David with new Kit!
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Hello guys
We are walking to Mansilla de las Mulas today and then in to León tomorrow.
My wife has a couple of blisters on her feet. They are controlled with Compeed, gauze and pressure pads but still hurt.
Can anyone recommend somewhere in either location to get them looked at?
Thanks
And to add to the good advice: Laura, the hospitalera at the MdlM, is very skilled at blister first aid. She's of course not a medical professional, but knows from vast experience who needs referral to one, or advice to bus ahead - and what to do for the less dire cases.
Thanks, Sabine. I just assumed without checking.I thought immediately of her too but unfortunately ( if Gronze is up to date as they are most of the time ) the albergue is still closed.
I was treated at another HM hospital in A Coruña, and they had a liason person who spoke English, which made everything easier. I needed an X-ray and stitches. I submitted the bill to my US health insurance, who paid reimbursed the majority, and then to my travel insurance who picked up the rest.I just had my reply, €300 to be seen, I think not!!
If you are uk residents and still have an EU health card thats in date could you claim it back?I just had my reply, €300 to be seen, I think not!!
I saw the price that you were quoted. That is why I always get insurance. In 2019 I got 2 months worth of insurance for about the same price. I live in Mexico. I am an American and got it with Alliantz. I developed broncial spasms which necessitated one hospital visit and two clinic visits. There is no way i could have continued my camino without these visits. There was an 800 number in Spain and the staff at all three places knew exactly what to do. I paid nothing and had no paperwork to fill out either. They only thing I did was contact my agent in Mexico in Whatsapp to let her know that I was using the insurance. Twice I did it after the fact as I went in the morning while she was still sleeping.An update. We have just visited the health centre and got tuned away as we were not an emergency, and to turn up in the morning and maybe get an appointment.
So, we have reappraised the blisters and although a bit sore, none have any angry edges or colour. To be fair, they look like 'ordinary' blisters.
So, we visited the pharmacy and bought gauze pads to go over the Compeed, held in place by surgical tape. My wife has told me it has already taken the pressure off the blisters and that she now feels more confident walking.
Having said that, we will be taking the bus to León in the morning. We have two rest days there so I shall just lock her in the Hotel to minimise the walking. (As if that would work!)
As an aside, the boots are the correct size as her feet were professionally measured and they saw use before we came to Spain.
We also have several pairs of socks and we know about blister control, and we walk the stage distances at home so it does not normally bother us.
What caused the problem is that my wife also gets cramp in her feet and she confessed that she had not tied up her laces correctly to avoid cramp, which if course led to her feet slipping in her boots.
I agree with having insurance.I saw the price that you were quoted. That is why I always get insurance. In 2019 I got 2 months worth of insurance for about the same price. I live in Mexico. I am an American and got it with Alliantz. I developed broncial spasms which necessitated one hospital visit and two clinic visits. There is no way i could have continued my camino without these visits. There was an 800 number in Spain and the staff at all three places knew exactly what to do. I paid nothing and had no paperwork to fill out either. They only thing I did was contact my agent in Mexico in Whatsapp to let her know that I was using the insurance. Twice I did it after the fact as I went in the morning while she was still sleeping.
Never walk without insurance. I think it is a necessity.
Absolutely - I forgot to mention that we also have good quality walking sandles that she changed into, and that in itself made a big difference. Very good pointFurther advice from an old pilgrim, buy some sturdy walking sandals. These proved to be a lifesaver for me on an early Camino. I still carry them and swap from my good walking shoes to sandals most days to give my feet a change.
Definitely, I still have a valid EHIC card and my wife has the newer GHIC card.If you are uk residents and still have an EU health card thats in date could you claim it back?
I walked into Leon. I second the motion to take the bus. The last 10-15 km into Leon was boring and tedious. Imagine the last 10 km into Burgos. Also, the cause of the blisters may be because of her shoes/socks. Even if the shoes are broken in and she’s accustomed to her routine of socks, the heat and sweaty moisture might be the culprit. I ended up tossing my broken in beloved shoes and socks in Pamplona and went with a lightweight hiking sandal and a thin pr of merino wool sox-with my pre-Pamplona blisters taped and went the rest of the way with happy feet.Guys
Brilliant advice, just what I needed.
As our hotel tomorrow is close to the Cathedral I have now emailed the hospital asking for an appointment.
Also, as above, we noticed that Brierley tells us not to sweat taking the bus into León.
I think we qualify for the bus this time. I just need to convince my wife that it's ok to do.
Again, thank you all very much.
I found that I had the correct size for walking several days/week at home and as much as a week on the Camino, when blisters belatedly appeared - on the outside of the baby toe. Since I moved to a larger/wider shoe, I haven't had the problem.As an aside, the boots are the correct size as her feet were professionally measured and they saw use before we came to Spain.
Perhaps googling a podiatrist in Leon and seeing him/her in their office. Mention the Camino and often you can get a discount. Often the hospitaleros know of a podiatrist that will come to the albergueI just had my reply, €300 to be seen, I think not!!
I just had my reply, €300 to be seen, I think not!!
Thank you @trecile we will do just that, as we were wondering what to do to protect the areaBuy some Omnifix or Hypafix tape at the pharmacy. It can be used now to cover Compeed and gauze, and after the blisters heal put it on the blister prone spots every morning before walking. The friction which causes blisters will occur on the tape instead of the skin. When you do this, don't put gauze under the tape. You want complete contact between tape and skin.
It seems like when I first walked the CF in 2013 there were quite a few albergues that had people who came in to treat pilgrim's blisters. I didn't see one when I walked in 2019 but it was in November and December. I guess now in Covid times there isn't that luxury anymore or am I wrong about that?I agree with having insurance.
I have insurance and if I feel I have to use it I will.
We just wanted a second opinion on the blisters to confirm our own feelings that they were not infected, just sore.
Hi David. The best treatment for blisters is to avoid it in the first place but I know your situation. My wife is prone to blisters no matter the shoes or socks. We tried everything and she got blisters no matter what. Your wife needs to keep your feed dry at all times and it might be helpful to change her socks twice a day.Hello guys
We are walking to Mansilla de las Mulas today and then in to León tomorrow.
My wife has a couple of blisters on her feet. They are controlled with Compeed, gauze and pressure pads but still hurt.
Can anyone recommend somewhere in either location to get them looked at?
Thanks
I can tell you to prevent future blisters use Vicks on hot spots. Works amazing.Hello guys
We are walking to Mansilla de las Mulas today and then in to León tomorrow.
My wife has a couple of blisters on her feet. They are controlled with Compeed, gauze and pressure pads but still hurt.
Can anyone recommend somewhere in either location to get them looked at?
Thanks
I forgot to mention that you will need scissors to cut the Omnifix or Hypafix tape.Thank you @trecile we will do just that, as we were wondering what to do to protect the area
after the blisters had gone.
I think this is what you are referring toKaliumjodid, brownyellow liquid, Last time I walked through Carrion de los Condes, I had a blister on a toe that was difficult for me to treat. I was told at the hostel that there was an opening hour for pilgrims at the local health office in the evening. I went there and a doctor treated my blister with the jod which ended my pain. I bought a yellow bottle with the stuff i the farmácia for further treatment
Indeed. Letting air in, together with cleansing & proper dressing is imperative. And remember, the pharmacies along the Camino(s) are skilled at this. Follow their advice.Preparing the wound for dressing
1. Cleaning the wound by flushing away any debris away with clean water or a mild dilution of hydrogen peroxide. Pouring or squirting the wound is fine, but any dirt particles sticking to the wound MUST be cleared away.
2. A topical antibiotic ointment, not cream, is gently applied after the blister wound is dry. The ointment serves two purposes: it reduces any risk of infection and it prevents any dressing material from inadvertently sticking to the wound.
Blister Dressing
A primary issue is getting whatever method of dressing that is to be used -- be it taping, Moleskin, hydrogel pads, bandaids, etc. --- to stick and remain in place, which can sometimes be a huge challenge.
Here are a few strategies to help.
1. Use hand sanitizer or alcohol to clean the skin area, not the wound, to which the tape or dressing will be stuck to. Get as much dirt and body oils removed as is possible.
2. To the cleansed skin, apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin then allow to dry. Do not put any directly on the wound. This will multiply the holding power of the adhesive that is used. If you aren’t familiar with it, think of it as rubber cement for the skin.
I carry a few crushable ampules of the stuff. You can get them on Amazon or at a pharmacy
3. When the adhesive is finally applied, rub the area of the tape or moleskin or Compeed or etc... The idea is to create heat from the friction to allow the adhesive to warm and adhere better.
For a roofed or closed blister I like to place a hydrogel dressing, like Spenco, to the top of the blister and them use Leukotape P or Omnifix or etc... to affix the dressing in place. The hydrogel provides basic cushioning and additional protection, helping the tape to reduce additional damage to the wound. If a hydrogel dressing is not readily available at a pharmacy, than a Compeed-style hydrocolloid patch could substitute.
For a de-roofed or open blister, the addition of the ointment to the open wound is applied prior to the hydrogel being put into place. The hydrogels are package and designed to be sterile. Bandaging is done as previously described.
Dealing with local discomfort while walking
If the blistered area, whether roofed or de-roofed, is so tender it is uncomfortable to walk on as treated above, then remove the dressing and then redress the blister the same way as before, but with the addition of using the 'doughnut' padding as the NOLS video demonstrates.
Unless additional attention is needed, it is best to leave the dressing in place until the end of the day. Then, remove the dressing, re-cleanse the wound, shower, cleanse, apply ointment, and redress for evening activities. At bedtime, remove the dressing, re-cleanse and apply antibiotic ointment and wear a clean sock.
Thank you for the points above @Givesome . We have those points covered, and we did take the bus into León today. This gives us two full days of rest and I have cut our remaining schedule down to 20kms blocks as those distances seem to work without aggravating the blisters (yes, friction blisters).Hi David. The best treatment for blisters is to avoid it in the first place but I know your situation. My wife is prone to blisters no matter the shoes or socks. We tried everything and she got blisters no matter what. Your wife needs to keep your feed dry at all times and it might be helpful to change her socks twice a day.
You get different types of blisters: Friction (shoes which are to small - always buy one number bigger than your usual size), pressure blisters (normally on the sides or on the soles - these blisters are normally deeper and require more time to heal. If you often wear open shoes, parts of your soles becomes hard and it can cause deep blisters (put Vaseline on your feet every morning on the camino to soften the hard areas).
The problem with blister is that they get infected and it becomes worsts than the blisters itself. You can try compede plasters and try to slog on but it might be worth your while to take a rest day or two.
I was in the military in my younger days and the best treatment for blisters was to drain the blister and inject it with methylated spirits, Mercurochrome, betadine or any antiseptic. We now carry syringes, needles and some antiseptic with us and it works well. It is a painfull procedure but it prevents infection and it heals quite quickly. Once you drain a blister you always have the risk of infection which you should avoid at all cost.
A friction blister will heal in a day or two but the deeper blisters are problematic and you need to take a rest day or two.
Good luck.
Thanks @davebugg . Doing the above, but missed the point about the antibiotic cream (which we have) but will start doing so. We have the pads, we just need to buy the tape that @trecile recommended, we will try to get it tomorrow on our second rest day in LeónPreparing the wound for dressing
1. Cleaning the wound by flushing away any debris away with clean water or a mild dilution of hydrogen peroxide. Pouring or squirting the wound is fine, but any dirt particles sticking to the wound MUST be cleared away.
2. A topical antibiotic ointment, not cream, is gently applied after the blister wound is dry. The ointment serves two purposes: it reduces any risk of infection and it prevents any dressing material from inadvertently sticking to the wound.
Blister Dressing
A primary issue is getting whatever method of dressing that is to be used -- be it taping, Moleskin, hydrogel pads, bandaids, etc. --- to stick and remain in place, which can sometimes be a huge challenge.
Here are a few strategies to help.
1. Use hand sanitizer or alcohol to clean the skin area, not the wound, to which the tape or dressing will be stuck to. Get as much dirt and body oils removed as is possible.
2. To the cleansed skin, apply a thin smear of Tincture of Benzoin then allow to dry. Do not put any directly on the wound. This will multiply the holding power of the adhesive that is used. If you aren’t familiar with it, think of it as rubber cement for the skin.
I carry a few crushable ampules of the stuff. You can get them on Amazon or at a pharmacy
3. When the adhesive is finally applied, rub the area of the tape or moleskin or Compeed or etc... The idea is to create heat from the friction to allow the adhesive to warm and adhere better.
For a roofed or closed blister I like to place a hydrogel dressing, like Spenco, to the top of the blister and them use Leukotape P or Omnifix or etc... to affix the dressing in place. The hydrogel provides basic cushioning and additional protection, helping the tape to reduce additional damage to the wound. If a hydrogel dressing is not readily available at a pharmacy, than a Compeed-style hydrocolloid patch could substitute.
For a de-roofed or open blister, the addition of the ointment to the open wound is applied prior to the hydrogel being put into place. The hydrogels are package and designed to be sterile. Bandaging is done as previously described.
Dealing with local discomfort while walking
If the blistered area, whether roofed or de-roofed, is so tender it is uncomfortable to walk on as treated above, then remove the dressing and then redress the blister the same way as before, but with the addition of using the 'doughnut' padding as the NOLS video demonstrates.
Unless additional attention is needed, it is best to leave the dressing in place until the end of the day. Then, remove the dressing, re-cleanse the wound, shower, cleanse, apply ointment, and redress for evening activities. At bedtime, remove the dressing, re-cleanse and apply antibiotic ointment and wear a clean sock.
Hypofix or omnifix. It comes in sheets or rolls that you cut to size. It's fabulous stuff.we just need to buy the tape that @trecile recommended, we will try to get it tomorrow on our second rest day in León
Thanks @biarritzdon.There are a lot of pros and cons about Compeeds, needles and threads, etc. I suggest looking at the many threads on this Forum to see how your wife's situation compares. If they are "that" bad I would suggest considering the serious damage and illness they might cause versus 300 euros.
I have used compeed on hot spots many times and I have used compeed as a prophylactic on a number of occasions also. Always worked a treat. Otherwise I believe they should only be used on blisters that have lost their roof skin. But I guess the most important thing with blisters is to keep them clean and avoid infection at all costs.I love compeed on hot spots, so never had a blister...I probably would have disliked using it on a blister as I've read a few horror stories about it on the forum.
I just happen to be going to a wedding this evening and the shoes I've chosen to wear rub a bit on a certain spot of my foot. I think I'll dig out my Compeed and that should help prevent a blister as its sticking/staying power is amazing; much better than a bandaid.I have used compeed
For tight shoes, especially new shoes take a hairdryer and blow plenty of hot air inside the shoes to soften them.I just happen to be going to a wedding this evening and the shoes I've chosen to wear rub a bit on a certain spot of my foot. I think I'll dig out my Compeed and that should help prevent a blister as its sticking/staying power is amazing; much better than a bandaid.
(This is only a slightly off topic, being about high heels instead of trail runners.)
An update. We have just visited the health centre and got tuned away as we were not an emergency, and to turn up in the morning and maybe get an appointment.
So, we have reappraised the blisters and although a bit sore, none have any angry edges or colour. To be fair, they look like 'ordinary' blisters.
So, we visited the pharmacy and bought gauze pads to go over the Compeed, held in place by surgical tape. My wife has told me it has already taken the pressure off the blisters and that she now feels more confident walking.
Having said that, we will be taking the bus to León in the morning. We have two rest days there so I shall just lock her in the Hotel to minimise the walking. (As if that would work!)
As an aside, the boots are the correct size as her feet were professionally measured and they saw use before we came to Spain.
We also have several pairs of socks and we know about blister control, and we walk the stage distances at home so it does not normally bother us.
What caused the problem is that my wife also gets cramp in her feet and she confessed that she had not tied up her laces correctly to avoid cramp, which if course led to her feet slipping in her boots.
My last several Caminos I've exclusively worn sandals, and they worked perfectly in the rain. I do wear socks with them, and on my first "sandal Camino" rather than change out of wet socks if it was still raining I just wrung them out and put them back on.My wife is wearing sandles (please let it not rain) and is managing very well thank you very much (guess who is carrying her boots!!)
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