Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

My teen has walked her foot into a state - hideous pic

129 replies

Makinganewthinghappen · 26/07/2021 07:52

My 16 year old has been doing her duke of Edinburgh and has come home like this on one foot.

We bandaged it round last night but it’s weeping today!

I am in two minds whether it needs actual medical attention at this point but I am terrible at deciding these things!

What do people think - leave it or ask gp?

OP posts:
DinkyDaisy · 26/07/2021 08:09

Picture should be fine I would think. Maybe a phonecall first to check.

dementedpixie · 26/07/2021 08:09

I'd show them the pictures you have posted here

DinkyDaisy · 26/07/2021 08:10

Even if no walk she needs to protect that area as it heals and pharmacist best bet.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Children's health General health
Beamur · 26/07/2021 08:12

She needs different walking shoes too. That's a shocking blister.
A photo is probably good enough for a pharmacy opinion.
It will need regular dressing with something that isn't going to stick. Keep the wound clean - saline is probably what I would use and wait until it's dry before replacing the dressing. Any sign of infection contact the GP. That's a large area of open wound.

PurBal · 26/07/2021 08:14

My husbands feet regularly look like that. He does ultra marathons. Now it’s burst I wouldn’t use blister plasters. A bit of gauze for protection and a good airing would be your best bet. 12 miles isn’t horrendously far but pack it well and I second a different pair of shoes if possible.

hellcatspangle · 26/07/2021 08:18

Do not put blister plasters on an open blister, that is not what they're for and will be disastrous (I know for a fact as I did it!)

I would get a padded dry dressing just to protect it when she's wearing shoes.

123ZYX · 26/07/2021 08:19

@dementedpixie

Could you try a large hydrocolloid dressing on it as it looks like a burst blister? Might be able to get a large one from the chemist. Dont think it looks infected or anything
My feet were the same after I did D of E (many years ago...) and this is what the GP prescribed. You don't actually need a prescription though.

Pharmacists tend to be able to make recommendations if you take for DD with you

Jossbow · 26/07/2021 08:20

Make sure its clean, cover loosely and let it dry out.
Cottn socks , no shoes today and will look a whole lot better tommorow
Blisters always look a lot better when they have dried out.

mm8989 · 26/07/2021 08:21

I'm a hiker..i've walked with blisters like that. There's no way she will be able to do 12miles. DOE is tough , I doubt the leader will allow her to do it. it's too much of a risk.
😫 feel very sorry for her.

Lovemusic33 · 26/07/2021 08:21

It should be fine but I wouldn’t allow her to walk again today, it’s best to let the air get to it and she can only do this by staying in and not wearing any socks or shoes. I get a lot of blisters (I walk a lot), none have got infected but they do heel faster if not dressed.

DeciduousPerennial · 26/07/2021 08:22

I know you’re off to the pharmacist, but don’t put compeed on that - they’re not for open skin.

Mumdiva99 · 26/07/2021 08:22

I agree that it doesn't need a pharmacist. (If she were going to attempt to walk on it then a compeed type plaster. But if she's staying home then just let it air dry out.

Benjispruce5 · 26/07/2021 08:22

I’d definitely not walk today. Doesn’t look infected but needs to be kept clean and dressed. Check daily. But I’m not medically trained apart from First Aid.

Mumteedum · 26/07/2021 08:23

Ouch ..poor kid. Can't remember where I heard it, but two pairs of socks for walking is supposed to prevent blisters.

Tickledtrout · 26/07/2021 08:23

Practice walk only? Definitely no walking today then.
And pay more attention to her footwear for the real event. Wear in new boots, better socks, plasters and blister plasters

Benjispruce5 · 26/07/2021 08:24

A loose, breathable dressing.

123ZYX · 26/07/2021 08:26

For next time, does she have stiff leather walking boots? I changed to walking trainer type things (like really sturdy trainers) and don't get blisters any more. I suspect it's partly because I can tie them more tightly so they don't move, but also the inside is a bit softer

LaurieSchafferIsAllBitterNow · 26/07/2021 08:27

I'd keep that clean with salt water and no shoe or socks, no tcp, no creams, no plasters, and NO MORE HIKING until healed

and then decent socks, shoes etc for any future hikes, a friend uses copious vaseline on their heels and two pairs of socks iirc and never suffers at all.

Aprilinspringtimeshower · 26/07/2021 08:28

Definitely sit out if this is practice run. Those blisters need to heal but it’ll only take a few days,

Is she wearing proper hiking boots and hiking socks? My feet blister really easily and I always have to “break in” shoes or walking boots. That can take about 20-30 miles or so. So, she needs to do more shorter walks for a lot of miles to mould the boots properly. If she doesn’t have actual walking boots get her some. Make sure they fit comfortably with room to stretch her toes and try on with walking socks.

In terms of walking socks you can get double layer anti blister ones- expensive but will help stop this happening for the real event, or other longer practice ones. That’s why boots need to be roomy. I always wear 2 pairs of socks anyway at same time, to give me even more protection- one pair of 2-layer anti blister and another wool pair thicker over the top- my boots are actually one size bigger than normal shoes for this.

While she is breaking in the boots, get her some large blister plasters that are cushioned, pack these in her back pack and explain that if she starts to feel pressure points burning, sit down, take off socks and put plaster on before the blister forms, she can identify where to put it from the red patches she’ll see. Get her to check her feet at each significant stop en route.

lastly, pack a pair of flip flops if she is overnighting during these events, or take with you when you pick her up. Once she stops walking she can remove the boots and wear fit flops which will be far more comfortable than to reforce her boots on over sore feet to get home

Good luck to her

GuyFawkesDay · 26/07/2021 08:29

Ooh I did this to myself in a new pair of riding boots. So painful.

I spent 2cweeks in clogs or barefoot til it dried out. I took to skin right off the blister, it's so sore.

Pantene23 · 26/07/2021 08:31

Hydrocolloid dressing on and then just leave it alone. No need to get medical advice. It’s only a large blister.

Confusedandshaken · 26/07/2021 08:31

@Makinganewthinghappen

She is supposed to be doing another walk today for the final leg (they come home each evening rather than camp because of Covid)

But dh and I have said she can’t go and walk another 12 miles. Which makes us bad guys apparently!

DoE isn't just about massive feats of endurance. It's also about learning to be responsible, practical and resourceful, discovering her personal limits and capabilities and and how to be a member of a team

Clearly your daughter wasn't properly prepared for yesterday's walk. She need to think about what went wrong. Was it her footwear, her socks? Should she have trained more before launching into such a long walk? Is long distance walking the right physical challenge for her? Would she be better suited to another activity?

It would be wrong for her to go on the second practice walk today if only because she risks being a burden to the group leaders and other walkers.

The blisters look terrible and must be very painful but keep them clean and rested and I'm sure they will heal very fast.

DinosaurDiana · 26/07/2021 08:38

I’d cover it in Germoline, or similar, and put a non stick dressing on it.
She also needs to not wear anything on her feet that touches that area until it’s healed. Flip Flops etc

NettleTea · 26/07/2021 08:39

Is long distance walking the right physical challenge for her? Would she be better suited to another activity?

the long distance walking is part of the expedition part, probably not the physical challenge, especially as OP talks about how they would have camped.

Walking boots, like the ones recommended by DoE
Thick padded walking socks and an inner thin liner sock are all designed to help reduce this. My son has just done this and anyone not in suitable kit/footwear was sent home during the practice because they are very clear as to what is required and your wellbeing can impact the rest of your group.

CheesyWeez · 26/07/2021 08:42

My son just did his expedition and his friend's foot was in a similar state on the morning of the last day.

The team in charge asked my son and his friends if the bad-foot friend had contributed well to the challenge overall, they said yes and they passed him on this section despite nothing finished the number of kilometres required.