blood blister

[luvsTink]

Hi all,
I have a blood blister of considerable size on the back of my left heel as a consequence of my 10 miler today. A couple questions:
What would cause this? I wear balga socks...but I am thinking my shoes might be a touch too big and my custom orthotics might be slipping forward leaving a small gap...I have worn these shoes with the orthotics for 6 miles without consequence.

Also, what would you do about it? It is extremely painful to the touch and full of blood. it is a bit bigger then a pressed penny.

Thoughts?
Anne

 

[TEK224]

Anne,

Sorry to hear about the blister. After my first Goofy I had a blood blister on the side of my foot, just below the ankle bone, that was the size of a quarter. I wanted to pop it so bad, but was told not to as it would then be at risk for infection. I couldn't wear regular shoes for almost a week. Then one day the skin must have cracked and all the fluid/blood came out. The skin practically reabsorbed itself. I had no peeling or anything. As a precaution now, I put vaseline on that spot of skin, then put vaseline on my sock over that same spot. It's helped as I haven't gotten another blister in that location since.

Good luck!

Terri

 

[cewait]

You really want to let the blister dry and heal itself. As long as it is sealed your infection risk is low. If you prevents you from walking, i.e. cannot wear shoes do to pain, then you may consider draining the blister. Note walking not training; I would not pop just to get a run in! The standard was to lance with a pin and push fluid out. Today, it is suggested that if you must, cut a small flap to allow the blister to drain. The flap is then used to push an antiseptic ointment into the blister. The flap is closed and the wound dressed. The risk of infection increases but the pain from the pressure within the wound is gone.

If you suspect heal slippage there is lacing techniques that will ‘lock’ the shoe heal. It uses those second set of holes at the top of the shoe; you know the ones no one knows why they are there. Simply take you string ends and push the string through that second hole leaving a small loop. Take the sting ends and cross over the shoe tongue and loop through the small loops. Now tie your shoe as you would normally. The small loops will pull the heal of the shoe forward and lock it in place.

Here is a link that shows you how.
It’s the 5th video
http://www.runnersworld.com/article/0,7120,s6-238-267--12334-0,00.html