Blisters

[Tatty]

Anybody able to give me some help. Since buying new O shoes I've been troubled by the most enormous blisters on my heels. I have tried elastoplast, then compeed, then both together but still ended up loosing skin each day at the JK!! At the moment i have them open to the air, as I lost a strip about 2 inches long after the relays. They are very sore and beginning to scab over at the edges. Had to go and buy some backless sandals as the only thing I couls wear was slippers!!
Any ideas gratefully received.

[helen]

join the massive blister club! i didnt even have new o shoes, just some new insoles to give arch support that raised my foot slightly in the old o shoes and made them rub. day one of jk i ended up walking around assembly in socks for 2 hours after my run because it was too painful to wear shoes.

for day 2 and the relays it wasnt too bad though, wore some very snug fitting, very old swoops with lots of tape over a compeed, and they werent too noticeable, until i stopped running. the problem was though, each time i took off the tape, the compeed would come too, and with it another layer of skin from the blister. since jk ive worn the same compeed for 3 days and that seems to be healing up, so my advice is try and keep a compeed on until it actually comes off on its own accord.

[stodge]

I used to get lots of blisters but then found Thorlo running socks. They have thick bits in all the right places and seem to work well
pricy though at about £8-10 per pair.


on subject of blisters...
I know of three people with the new invo8 shoes that although liking the shoes grip and general comfort have had major blister problems - anybody else

[helen]

in general, i have found, new shoes rub no matter what. every time i get a new pair of shoes i have to break them in for 5-8 runs with heels protected with tape, otherwise i get blisters. my adidas swoops are the most comfortable o shoes ive ever had (shame theyre falling apart now and have no grip) but they gave me awful blister problems at first.

best solution is to prevent blisters from ever starting, when you get a new pair of shoes, put some leukotape around your heels to stop any friction between shoe and skin.

[bexter]

I know of three people with the new invo8 shoes that although liking the shoes grip and general comfort have had major blister problems - anybody else

I had inov8's - were my mums but wore them quite alot for nearly half a year. Recently wore them to a weekends training, it was dry, very cold but since then have had really painful achilles tendons and I'm sure its relating to inov8's. Anyone else had related problems with achilles and inov8's?

[gg]

prevention not a cure is leukotape over vulnerable area. it wont move (and takes ages to get off)
i leukotaped my feet all weekend and was fine (despite ruining my feet at hambledon)

[Tatty]

gg - will this feel okay over what is now very sore (exposed nerve endings?) scabbed areas? I'm just being a chicken over the pain!! Last night was agony in bed, just couldn't get comfortable as they were throbbing all the time. Have decided not to run at Sunday's event to give them longer to heal - sic - as I want to do the Army relays next Wednesday

[Guest]

Bexter said: since then have had really painful achilles tendons and I'm sure its relating to inov8's. Anyone else had related problems with achilles and inov8's?

I have had an achilles problem on and off for a few months but finally went to physio yesterday after a flare up at JK - should have gone sooner but she thinks may have caught it before doing too much damage. She advocates cutting off 'useless fashion accessory' bit at back of shoe above the stiff bit which grips the heel (twisters btw), lots of stretching and friction massage etc. Best advice from me would be get treatment asap

HP(the old one!)

[Ed]

gg - will this feel okay over what is now very sore (exposed nerve endings?) scabbed areas? I'm just being a chicken over the pain!! Last night was agony in bed, just couldn't get comfortable as they were throbbing all the time. Have decided not to run at Sunday's event to give them longer to heal - sic - as I want to do the Army relays next Wednesday

to get them to heal as quickly as possible get some iodine spray, spray it liberally on the heels (note - this may hurt quite a bit), wear sandals or something that doesn't cover the back of the foot at all as much as possible. usually gets them sorted out within a week - or does for me at any rate.

they could still hurt with leukotape on - and I've managed to pull off bits of the heel along with the Leukotape on more than one occasion. Try a small bit of micropore or something like that (or a bit of lint or something else as padding if they're sore to touch) that's not too sticky under a large bit of leukotape so that it does actually stay on the heel.

[gg]

yeah leukotape over sore skin is a bad idea, but it really holds on whatever you put next to the sore bit while running. Over already sore bits i put the not-sticky side then basically hold that in place by going round and round my foot with tape

[Mrs H.]

She advocates cutting off 'useless fashion accessory' bit at back of shoe above the stiff bit which grips the heel (twisters btw), lots of stretching and friction massage etc.
HP(the old one!)

I agree - I have lived with this most of my life having very short achilles tendons (Hence me walking round on tip toe all the time) so the tendons are constatntly under pressure and the slightest pressure causes the sheath to swell and bingo - tendonitis. I have shreaded the back off any running shoes with padding - as that is all it takes to set it off. Cross fristion is definitely the answer if it flares up.

[Guest]

Also try a lot of vaseline over the leukotape and compeed - I have in the past covered my whole foot in vaseline (before putting socks on of course) and it does help
Clare

[KarenB]

Yes leucotape on heels certainly helps prevent blisters. But take it off asap after your run - I've become allergic to it now, and find compeed difficult to keep on long enough.

[Klebe]

Go see K at Mammoth, for the price of a night out she will be able to give you some advice/help.

[housewife]

I am plauged by blisters whenever I get new shoes. I find vaseline best for blister prevention (don't put too much on, or your foot will slide around).

Burst any blisters that haven't burst. Cut off any scrappy bits of skin, and let the sore bits dry out (I know, first aiders would disagree, but this works for me, and I have LOADS of experience). Then bung compeed on, warming it up beforehand between your hands and rubbing it after you put it on until it moulds properly. Do this at least an hour before you run, and it should have a chance to stick properly. I never cover compeed with tape, as it doesn't work properly if you do. If the blisters are too big, yuccky etc for compeed, I don't run and let them heal (you can get injured very easily if you try to run, and end up running on the side of your feet etc).

Sorry if you are reading this whilst eating!