A retail cashier often has long hours standing at the same position and constantly putting extra pressure on their feet. If you have foot pain after long shifts, you shouldn't have to take extra time between shifts just to care for your feet. Preventive measures from a trained podiatrist can help make your feet stay comfortable through each shift.
When paired with proper footwear, podiatric treatments can make a big difference and help reduce your overall foot pain. Check out some of the treatments to consider and to consult about with a professional.
1. Custom Orthotics
To help add comfort while you stand at a cash register, you may purchase retail foot cushions or lifts. While the products may provide temporary support, they are not customized to your personal feet. A foot doctor can supply custom orthotics for your feet. Although custom molded orthotics are the best treatment for the overall support of your feet, ankle, knee and back. It helps support your posture.
Through taking the impression of your feet and measurements, you can receive custom shoes or inserts designed specifically for your feet and the most common pains you suffer from. For example, if you suffer from heel pain, a doctor can customize the insert to focus on the heel pain and comfort. A consultation with a foot doctor allows you to see the options available.
2. Ingrown Toenail Treatment
The pressure of standing on your feet — especially in ill-fitting shoes — all the time could result in an ingrown toenail. When toenails grow inward, they can cause a lot of pain in your toes, especially on the big toe. A podiatrist can help treat the ingrown toenail by removing part of the nail.
First, they will numb the toe and then cut off the ingrown section. The cut will help the nail grow back straight and curved back into the skin. The result will help reduce pressure, pain, and inflammation on the toes. The numbing process will eliminate any pain in the process and a follow-up appointment will check the progress of the growth.
3. Laser Therapy
People who put pressure on their feet all day could suffer from a heel pain known as plantar fasciitis. While you may not feel the heel pain while you actively stand at work, the pain may shoot up your heel when you go to sit down or end your shift. Foot doctors can provide many relief methods for plantar fasciitis. Consider the use of laser therapy.
Through laser therapy, a foot doctor will rely on diode laser to stimulate blood flow into your heel. The process will reduce inflammation and help regenerate damaged cells in the hell. The use of a diode laser is relatively painless and a doctor can use numbing medication to help reduce any discomfort.
Every foot is different and a doctor may recommend multiple laser treatments depending on how bad the heel pain is. In many cases, you will notice relief shortly after the treatment.
4. Collagen Injections
The bottom of your feet typically have layers of collagen to offer protection and extra cushion. If you've spent years as a cashier, then you put pressure on your feet for hours of each shift and eventually wear this natural collagen away. If your body does not produce enough new collagen, then your feet may remain painful and sensitive.
A podiatrist can offer collagen injections for your feet. The injections will not only fill your feet with some synthetic material, but the injection can help trigger the growth of new collagen. The treatment option will help your feet feel better. In some cases, the injections are not just a one-time process.
Injections over the course of time will improve your feet. A doctor will perform examinations of your feet to determine the best process and ensure your feet remain comfortable.
For more information on foot treatment options, contact us at the
Advanced Foot Clinic. We want to help keep your feet comfortable no matter how many hours a day you need to stand.