Help Mega Blisters

anyone? useful or not so?

Some lovely pictures. To be honest, I just let my feet get on with it. I used to get blisters, especially after mountain marathons, now my feet are covered in hard skin and calluses. Very attractive, and I don't get blisters :o

Truly horrific pictures!

Interesting stuff and some excellent tips. I'd definitely emphasise the points about preventative foot maintenenace - I have a gadget like a mini cheese grater that I use on a weekly basis to get most of the rough stuff off my feet.

Since I started grating and coating my feet in vaseline before races I get noticeably fewer blisters.

Wonder if anyone can help me on how to (a) protect and (b) treat open blisters.

Nearly 2 weeks ago now my new Mizuno Wave Harriers gouged a deep blister into the side of my foot, going through several layers of skin.

(a) Protect
On runs I have tried to protect it by (i) spraying with spray on TCP plaster; (ii) putting compede over that; (iii) adding gauze on top of that with lashings of microporous tape. The problem is that when the feet get wet the plasters and tape all fall off and it rubs on the open wound.

So can anyone recommend a physical barrier to protect the blister which won't come off when wet?

(b) Treat

Its a pretty deep blister and is healing very slowly. The TCP plaster spray hurts like buggery but doesn't cure it. I have packed it with germoline and dressed with gauze. I have left it open to the air. Nearly 2 weeks on it should be getting better I think.

So can anyone recommend a cure for deep, open blisters?

Its a 20 mile training run this sunday so any help before then would be greatly appreciated.

Hi John,

I have a heel spur that means I am prone to blistered heels on my left foot. The two things that I have found that work for me (and worked for the 2007 3 peaks race). 1. I stick a compeed gel pad on the offending part of my shoe. 2. I bind any padding over the blister with wide strips of masking tape, and plenty of it.

Hope that helps

Stu

John

I suffered a similar deep, open blister when doing Edale in March this year in a nearly brand new pair of Mudclaw 270s.

Mourne Mountains was the following Saturday and with a 2p sized open hole in the side of my foot I thought I had no chance.

I left the open wound as open to the fresh air as possible for as much of the time as I could; wandering about the office with trousers rolled up in flip flops.

I decided to try a run on the Friday morning before catching the flight to Belfast. I slapped on a big Compeed and took 2 pairs of shoes up to the Moor for a few miles each, Wave Harriers and Swoops. I went for the Swoops.

I managed the Mourne Mountains fine and without any adverse effects, despite the blister still being open and bloody sore when direct pressure was applied.

The Compeed was only part of the story I think. The key was running in shoes that (a) had not caused the injury and (b) were on the "comfy" side of the spectrum, which the Swoops are (and I can't remember anyone moaning about getting blisters with them.)

The wound took 4-5 weeks to clear up, under Compeed, but I kept running all that time and in some pretty damp conditions. The injury site has been no bother since it healed. Once healed, the Mudclaws didn't repeat the performance either, persumably having softened in the Edale bog!

Morgan

1. Avoid the situation for 6 weeks (the time it takes body tissues to heal). That means either not running or running in shoes that do not cause the problem.

2. Get a roll of zinc oxide tape as wide as you can find (I have some that is 4 inches wide). Put this directly over the blister and continue right around the foot. It won't come off for days and days even after showers, baths or running thro' swamps. When it does fall off the blister will have healed.

I'm also prone to blisters.

i find "fast-healing plasters" (or something like that) v. good for open blisters. They keep the wound moist which actually helps it heal more quickly than if it dries out - sadly, I have tested this to check. I change them every day which is pretty disgusting because the wound stays wet and gunky, but it does the trick.

I got quite a nasty one a Sedbergh, and after this treatment I could run without covering it after 5 days.

Thanks for the sound advice guys.

Got 8m of 1" ZnO tape, shaved my foot and tried it bound over and over a compede, all around the foot. First attempt bound too tight, next OK. Tried a corn plaster but the hole is too big and the plaster increased the pressure on the wound instead of easing it.

So tomorrow its some spray plaster, a compede, some gauze then loads of ZnO tape round the foot but not too tight. Plus foot repair kit in bum bag and mobile to call the Mrs if I go lame and they threaten to shoot me.

Fingers crossed.

compeed or granuflex extra thin does the bizz. shave ankles and feet and use duck tape over the top, sticks like buggary!