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Suggest Treatment For Blister On Side Of Foot
Question: How can I make a blister on the side of the foot heal quickly and be ready for a 15 mile hike with a pack by Monday?
In the military and the blister is the size of a quarter...maybe a little bigger...
In the military and the blister is the size of a quarter...maybe a little bigger...
Brief Answer:
Avoid mechanical irritation of the blister and protect it from infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I suppose the blister was caused by improper shoes (not fitting OK). In such cases you should avoid irritating the blister by either using shoes that won't injure it any further and/or placing a gauze over it. Gauzes are soft enough to absorb the pressure of the shoes. Avoid popping the blister, to minimize the risk of infection. If it's bright red and warmer than the surrounding area then infection is likely.
Unfortunately you can't do anything more than that! You've got to let it heal by itself.
You can ask for any clarifications you might need, using your follow-up questions.
Kind Regards!
Avoid mechanical irritation of the blister and protect it from infection
Detailed Answer:
Hello,
I suppose the blister was caused by improper shoes (not fitting OK). In such cases you should avoid irritating the blister by either using shoes that won't injure it any further and/or placing a gauze over it. Gauzes are soft enough to absorb the pressure of the shoes. Avoid popping the blister, to minimize the risk of infection. If it's bright red and warmer than the surrounding area then infection is likely.
Unfortunately you can't do anything more than that! You've got to let it heal by itself.
You can ask for any clarifications you might need, using your follow-up questions.
Kind Regards!
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you, unfortunately it is too late. The skin is off the blister and is a bright red. I guess it happens in forced marches in the military and there is no stopping to try on a different pair of boots. Concern is being ready for Monday...guess the thing is to let it air dry between now and then and tape it up with duck tape to get through the training and march (with a rucksack) on Monday morning....unless you have any other advice; there is no getting around the march on Monday.
Brief Answer:
You should contact the army doctor to get you off the march
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I thought you were doing it just for exercise but if you're on the army, then you can visit the army doctor, who should get you off the march, to avoid worsening of the injury and potential infection. I've treated several similar injuries in the past, during my time in the army as a doctor, and some of them were complicated with staphylococcal or streptococcal infections with fever and required treatment with antibiotics.
If the doctor won't get you off then you should try to let it heal without wearing shoes (until you will be obliged to do so). When you do wear the shoes or the boots, you should make sure that the lesion won't come into contact with the boot. Applying a gauze (with several layers) will help. You can use a non-irritating oily cream (like vaseline) to reduce friction and make the removal of the gauze easier.
Unfortunately you can't do more than that.
I hope it gets better soon!
Kind Regards!
You should contact the army doctor to get you off the march
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
I thought you were doing it just for exercise but if you're on the army, then you can visit the army doctor, who should get you off the march, to avoid worsening of the injury and potential infection. I've treated several similar injuries in the past, during my time in the army as a doctor, and some of them were complicated with staphylococcal or streptococcal infections with fever and required treatment with antibiotics.
If the doctor won't get you off then you should try to let it heal without wearing shoes (until you will be obliged to do so). When you do wear the shoes or the boots, you should make sure that the lesion won't come into contact with the boot. Applying a gauze (with several layers) will help. You can use a non-irritating oily cream (like vaseline) to reduce friction and make the removal of the gauze easier.
Unfortunately you can't do more than that.
I hope it gets better soon!
Kind Regards!
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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