Discussion: Mega blisters/heel erosion!

So I bought some new falcons and they destroyed my upper heel in the woods yesterday. I currently have two broken blisters that are weeping and bleeding everywhere, and four races to run in Canada starting tomorrow!

My Mum always told me that leaving these things open to air was better, as long as you weren't overtly risking infection. Does anyone with medical knowledge or experience know if this is true? I have bought many combinations of bandaging for the weekend, but I don't want to impede 24 hours of potential healing time by doing the wrong thing!

Based on when I tore a square foot of skin off my bum last fall from roadrash, the nurses were telling me that keeping a wound covered and moist encourages it to heal fastest, and with the last amount of scarring. I did notice that the skin came back very quickly. But, that was a thin layer of scratching, as opposed to a deep blister.

I've never liked encouraging scabs to form, because they rip off too easily, and then it starts bleeding all over again.

Axel is right, when I tore my ankle open down to the joint the doctor(s) told me the same thing about keeping it covered and moist.
I recommend those squishy, blister specific band-aids - they work a treat. I've orienteering with them on and they don't move around or come off.

Are they alright if it's more open skin than blister though? I've had bad experiences with compeed in that respect..

Second skin is awesome - the clear plasticky stuff.

I did buy some of that. Have gone for an non adhesive pad right now, but think will second skin it as a base layer tomorrow.

I feel really stupid, but new shoes have never destroyed me this badly before!

Becky, go visit Kat. She is a wizard at fixing blisters. Seriously.

I hope soaking them in beaver ponds will be good for them as well.

second skin when racing-- a sewing thread left there other times. it works for what you need- racing and fixing it

I don't have the time unfortunately - in and out of meetings all day and then on the road. Hence AP suggestions and not going to Acute Care!

Indeed, I am worried about the state of them after Beaver Ponds. But that's tomorrow's concern! I'm glad I have my tetanus up to date...

If you'll be racing on it, don't let it dry out, or it will crack and be really painful. I usually use full strength Betadine once, the first day, then neosporin, and a covering---bandaid, blister-specifc, second skin (the clear sheet of goo, not the paint-on glue stuff), maybe a tagaderm. I leave that on as long as I can, but it usually gets destroyed in the woods or in the shower.

The real hazard from racing with it is infection. Be careful of marsh water or livestock runoff. And if your shoes smell it can be bacterial (or "other") and transfer through a bad bandage. If I think racing contaminated it, I'll use 1:10 betadine:water (not full strength) and then neosporin again. If I think it was pretty clean, I'll just use soap and water, a clean towel, and neosporin plus bandage.

I've tried both wet and dry approaches. I find wet is less painful but more hassle. For big blisters, I think wet is faster. For small ones, dry is probably faster, unless you crack it. If you're racing, it's gonna get wet anyway, and if you don't bandage it, it really hurts.

I am significantly disappointed there is no picture for this post.

I could provide one! But it is lunch time...

They wept on Shoe clone's floor last night, so she can testify to their mankiness!

Thanks Cedarcreek, that is all excellent advice. May stop at Wahlgreen's again after lunch for something to wash them with post race.

When I was getting really bad blisters, first I would always get my shoes wet before wearing them. Ideally, run them under the tap before you leave and stick them in a bag so they get properly soaked through. Many people I've tried to tell this too have resisted until they were really desperate and then they came round!

Then I usually buy mole foam and make a doughnut out of it that goes around the blister. That way you aren't putting any more pressure on it.

If I were you now, I would put on second skin, followed by mole foam and then cover it all in ankle or duct tape to keep it in place.

If you want to keep stuff in place, try the crinkled looking self adhesive stuff (looks like stuff you might use for a sprained ankle,comes in a roll). I've used it to keep tape in place after I sprained my ankle. Also was the best thing to keep my sprained little finger tied to the next finger. It could get soaking wet and not fall apart.

I had one pair of shoes for awhile that I ultimately ditched because all they ever did was rip my feet apart. (VJ LOPs) One time I pretty much glued my feet back together with New Skin liquid bandage and those squishy blister band-aids so I could do the second day of West Point. I made the mistake of wearing those shoes for a 6 hour event and was basically crippled (entire bottoms of both feet were giant blisters) so after that I replaced them. I've had 2 pairs of Falcons and now have a pair of Integrators which are the best yet. I don't know why that one model was so bad.

Usually I put neosporin and a non-stick pad over the gross part, wrap with a little roll gauze, then wrap with something like Gail suggests above... except instead of the human wrap I buy Vetrap or Co-flex. It's the same thing and you get more for less money. I've done this protocol for both blistered feet and large open scrape wounds on my arm.

Sometimes, the bandage makes the skin really wet after being covered for a day or two and the skin gets white and itchy. So after the first few days covered, I've been experimenting with taking the bandage off during the night so it can dry out, and then in the morning I shower, dab it with a towel and neosporin, and bandage it for the day. I'm not sure it's faster, but I think it feels better because it's not so wet.

I highly recommend Fixing Your Feet by John Vanhof as a great book for blister care and general foot care for endurance athletes. He gives a wide variety of ideas, understanding that what works for one person may not work for someone else.

When I've had shoes that gave me heel blisters but were otherwise okay, I've had success with applying ductape to my heels, so that the rubbing happens to the tape instead of to my skin. Note that this is primarily for when I'm going to wear the shoes but do not currently have blisters. It's been a number of years since I've had shoes like that, though. I remember having a pair that I need to leave a note in, saying "Warning! These shoes will give you heel blisters!". Have to wonder why I didn't just get rid of them...