but a rubber mat to stand on may help slightly. If you have any weight to lose, losing it will help too.
2 pairs of new shoes. Get something half decent. Pay for new insoles. Try the insoles inside the new shoes while you are buying them. 1 pair you wear at work. The other pair you wear inside the house and never outside so they stay clean. You benefit from the support and structure even when you arent active or working. Lose weight, mind your posture.
It helps when, during downtime, your feet are elevated above your heart. I used a double couch cushion. It makes your feet feel better.
You got bad shoes or insoles if you wear boots. Go to a western store like a Justin boots and get a pair of mason boots that’s the brand btw. Masons are lifetime warranty on most high range cost boots so if your arch or insoles or anything else is wrong you can tell mason and they will either fix them or replace your boots totally.
https://www.masonbrothersshoes.com/collections/mens-safety-toe?srsltid=AfmBOorAIVLm3n7COv00SHARND0fY16By6Ah3nPu4IkIKDWmhL-G3J6L
Your welcome.
If you’re on your feet all day, make sure you have good boots with quality insoles.
If you’re working in a generally static position, getting an impact mat to make standing easier on your feet.
And self care. In my 20’s I worked in factories and definitely had sore feet at times. I would get a foot rub as often as I could from my GF. But there’s massage parlors you can also visit to receive that service too.
Then the obvious stuff, like losing weight if you’re on the heavier side. That’s less pressure on your feet and joints.
I too am on my feet all day on a concrete factory floor. Definitely go see your doctor or a specialist. I was having foot pain for a while, turns out all I needed was a spacer in between my little toe and the adjacent one for a while to correct the issue. You may need to go as far as getting orthopedic shoes but it will be well worth the money spent.
Could be diabetes related – talk to your doc
Around the 30 mark I needed to start buying insoles for my shoes and make sure my shoes didn’t get too old. The combination of like dr scholls athletic insoles and decent and not old shoes makes my feet happy.
When I was young my grandfather told me something that I keep with me. He said never skimp on the things that separate you from the ground such as your shoes your tires or your bed.
Go to a podiatrist. I went and found out I have a partially torn tendon in my ankle causing me to compensate in the way I walk which causes pain. They gave me high quality insoles and an ankle brace.
Try foot shaped shoes, not shoe shaped shoes. Barefoot shoes, zero drop, less cushion on the bottom, better for your feet
Good shoes will help for sure
Spend the money on a good fitting pair of boots or shoes, and if needed, some different insoles to replace what is in them for better support/comfort. It’ll make a night and day difference on your feet and joints.
Shoes may look fine but interior support doesn’t work after some time of use.
Either frequently replace insoles with high quality ones, or frequently replace shoes.
I bought some more expensive work boots 2 years into factory work, best decision I’ve ever made, they’re incredibly comfortable.
you should be buying better shoes. when i was working retail id burn through a decent pair of shoes in about 7-8 months.
sounds like plantar fasciitis. SuperFeet make high quality, rigid insoles for this purpose
Invest in high quality, lightweight boots, and get high quality inserts. Wear wool socks if you don’t already. Avoid black socks as they’ve been shown to make your feet sweat more.
And renew each item as often as needed! I know money is fucking right these days, but your health is everything. Get your feet right!
Me feet are actually one of the few things that doesn’t hurt
I went through a few years of increasing, intermittent body and joint pain, thinking it was just a part of getting older. A doc finally recommended that I change up my diet to see if that would help. I changed up my food choices to more vegetables, grains and beans (still some meat but more like 5%), and after about 4 months on it, all the body pain left. I couldn’t believe it, was so certain I’d just have that pain the rest of my life. I’ve since played with different percentages, added dairy back in (which my body seems fine with). If I add too much animal protein back, I’ll start noticing feet and joint pain, so I back off and immediately see an improvement. Every body is different, so what works for me won’t work for others.
Get better shoesn
Your shoes are either too cheap, too small, or too narrow.
How much do you pay for shoes? What brand? You should be spending over $100 on work boots.
I struggled with foot pain at work for years.
I tried orthodic shoes, custom inserts- still hurt. Some padded shoes just moved the soreness to my calves instead of my feet.
I bought the most padded HOKA working shoes ( not running) and my feet feel great ! They are expensive , of course, but I couldn’t think of a better way to spend money, life changing
Sounds like plantar fasciitis. It’s the tendon that wraps around the top and bottom of your foot, and the kind of work you describe here can strain it beyond belief, at which point it starts barking at you.
Go see a podiatrist. They can make recommendations including stretching, exercise and better boots.
You’re lucky that this has only been going on for a few weeks. If this becomes chronic, expect it for the rest of your life. You get on top of it now, you may be able to head it off at the pass.
Go see the doctor. Like, TODAY.
Mine hurt and no amount of insoles, expensive shoes, meds, massage, or Theragun helps. Turns out I have gout. Constant hydration helps because dehydration flares it right up, but in the end the only solution was getting a desk job.
I work in the service industry and we’re always on our feet too
To give you a specific direction for good shoes, I really like the Merrill brand, they make hiking shoes/boots and work shoes so you know they’ll have solid support
Hokka are also popular if pricey
Running your feet in cold water instant relieves the soreness
I was taught there’s 3 things you never, ever skimp on at purchase time : shoes, tires, and mattress. One of these will be keeping you off the ground at any given time and all of them have a massive impact on overall health.
Tell your doctor and ask for a referral to a podiatrist. Feet are so complex and sensitive they have their own doctor. Spend good money on the right shoes.
Compensating incorrectly for wonky foot stuff is how you throw off your body mechanics and screw up your knees, hips, and back. You’re going to have many more and more significant problems down the line if you don’t get this cleared up ASAP
I work 12s at the hospital and over the years I’ve tried all sorts of brands of shoes and insoles. And I could not figure out why my feet hurt. I started commuting on bicycle to work and about a month later I realized I had 0 foot pain. Once the weather got cold and I couldn’t commute anymore about three months later the foot pain returned. But something about cycling helped me have zero foot pain for most of the year.
It might be a good idea to talk to a podiatrist, or a physical therapist. They can guide you toward the best boots, insoles, etc. They can also help with stretches and exercises which can prevent your pain in the first place. It may be covered through your insurance, or through your employer directly.
What shoes are you wearing? 10 hours a day of walking on concrete flooring without good quality footwear will absolutely destroy your feet.
For recreation/exercise I usually walk about 5-6 miles a day and invest about $150 into a pair of shoes at a time and get roughly 500 miles out of them. Once the cushioning runs out my feet and knees really start to hurt from all of the walking and I need to get a new pair.
Lots of folks have foot issues. I use toe separators at home. These have helped a lot! When I started, all my toes were curled from years in shoes. Now my toes are much straighter, my balance is better and my feet feel better. They are cheap on Amazon (like $10) and Def worth a try.
Might be plantar fasciitis, got that from running too much and again from walking too much. It usually hit me in the morning or when I had been relaxing for a while.
Go see a doctor to be sure, but there are stretching exercises that will help. You might also need shoe inserts to help like these https://www.amazon.com/Dr-Scholls-Plantar-Fasciitis-Insoles/dp/B08R5452FF
What kind of shoes/boots are you wearing? I’m in a similar position in that I walk 5-8 miles, 10-15 flights of stairs a day, on polished concrete. Good shoes/boots are key. Unless a heel is required, I highly recommend a wedge sole for the cushion. The downside is wedge soles don’t often provide great arch support if that’s something you need.
I personally wear Red Wings(work pays for them), wedge sole, composite toe. My feet and ankles seem to be holding up fairly well
Edit: gor to for
Pedicures, open sandals, and barefoot when not working is how I solved my woes.
Losing weight can also help
Plantar fasciitis?
Shoes, If i’m going around on dress shoes like 8 -10 hours a day it sucks, if i wear my kyries, kd’s or brons, I can go all day and night
Lots of great advice in here already. What works for you is going to highly depend on what’s actually going on with your feet.
For me, I just needed to stretch and do soft tissue work. The first time I used a lacrosse ball on my feet was a revelation; it was like the bones of my foot spread out for the first time. Combine that with really working on calf flexibility and going to “barefoot” shoes, and I left foot pain completely behind.
But. I had no structural issues or nerve inflammation—just tightness from thirty years of neglecting my feet.
You have to find out what’s actually causing the pain. Else you’re just going to be treating symptoms.
My feet hurt until I figured out the issue thanks to a physical therapist. I saw a podiatrist and her advice was crap based on old teaching. She suggested orthotics which only made my feet weaker. I saw a PT after that and she was able to help me understand what my issue was and how to fix it. Did the exercises, and continue to do them to this day. My pain went away and I don’t use orthotics. Everyone’s feet are different and pain can be caused by a ton of different things so a physical therapist is what I suggest. PT may not be free or low cost, but it was the best thing I did to help my foot pain.
What part of your feet hurt?
I will get really bad foot pain when my calves get over pumped because it pulls the Achilles tendon which pulls the fascia on the heel but whatever it just makes my feet hurt.
I also have high arch and wide foot. Wide feet are usually flat so I had other foot pain because I had no arch support. I have fixed that by buying more expensive shoes with custom footbeds/orthotics.
When I was on concrete a lot I got myself a pair of Red Wing super souls. Not sure if boots work for you but they have a very generous soul and I put custom foot beds in and those are my “my back hurts” boots because after wearing them for a few days everything feels better.
The best money I ever spent was on an appointment with a podiatrist. I think it was like a $45 copay or something. They set me up with an appointment for custom orthotics and gave me information on how to prevent calluses and they also shaved my calluses off.
The Dr. also told me the exact insoles to try out for my type of feet in the mean time before the custom orthotics were made. The insoles took care of the issue, before I got them walking was getting quite painful, after I was able to do 20000 plus steps with minimal discomfort.
My feet hurt, and like you, I’m on my feet all day long. I walk, a lot, at work. 20,000 steps is a pretty normal day. What works best for me (mostly) is buying new shoes every 3 months. I hate buying shoes that often, but when you walk 10-11 miles every damn day, well, they wear out fast. My current pair are Sketchers Max Air Cushions.
Way too many variables to figure out what your problem is?
Overweight? Medical conditions? Prior injuries? Poor fitted footwear? Gait?
All I can say is if your jobs depends on being on your feet, then you should definitely get some true medical advice and not reddit advice….
Maybe see a podiatrist. Or look up Youtube videos about foot pain. I had turf toe for a while, but found some massages that significantly helped with the discomfort.
Number 1 doctor.
In my 20s I was on my feet a lot. Was suggested I buy some Red Wing boots and they were a game changer. But, again in my 20s. They can’t cover health issues. See the doctor.
Everything hurts for me on a daily basis. The question is, is it going to hinder my ability to go about my routines?
Mostly, no. I have bad days, but thankfully, they are few.
But, also, I’ve started working out again after years of not bothering to do it.
Get good boots, I really like Red Wing and Timberland, and pare them with good insoles. I’ve been known to wear my Timberlands on weekends when I’m not working.
Yeah. Flat feet, plantar fasciitis and some vascular issues. My feet are always sore
Went to newbalance store and had my feet scanned, purchased shoes based on their recommendations.
Me feet stopped hurting.
It is a you problem. Lots of padding in your shoes to protect your feet from the concrete and good support in the shoes. Keep track of the mileage you put on them, and replace them when it’s time. If you are overweight, be kind to your weight bearing joints and lose weight.
I trail walk. My ridiculously expensive trail shoes are meant to last only about 500 miles, but I try to stretch it out. I can feel the ground through the padding at about 600 miles. I use the activity tracker app on my phone to keep track of miles. Replacement shoes are so important to me that they are a line item in my budget.
Nice gel insoles and fresh shoes make a world of difference.
I personally like the Dr. Scholls ones that are targeted for walking – they seem to be the squishiest, which I find to be the most comfortable.
Also, the rubber in shoes will compress and wear out after 6-12 months.
I’ve stopped having that problem by going white-collar. I worked in various warehouse jobs during university. Worked 8-10 hours. 12 hours if they offered overtime. Every time my shift is over, I really couldn’t do anything because my feet’s hurt just like you.
Now, my feet don’t hurt, but my vision is going to shit because I’m on the computer for 8-12 hours! FML
Firm supports. Also, I started experiencing foot pain. Cousin is foot doc. Asked and he knew I had hardwood floors. Wearing slip ons at home fixed the pain
Shoes matter. I went from mid-level boots to RedWings that fit great and it changed everything.
When I had to transition from a comfy office job avg 4k steps a day to a warehouse job avg 25k steps a day, peaking at 45k, my feet felt destroyed.
Resting my feet with a pillow below them or under my knees, icing them, wearing comfy shoes outside of work and stretching helped a lot. Also wearing thicker socks or socks with padding and comfy soles really help.
Unless your situation is more of medical help, give those a try. I recall crawling at home after OT cause my feet couldn’t take it anymore lol. Never again.
I was starting to have issues & went to a minimalist type shoe. I also tried a barefoot shoe. I apparently need a small amount of heel to toe drop so I’ve stuck with the minimalist. I still wear boots to work in but went to a wider toe box
Find a Red Wing Boot Store. Go in. Get boots.
It’s normal for them to be tired at the end of the day, and maybe a touch sore, but I just did an 11 hour shift on my feet and they’re tired, but not in pain.
You could have a strangely shaped foot or have a posture that puts undue pressure in certain spots.
Do you use insoles? Something soft can help a lot. What type of shoes are you wearing? This feels like an excellent reason to invest in some quality work appropriate shoes
It sounds like plantar fasciitis or tendinitis. Decent shoes or boots help. Seek medical treatment.
Dr scholls shoes have been the best thing I ever put on my feet. They help a ton. My feet actually feel worse when I am not wearing any shoes than when I wear those.
See a specialist and all about the shoes man. After a lot of trial and error I found shoes that don’t cause me pain from just walking.
I just treated myself to 2 new pairs of shoes (1 for walking and 1 for my running hobby) and it’s made a difference. Don’t cheap out. Invest in good quality shoes.
You may need orthotics. I had the same problem years ago, tried stretching, high quality boots, etc., nothing worked. Saw a podiatrist and I found out I have high arches and I now get custom orthotics, I now don’t get foot pain.
Orthotics and compression socks
Make sure you’re changing your shoes frequently enough. When I was moving furniture I would replace my shoes every 3-4 months. It’s makes a huge difference. If you’re walking a lot and on your feet all day, you will destroy the structure of the shoe and they start to hurt more than help. And don’t cheap out on shoes that are gonna be on your feet for a long time for hard work.
I am into barefoot/minimalist shoes. A lot of people get foot pain from tapered shoes.
It seems like it shouldn’t matter too much how the toes are positioned, but it affects every other part of the feet. I won’t go into details, but know that it matters a lot.
So I recommend buying shoes with a footshaped toebox.
If you are interested in minimalist shoes, I recommend r/barefootshoestalk.
But at least get footshaped shoes. Tapered shoes should not exist.
Yep , can’t be on my feet longer than 3 hours or else it’s agonizing pain . Plantar fasciitis sucks my dude.
You may need orthopedic insoles , go see a podiatrist if you can it may work wonders for you. I have the insoles they cost me quite a lot , I went from not being able to stand for more than an hour to about 3 hours so that’s a small improvement but other than that it’s definitely a struggle .
Orange inserts. Game changer for me.
48 years old and do 15,000+ steps a day carrying equipment. They hurt sometimes.
Mine often felt tired until I got fitted for some insoles at goodfeet and bought better shoes.
Avoid soft and overly spongy shoes and go for a good set of work shoes or boots. Yes, such shoes are expensive but I’ve noticed I get a few years out of my work shoes and the only time I’m not wearing them is when I’m wearing my boots because the situation calls for boots.