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HolaBig blisters on soles of feet , on foot pads. Only 2 days walking! What to do?
Val, where are you?Big blisters on soles of feet , on foot pads. Only 2 days walking! What to do?
Best advice of all, Alex!Do NOT use Compeed!!!
Hi. Thanks for that. I'm on the Portuguese Camino. What is the tape she is using? I've not seen it before ....Val, where are you?
If you started in SJPP and are on that end of the camino, PM @David - he's out there taking care of blisters.
And check this out:The person who made the video is a Podiatrist from Australia who treats a LOT of blisters...
Thank you. I'll try and get some iodine. What is wrong with compeed? I heard it was supposed to be good ....@lettinggo has given very good advice. In addition, go to the pharmacia and buy Betadine (Iodine) Use it before you put on pads and whenever. Do NOT use Compeed!!!
I don't know, Val, but it looks a lot like Omnifix, which you should be able to get a pharmacy. (At least you can in Spain...but I don't know about Portugal). Don't forget the donut part first....What is the tape she is using? I've not seen it before ...
Oh yes I hadn't seen the donut part of this thread. It seemed to be missed out but I see it now.... Maybe I can show it to the pharmacist to explain what I need .... many thanksI don't know, Val, but it looks a lot like Omnifix, which you should be able to get a pharmacy. (At least you can in Spain...but I don't know about Portugal). Don't forget the donut part first....
Compeed - people either love it or hate it. In my experience it's an expensive way to get an infection.
Thank you. I will try and find it in Portugal. Is it like micropore?Omnifix and Hypafix tapes are the best! After your blister have healed, but it on your feet every day before you start walking. The tape takes the friction rather than your skin, to prevent blisters.
It's a light mesh fabric with an adhesive backing.Is it like micropore?
Thank youIt's a light mesh fabric with an adhesive backing.
Here's a description from a website:
"Omnifix Retention Tape is made from a soft, non-woven flexible fabric coated with a non-sensitizing latex-free synthetic adhesive and is ideal for patients with hypersensitive skin and a tendency toward skin allergies "
It wlll enclose all your blister problems, making them worse. Think of a moist spot being encapsulated with closure and bacteria. inside.Thank you. I'll try and get some iodine. What is wrong with compeed? I heard it was supposed to be good ....
I disagree!What you need is disinfection (Iodine) and air. Compeed will incapsulate all your blister problems. Do not use it.
That's where tape works well. The friction is on the tape, not the skin.There is very little that you can do to stop the friction on the bottom of your foot except stop and rest.
Sort of. I suspect there are issues with socks and shoes that won't be solved by tape. My feet hurt just thinking about it.That's where tape works well. The friction is on the tape, not the skin.
put it on your feet every day before you start walking. The tape takes the friction rather than your skin, to prevent blisters.
The donut technique is what they did at the podiatry clinic in Astorga for my son when he had terrible blisters. They also advised against the perennially popular Compeed. They drained the blisters while leaving the roof intact and rinsed them with Betadine. Then they made the donut to take the pressure off (for the largest blister) and taped it all up.Best advice of all, Alex!
I'd be leaving the roof of the blister intact and making a custom-sized big donut out of felt or molefoam (maybe even a few layers) to take the pressure off. Then covering the lot with something like omnifix to secure it.
Here is more info from the expert:
https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/blister-blog/foot-blister-treatment
and
What the folks at the podiatry clinic in Astorga said was that Compeed is like the reverse of the donut cushion they were making. It puts extra pressure on the blister instead of reducing pressure.Thank you. I'll try and get some iodine. What is wrong with compeed? I heard it was supposed to be good ....
No blisters when training. Now Distances are longer and walking everyday! Before this my shoes seemed perfect!This won't help you but maybe it will help others.
Did you get blisters in these areas when training?
If no, Whats different now from your training walks? (shoes, socks, distances, weight carried or ??)
That makes sense. I 've bought iodine and tape but can't find the felt stuff ....What the folks at the podiatry clinic in Astorga said was that Compeed is like the reverse of the donut cushion they were making. It puts extra pressure on the blister instead of reducing pressure.
That makes sense. I 've bought tape and iodine but can't find the felt stuff to make donut ....What the folks at the podiatry clinic in Astorga said was that Compeed is like the reverse of the donut cushion they were making. It puts extra pressure on the blister instead of reducing pressure.
That's why I recommend walking about 10 miles daily for at least 3 consecutive days in the footwear that you choose so that you know how well your feet hold up, and to determine where you may develop hotspots.No blisters when training. Now Distances are longer and walking everyday! Before this my shoes seemed perfect!
That can be successful for toe and heel blisters, but the blisters on the sole are from the foot sliding. I am not sure sandals will solve that problem, and might make it worse. The foot needs to be immobilized from sliding.If you have brought some walking sandals with you, I suggest that you start wearing them.
Thanks .... using iodine with the tape. Will see if pharmacies are open now. I forgot it was Sunday tomorrow. Thank you for your caring messagesHi Val, it's now almost a day since you posted. More than likely if you walked today, your blisters have popped. Hopefully, you have not gotten more. I will assume you know how to care for a wound by now. I will not throw more advice at you about blister care but I would suggest to you that you get what you need to care for them today as farmacies are usually closed on Sunday. Also, consider Dr Scholl's gel inserts (full length of your shoe to reach the toes which may improve the fit of your shoes until you have a chance to change them. They cost about 20euro for a pair. Available at most farmacies and some large dept stores (if you're in a big city), maybe at hiking stores, too. Most of what needs to be done now and for a while to come, you will have to do so allot extra time to foot care every evening and morning. Don't power through the pain, there are no extra points for suffering. Stop when you need to address hot spots, etc. Watch for infection which may show up as worsening pain, foul odor or white pus draining from wound, red streaks up leg, swelling, nausea, fever, weakness. Ask a farmacist for help and if they think you need a doctor, they will say so. If you don't get the help you need, keep asking. Best of luck.
Hey Val, seriously, ask other peregrinos for help if you need it. You will be amazed at how many people want to help and how much 'stuff' people are carrying 'just in case'. You're the just in case they are waiting for. Let them help you. Rest well tonight. No need to reply - we all understand about internet on the caminosThanks ... ... sorry for my short replies. Struggling with my phone as well! Not good at internet stuff ! I seem to be too late for pharmacies and too tired to search
Big blisters on soles of feet , on foot pads. Only 2 days walking! What to do?
Thank youBig blisters after only 2 days... try to find the reason for the blisters.
Maybe the shoes are not fitting?
Are the shoes too big (feet are sliding; maybe different lacing technique can help?)?
Are the shoes too small or too narrow (maybe not at the beginning, but after a few hours of walking and swelling of the feet)?
If so... buy new well-fitting shoes (lighter shoes are better; shoes have to fit in the morning... but after swelling during the hours of walking as well).
Try the above tipps for taping and the donut tipp.
Or one of these tips to reduce friction (vaseline / taping / other socks / engo blister patches ) :
https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/fast-blister-healing
When to pop a blister (and how)?
[in short: pop it, if it would tear anyway ... otherwise it depends on the blister and on the situation ]
https://www.blisterprevention.com.au/blister-blog/should-you-pop-a-blister-on-your-foot
General tipps: light backpack (rule of thumb: not more than 10% of your weight; or backpack transport as long as you have problems with your feet? ) / poles? / shorter days? / more breaks? / rest day(s)?.
Do not give up!
Ask for help ( experienced pilgrims / hospitaleras / doctors / ...).
I know several pilgrims from my first camino who had severe blister problems and came to Santiago and said at the end... I had a great camino. One pilgrim had large blisters (in his case because of too small shoes)... the feet got even infected (he tried to go 'through' the pain for days)... he bought new shoes after several days of rest... and did plan his next camino when he arrived in Santiago.
Buen Camino!