Blisters - what to do?

[Buckshot]

I went for a walk in some new jungle boots last night.
After a very short time I felt a hot spot so took my socks off and found a huge blister about 1.5 - 2 inchs across on the underside of my heel

Now I've heard loads of conflicting ideas about blisters - pop them and cover, leave well alone etc.
What's the 'official' advice please?

I think I must have got the blister last time I went for a walk in these boots a couple of weeks ago - but the strage thing is I've been doing 5K runs 2-3 times a week since with no pain or anything

Thanks

Mark

 

[gregorach]

Well, if you can leave them alone, it's probably a good idea to do so. However, with a blister like that it's going to pop sooner or later whatever you do, and it's probably not a great idea to let it pop in your sweaty socks. Plus it's going to be jolly uncomfortable...

My usual approach to that sort of blister is to carefully puncture it with a sterile implement such as a needle, drain out the fluid, then apply antiseptic and a dressing. Ideally you should swap the area first with an antiseptic wipe.

I've done this several times without ill effect, but still - I am not a doctor, so take this advice at your own risk.

 

[C_Claycomb]

Will it fit under one of the Compede type blister plasters?

More to the point, how are you going to fix the boots so they don't do that anymore? Some blisters are from not having boots worn in, others can be the result of a mismatch between boot shape and foot shape.

Sounds thoroughly uncomfortable though!

 

[British Red]

Cover in a gel dressing and leave well alone is my advice

 

[Too Much Kit To Carry]

I'd leave well alone after cleaning and covering with a large Compeed plaster.

Had two blisters on a recent trip and did this. Caused no problems or pain and I was still able to walk miles.

Phil.

 

[Goose]

The official advice is to cover and leave, and avoid rubbing the area, as far as I remember, basically as a first aider leave alone! If it was me I would pierce, drain then cover, as putting my feet up for a week wouldn't be an option and I would prefer it to burst when I can deal with it rather than in some other situation. The problem with bursting it is you are creating an open wound with all the risks of infection, hence the official advice.
The priorities in first aid are, Save(or preserve )Life, prevent condition worsening, and promote recovery, draining the blister is jumping to promoting recovery by worsening the condition!

Disclaimer, if your foot drops off its your own fault!

 

[Twoflower]

On a recent walking holiday I had a blister appear on each foot, due to my old boots that were falling apart and were scrapped halfway thorugh the holiday. I left the blisters for a few days until they got unbearable. I pierced them with a sterile needle (sterilised in the flame on my stove), drained them and applied lashings of antiseptic. Then covered them every morning, letting them air in the evenings.

*disclaimer* i'm not a doctor or vet and my first aid certificate expired years ago so please don't hold me responsible if any of your limbs drop off from doing the above.

 

[scoops_uk]

Not a great reply because it's not a blister remedy, but it really is best to do something as soon as you feel a hot spot developing.

If you stick a bit of padding/moleskin or whatever on as soon as the rubbing starts causing problems you don't then get all the problems of how to deal with the blister without getting nasty infections and the like.

Scoops

 

[Nightwalker]

Blisters! arh, horrible things. With near enough all the blisters I've had I've found it more comfortable to clean & pierce/drain them, then cover them. I have never had any problems after doing that (no infection etc.) keep them clean and covered once pierced and you'll be fine.

Funny thing is I bought some £4 camping socks like a year ago and wearing them in my favourite boots can produce blisters in just a few miles, where'as if I wear any other socks in my boots im complete fine. So obviously in that case it was the purpose made "hiking socks" that were the problem cant remember what material they were.

Disclaimer: None given!

 

[BOD]

Underneath the heel suggests some sort of movement in the boot or a irritant spot in that part of the boot.

I know its an obvious question but have you looked under the inner sole and felt around the boot?

Of course you could do those 5k runs in the boots and that would soon wear them in

 

[Carcajou Garou]

We usually just pierce the blister with a sterile needle, slowly drain, put iodine on the piercing hole, and put a pad/dressing. Worked for us, not for all, we seldom have blisters though.

 

[falling rain]

Hi Mark,

The reason you've heard conflicting ideas is that the fluid inside the blister helps the sore spot recover so it's best not to burst it, but as others have mentioned if you do burst it you can cover it up and forget about it. If you use the sterile needle and antiseptic wipes then cover immediately with compeed blister plasters you'll be fine. Change dressing and disinfect daily (twice maybe if continuing to walk) I'd get plenty of compeed to take with you on your trip and from what you're saying you're wearing in a new pair of jungle boots. Try putting them on and soaking them in warm water and then go for your run and leave them on until dry if you can - like all day on a sunday. DON'T be tempted to get the boots/ tesco's/sainsbury's own make or cheaper blister plasters they're pants. Only compeed will do.

 

[dwardo]

If you can leave them leave them but if they are gonna pop as said above i prefer to do it in a clean environment and then cover and protect well.

Best thing is to do is try to avoid them in the first place, i know that sounds a litte patronising but more often than not you can feel a blister starting and at that point its best to STOP and try to stop it developing. I know this can be a pia stopping in the middle of a walk but if you dont you will regret it later. I find that blisters are not painfull untill its too late and its healing.

I always try to wear one very thin and one thick pair of socks as this helps to provide another point of friction besides sock and skin.

 

[spamel]

I haven't had a bad blister in years, but when I did get them, I was advised to put a stitch through them. Take a sterile needle and thread, pierce one side of the blister and then take the needle out at the opposite side. Cut the thread so that a centimetre or so protrudes from either side of the blister. Antispetic wipe and cover. Check it regularly and if it starts to get a bit sore, remove the thread.

The thread acts like a wick, removing all of the fluid. Once it has removed all of the fluid and the string is removed, more often than not the skin reattatches and you don't have any problems. If you are in wet boot though, you will lose the skin and be on bare flesh that will harden after a day or so.

If you try this method, it is down to you. I used to use this method, but as I say, I haven't had major blisters in years.

 

[Buckshot]

Thanks everyone for the replies:You_Rock_
I did actually soak the boots and wear them around the office at work all day a while ago so the sides of the boots are fine - no sores or anything. Some poeple did wonder what I was doing though...
At the moment there's no inner sole in there so nothing's hiding and causing a sore spot. I'm going to try putting the inner soles back in and see if that helps.

Bod - I think you're right my foot is moving around a litttle.
I don't think I'd get 5Ks in those boots!

Cheers

Mark

 

[Greg]

I haven't had a bad blister in years, but when I did get them, I was advised to put a stitch through them. Take a sterile needle and thread, pierce one side of the blister and then take the needle out at the opposite side. Cut the thread so that a centimetre or so protrudes from either side of the blister. Antispetic wipe and cover. Check it regularly and if it starts to get a bit sore, remove the thread.

The thread acts like a wick, removing all of the fluid. Once it has removed all of the fluid and the string is removed, more often than not the skin reattatches and you don't have any problems. If you are in wet boot though, you will lose the skin and be on bare flesh that will harden after a day or so.

If you try this method, it is down to you. I used to use this method, but as I say, I haven't had major blisters in years.

This is exactly what I was told when I was in the Army it does work, but the best thing to do IMHO is to use the compede plasters as some of the other guys have already mentioned as soon as you feel a hot spot developing.
Or you could go to the doctors and have them inject the blister with benzene tincture (I think thats what it is called, probably not though ) - it stings like hell but certainly sorts a blister out!!