Preventing Blisters

[Guest guest]

Greeting everyone. I am new to the site. My son " Riley " was born

with a pretty severe clubfoot on the right side. We went through

numerous castings. Which most was kicked off or had slipped before

we had a chance to make it back to the next casting. We finally had

went as far as we could w/them and gave up, going to the braces.

They told me that most kids that had that much trouble keeping a cast

on would have a time w/the braces as well. The first week was

horrible. Blisters starting everywhere. We tried taking the tongues

out (backs were already out) lacing the shoes up backwards, making

them tighter, making them looser. Nothing seemed to help on top of a

screaming 4 month old that was totally aggravated. I thought that

maybe some more padding would help with the blisters but we were 2

hours away from the doctors and it drained me to think of another

drive that I might not need to take. So, the EI physical therapist

that comes in a works with Riley once a week, gave me some extra

padding she uses for splints, casts, etc... It was just a foam

padding with a sticky back. I cut out pieces and instead of putting

them on the shoes (I didn't know if I could do that or not)I put the

padding directly on the socks in the areas that was blistering. On

each foot the padding is on the front side where the straps go and

the tops of the shoes rub in to the ankle and, on the back of the

heel of the clubfoot which was our most troubled area. In no time

the redness and blisters were healing and not a single new one for

almost 4 weeks. Even with the shoes slipping at night and not

getting fixed he has no blisters. We had our check up this month and

the doctor was amazed at our little plan. Hopefully this will help

some of you out. The trick will be to get the padding. Talk to your

doctor or maybe a local physical therapist or hospital. The padding

I use usually lasts up to 4-5 washes and then needs to be replaced.

Good luck to all of you!!!!!!!