When I work long hours on my feet, how do I best care for and sooth my poor feet and legs?

Question

What's the best way to pamper and care for yourself after working long hours on your feet? What products or natural ingredients are best to use? How can I sooth my aching and sometimes twitching legs and cure or avoid cramping and other adverse reactions? Any tips would help.

I've heard of soaking in a bath w/ epsom salt, what does that do? Does it really help? How is epsom salt different from table salt? What about specialty salt like sea salt?

Also, I want to start taking really good care of my feet- any advice/suggestions? I want the whole enchilada- odor prevention, softening, etc, etc, etc.:)

Much appreciated. Thanks.

Answer 1

The absolute best way of taking care of your feet is purchasing a good pair of shoes even though good shoes are expensive they are well worth the expense.

The next best thing is when you get home from a hard day you lay on your back and elevate your feet on something high, it must be above heart level. this will help with the achey feeling and decrease any swelling. Do this for approxamtely 30 minutes when you get home and you will feel a big difference that day and the next.

Answer 2

nurse's shoes are best to stand on for many hours, massage, rise them whenever you have a minute tolet the blood return to the body w/o effort, don't wear tight socks or anything that may reduce the blood supply to the legs or feet, if the arch is flat the feet get tired faster so use inserts that support them

Answer 3

Use Prevention first,

buy yourself the most supportive and comfortable shoes or sneakers for your condition.

Answer 4

smoke weed

Answer 5

hire a massuse! or trie yoga and/or pilates!

Answer 6

You CAN massage your feet, which would get the blood up toward your heart--that's what causes leg pain.  Also, you need to make sure you have the right shoes--a good shoe for YOUR foot is worth $100 investment.  

A few yoga moves (bending over and breathing will stretch your spine, and then come up VERY slowly and stretch your arms) will help your whole body--a local Y might have a cheap class or ask if you can attend one class.  

Soaking with Epsom salts is great!  NOT regular salt!  Yes, soaking your feet is good, and do the massage as well.  Sprinkle baking soda in your shoes--as good as any other product.

Answer 7

In addition to the other answers you have received, I use an cream for muscle soreness on my legs.  It helps.

Answer 8

Epsom salts work great.  Be sure you use enough.  Place about 1/2-3/4 cup in the tub where the hot water can hit it.  Stir with something to dissolve it in the hot water, til it's clear.

Then add water as warm as you can stand, to cover your legs.  When you have soaked about 20 minutes or so, rinse in the shower, to get the "film" off you.  Soap will curdle if you use it in the Epsom salts water.  Epsom salts draw the soreness out.

There are inexpensive vibrating slippers that work really well.  I have some.  Leg cramps can be caused by low Potassium, among other things.  Replex is prescribed for nervous legs.

I have found mine are triggered by sugar!  If I drink/eat anything with sugar after supper, within an hour the dreaded nervous legs/restless legs "start."  Horrible feeling!!!  I make every effort to stop eating ANYTHING with sugar, from supper on.  

This might not be your problem, but it's worth it to see if it's what triggers yours too!  Good luck!