For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
I'm sorry, but I think that this is bad and dangerous advice. Leaving thread inside a wound creates a super highway for bacteria to enter the wound. I don't see any advantages to using this approach vs opening up the blister and letting it drain, then covering it with appropriate bandaging.Don’t be too scared of using a thread. I started late with this, because the idea scared me, but it’s been really helpful. You can buy a set at the pharmacy for like 3,50 euros.
I do agree with you. As an ER nurse I cringe every time I read about it. That thread is a super highway for bacteria. If you say something people love to respond with Well you never see anyone saying they got an infection. Of course you don’t, they’re too embarrassed to admit it. And if you think you can disinfect a needle with a flame you’d be wrong. Maybe a blow torch. Buy a sterile needle at a pharmacy and just drain and treat. Prevention is the start.I'm sorry, but I think that this is bad and dangerous advice. Leaving thread inside a wound creates a super highway for bacteria to enter the wound. I don't see any advantages to using this approach vs opening up the blister and letting it drain, then covering it with appropriate bandaging.
I know that @Purple Backpack posted once about using the needle and thread method and had disastrous results.
It sounds like moleskin or similar.Do you know, please, the commercial name of this "pink padding in the pharmacy with adhesive on it"
Thanks
Do you know, please, the commercial name of this "pink padding in the pharmacy with adhesive on it"
Thanks
I would also like to make clear that you need to cover the blister with a regular or cut to fit flexible adhesive bandaid…before putting the moleskin or plaster on. This way it will allow any liquid to drain/protect the blister, without ripping the entire blister off. Sounds like common sense, but many pilgrims just stick it on for relief and forget that it will have to come off later. It’s sticky stuff! Just my 2 centsThis is one I used on the 3 Caminos I walked having notoriously blister prone feet. There are a few similar to this.FELT PADS WITH HYPOALLERGENIC ADHESIVE 9,5X50 CM 1 UNIT
Felt pads with hypoallergenic adhesive for protecting the foot.www.mypharmacyinspain.com
Yes, that looks like "Moleskin." Yes, it is good for padding but not as a dressing for a wound.This is one I used on the 3 Caminos I walked having notoriously blister prone feet. There are a few similar to this.FELT PADS WITH HYPOALLERGENIC ADHESIVE 9,5X50 CM 1 UNIT
Felt pads with hypoallergenic adhesive for protecting the foot.www.mypharmacyinspain.com
I'm not quite sure what it is that you bought at the pharmacy. Another technique is to open the blister with a sterilized scalpel or even scissors. That will leave an opening large enough to continue draining, whereas a needle poke will close up quickly. You still need to be concerned with contamination and infection, but at least you don't have the dangling thread superhighway.Don’t be too scared of using a thread. I started late with this, because the idea scared me, but it’s been really helpful. You can buy a set at the pharmacy for like 3,50 euros.
Hopefully in case you need to sew on a button or mend a hole in your clothing.EDIT: I should add that I'm also bringing a pre-threaded needle. LOL
LOL Sure, why not!Hopefully in case you need to sew on a button or mend a hole in your clothing.
I’m a threader, too. It works for me but I let others make their own decisions.Hey everyone. Just wanted to post something blister related since so many topics helped me so much preparing for my first Camino.
I’ve suffered with blisters since day 2 all the way to the end. Nothing better then blisters to keep you ‘in the moment’ right? It sure was painful and still is although I’m already home for 1,5 weeks.
Some things that helped me:
- Don’t be too scared of using a thread. I started late with this, because the idea scared me, but it’s been really helpful. You can buy a set at the pharmacy for like 3,50 euros. Weights nothing, might be worth taking it with you in your blister kit.
- Spend money on podiatrist visits when your not sure what to do. I’ve visited one in Logrono and in Leon. Both have been super helpful in giving advice and managing pain. Both cost me about 30 euros and they were the best euros I’ve spend on the Camino!
- You can buy pink padding in the pharmacy with adhesive on it which can really help managing pain. Highly recommend this for your blister kit!
- Ask for help! My heel blisters were so uncomfortable to take care of since I couldn’t really reach them myself without twisting my spine. It took me 4 weeks to finally ask a friend to help me. Don’t be like me and do it earlier, you’ll be surprised how helpful everyone is.
Blisters are one of the biggest problems on the Camino. If you’re tired of reading about it just scroll on by.I think it is time for rule 15: no more threads about blisters.
I used this same tape for my recent Camino to put on my heels. Extremely effective to protect against hot spots and blisters and or calloused blisters. Used it every day.This is one I used on the 3 Caminos I walked having notoriously blister prone feet. There are a few similar to this.FELT PADS WITH HYPOALLERGENIC ADHESIVE 9,5X50 CM 1 UNIT
Felt pads with hypoallergenic adhesive for protecting the foot.www.mypharmacyinspain.com
I’m a nurse and use the needle a thread method to wick drain the blisters instead of just piercing or cutting or pulling blister skin off. Infection can happen with any method and that is the part of blister treatment that requires the most attention. I wipe the threaded needle and thread beginning with tip of needle to base of the thread with an alcohol wipe. then wipe the exterior of the blister with alcohol and let both dry completely before piercing the skin, I leave the wick overnight but cover my foot with a lightweight breathable white low cut sock. Keeping everything clean is essential.I'm sorry, but I think that this is bad and dangerous advice. Leaving thread inside a wound creates a super highway for bacteria to enter the wound. I don't see any advantages to using this approach vs opening up the blister and letting it drain, then covering it with appropriate bandaging.
I know that @Purple Backpack posted once about using the needle and thread method and had disastrous results.
Although I had decided to keep my mouth zipped, i will respond here. I have my view, and my experience. I have not, lately, shared either of those.Hola
If you have blisters under your foot or on the side you can try to bandage the foot if you got enough space in your shore.
You can use this mehod before you get the blisters as it will protect your foot and make it uh less painful to walk if you already have blisters.
Regarding using or not using a tread, I am always bewildred byu people who state their view as a fact.
The fact is that different people use different methods with their own result and just becsusde something oesnt sound good for you, it doesnt mean it cant be good for another person.
Buen Camino
Lettinggo
Thanks for this explanation. I have many Spanish friends who use this method, never with bad results. Can you explain why you prefer this method to cutting off a piece of the top of the blister? I realize, as you say, that there is a risk of infection with any blister treatment method. But I would have thought that the risk of infection would be lower with a piece of the top cut away to give easy access to the raw skin underneath for cleaning and continuing to disinfect. Also, I cover the open blister after putting on anti-bacterial cream, with gauze and tape, as I would for any other small wound. Do you cover the threaded blister? How do you treat it after the thread is inserted? I know you said it is important to keep it clean and dry, but I am wondering how you do that.I’m a nurse and use the needle a thread method to wick drain the blisters instead of just piercing or cutting or pulling blister skin off. Infection can happen with any method and that is the part of blister treatment that requires the most attention.
For what it is worth, when my son was treated for terrible blisters at the podiatry clinic in Astorga, they did not cut off the roof of the blisters. Instead, they made slits in the side, drained, and washed with antiseptic (squirted inside with a syringe) and then covered with a bandage. For the worst, they used a "doughnut bandage" that was thicker around but not on top of the blister location, to reduce the pressure on the blister.As others have noted, there is a huge difference between threading a blister, on the one hand, and carefully cutting open a blister and removing enough skin so that roof doesn’t re-form. Like @trecile says, the former creates that “super highway for bacteria”, while cutting off the roof leaves your blister just like any other skin injury that you can treat with a good washing, antibacterial cream, bandaging, etc.
I don't think there are large numbers of infections, but there are some.I have long thought that the majority of people in an entire country would not continue to use a method if it produced large numbers of infections!
And to add, I had no further problems or blisters.For what it is worth, when my son was treated for terrible blisters at the podiatry clinic in Astorga, they did not cut off the roof of the blisters. Instead, they made slits in the side, drained, and washed with antiseptic (squirted inside with a syringe) and then covered with a bandage. For the worst, they used a "doughnut bandage" that was thicker around but not on top of the blister location, to reduce the pressure on the blister.
I think the idea of not de-roofing the blister was not directly exposing the very sensitive skin underneath. I know that my son could walk again almost immediately (although we did take a rest day for additional healing, that wasn't their initial instructions) whereas @DoughnutANZ, who had a blister de-roofed on his Camino de Madrid was told to stop walking for several days afterwards.
On the other hand, making a slit on the side keeps the protective skin above and every step continues to push out any liquid that may be collecting inside. We were told to change the bandages and re-apply the disinfectant regularly.
I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice. It is just what I observed at a podiatry clinic and what worked for my son. Other podiatry clinics (as @DoughnutANZ found) do things differently.
@perigina2000Thanks for this explanation. I have many Spanish friends who use this method, never with bad results. Can you explain why you prefer this method to cutting off a piece of the top of the blister? I realize, as you say, that there is a risk of infection with any blister treatment method. But I would have thought that the risk of infection would be lower with a piece of the top cut away to give easy access to the raw skin underneath for cleaning and continuing to disinfect. Also, I cover the open blister after putting on anti-bacterial cream, with gauze and tape, as I would for any other small wound. Do you cover the threaded blister? How do you treat it after the thread is inserted? I know you said it is important to keep it clean and dry, but I am wondering how you do that.
I’m not challenging what you say, just curious to hear a bit more about why you use this method, and what your follow-up is once the thread is inserted.
I have long thought that the majority of people in an entire country would not continue to use a method if it produced large numbers of infections!
So do you take the thread out in the morning and cover it with a guaze dressing? Then do the threading again after walking? I never had any blisters on my caminos thank goodness, but I saw many people who had terrible ones - everyone used the threading method and I was always curious...@perigina2000
A few things to consider when answering your question: 1) the liquid inside of the blister ( serum) is actually beneficial towards healing, so you don't want to completely drain, nor dry out the blister quickly. 2) opening up the skin opens the blister to infection, whereas simply threading it through allows a wicking outlet that keeps chances of introducing infection to a minimum ( of course as previously discussed, needle, thread and outside of blister need to be wiped with alcohol and air dried ) 3) releasing some of the fluid in the blister helps with the pain, especially if one needs to continue walking 4) trying to clean the exposed 'raw skin' underneath is not as beneficial as leaving the natural skin on top. 5) if you dry out the skin, you now have hard calloused dry skin to tend with with raw/fresh skin beneath...likely to reblister as protection is gone. 6) I cover the threaded blister loosely at night to keep it clean with a thin white sock to let it breathe 6) in the morning when I clip the thread and pull it out, i do put a dot of triple antibiotic ointment on the puncture holes and put a clean bandage on it 7) if the blister was exceptionally deep/large, I have used the Compeed blister care bandages as they are somewhat padded and maintain a good seal. I don't recommend placing Compeed over any large blister undrained as you can develop a blister underneath an existing blister. 8) there is no need to 'treat it after the thread is inserted' ...the purpose of the thread is to act as a wick to drain most ( not all) of the serum and try to keep the skin intact as a protective cover...all you need do is keep clean.
I hope I haven't muddied the process even more! I've literally treated hundreds of blisters on pilgrim's feet on my 9 walks ( as many as 22 in one day! )
but again, everyone has their own method based on experience, medicine or wive's tale...
( I was an ER nurse for a few decades, pilgrim for a few long walks ...)
Hope this helped
The blister should drain with the thread wick overnight, then remove the thread in the morning. I recommend cotton white thread. I pull the thread in the morning ( make sure it was kept clean thru the night with a light sock or a breathable dressing ) and cover with a fabric bandage. It should be able to breathe and not retain moisture. There should be no reason to thread again after walking if it was sufficiently drained and left to dry a bit. If you are developing more blisters on drained blisters, you need to assess why. ( ill fitting footwear? Sweat/wet? Sock seams? etc ) Ideally, you stop and take your shoes off every now and then to dry your socks, clean out any debris that may have made its way into shoes, assess your dressings if any.So do you take the thread out in the morning and cover it with a guaze dressing? Then do the threading again after walking? I never had any blisters on my caminos thank goodness, but I saw many people who had terrible ones - everyone used the threading method and I was always curious...
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?