FIXING YOUR FEET E-zine - Blisters, footcare products and a tip

FIXING YOUR FEET E-zine

Volume 8, Issue 2, March 2008
John Vonhof, Footwork Publications
Copyright, March 2008, All rights reserved

THIS ISSUE IN SUMMARY
This issue has an editorial titled, My Feet Needed a Break, an article on Is That Blister Really a Blister? It also has two footcare products – ENGO Patches and shoe stretchers, reader feedback, and a Bad Feet photo of a blister tip.

PURPOSE
The Fixing Your Feet E-zine is published monthly to inform and educate athletes and non-athletes about proper foot care skills and techniques, provide tips on foot care, review foot care products, and highlight problems people have with their feet.

EDITORIAL: MY FEET NEEDED A BREAK           
This month’s editorial is not so much an editorial as a think piece – at least for me. I started this newsletter way back in September of 2001. That’s almost seven years ago. In that time, I think I have only missed a few months. I missed three months in 2004 when I was in paramedic school and had a very hectic schedule. Since then I have been pretty regular – until last month. Yes, I missed February. Did you miss it? No one wrote asking about the missing issue. I felt bad about the missing issue. So let me explain.
     The first of every year is a busy time. My day job takes a lot out of me, and I have a 2-½ hour a day commute. In addition, I write the newsletter once a month, which runs about six to eight hours. I also try and publish something new at my Happy Feet blog once a week. Between late February and mid-March, I speak at three writers conferences, one in Florida and two in the San Francisco Bay Area. This year I taught 11 workshops at the three conferences. Each requires a lot of preparation work.
     I had spent time preparing for the February newsletter and even had a great article from Michael Nirenberg, DPM (found below). My intentions were good. But, truth be told, I simple ran out of time.
     One conference ended on February 23 and I left for the next conference four days later and was gone for 11 days. Then less than four days later, I was at the third conference for five more days.
     At each conference I get asked the all too familiar question, “You really write about feet?!?” Some folks even ask me for advice. Occasionally I even get hands on as I look at and feel someone’s feet.

So, yes, my feet needed a break. I sometimes sit and stare at my computer screen as I try and conjure up an editorial comment. I have also been trying to determine where I will provide foot care this year. Last year I did several Team in Training events, worked at the Raid the North Extreme in Northern BC Canada, and Badwater. This year I will again work at Badwater – but other than that I’m not sure.
     I have also had some serious health issues. I have not run in two years. I started to run about 1983, until January 2006, that’s 23 years. Marathons and ultras were fun. Trails were the best. Then In January of 2006 I was diagnosed with prostate cancer. For the past two years I have been on hormonal therapy, with two months of radiation. This had knocked out my ability to exert myself – which running requires. Now I am entering an “off cycle” from the medications and will watch my PSA closely. I am hoping that as I regain energy that I will be able to start running again.

Why do I tell you all this? Because writing this newsletter is very important to me – and I hope to many of you. Because I have learned a lot from many of you and consider you friends. Because I know that many of you have been helped by Fixing Your Feet, and even by my patching. Because feet are important to me.

Next month, I promise I will get back to a full newsletter. Thanks for your patience. If you want to comment on this piece, please send me an email.

FIXING YOUR FEET, 4th EDITION
The 4th edition of Fixing Your Feet can be ordered through my FixingYourFeet.com web site, ZombieRunner.com, or Amazon.com. Completely updated, it has three new chapters and lots of new sections. The retail price is $18.95 but most sites, including mine, has it at a reduced rate.

SHARE THIS NEWSLETTER
Please take a moment and forward this issue to a friend or two and encourage them to subscribe.

FOOTCARE PRODUCTS
ENGO Blister Prevention Patches
Over the past years, I have often talked about ENGO Blister Prevention Patches. These patches are thin, slick, oval patches, which can be used on insoles and inside shoes – anywhere inside shoes, to reduce friction. The patches have a peel off backing to reveal the really sticky back of the patch. I have struggled with peeling off the backing many times. I had often wondered if smudging the sticky backing would affect the ability of the patch to adhere to its intended surface. On several occasions, I had suggested to the ENGO staff that they add a peel off tab.
     Earlier in March I received a package from Jason Pawelsky, Marketing Manager, of Tamarack Habilitation Technologies, Inc. He had sent me their latest improved ENGO patches. They now offer the patches in the traditional blue and a new color, beige, which is perfect for work and dress shoes. And best of all, the patches had an EZ Peel tab! Perfect.
     Last week my wife was wearing an orthopedic shoe after minor foot surgery. The shoe was rubbing on the back of her heel and she asked if I had anything to help. Of course, I have all kinds of stuff. That’s what I do.
     I pulled out a new patch last week for my wife - a new beige patch with the EZ Peel tab. It was so easy to simply pull the tab to get to the sticky backing, and apply the patch. Thanks ENGO, I love these patches even more. You can find them at the ENGO Web site or through Zombierunner.com.

Shoe Stretchers
A while back Mike wrote: “My feet are sensitive to shoe width. Trail shoes get wet, then dry, and inevitably shrink with time. Has anybody use shoe stretchers? Got a trusted name brand? I would like to get enough to keep 4 pair stretched.”
     I emailed Mike with a couple of suggestions. Personally, I like shoe stretchers to keep the shoes in good shape, literally and figuratively. But one has to get a good pair. Some are plastic and may not last long. I prefer the wood shoe stretchers. Like the ones shown here from an eBay seller.
     Mike wrote back: “Thanks John, you put me on the right track... this is what I was looking for... made with hard wood, polished, steel mechanism. I bought four of them. Have way more active sets of running shoes, but I can rotate through them. I am a sad case... I wash my shoes every 2-3 weeks, as I believe dirt in the fibers tears them up. But then there is the shrinkage issue. Cheers!”
     In case you need a pair or two, I found these on eBay. Just search on wood shoe stretchers.

ARTICLE:  IS THAT BLISTER REALLY A BLISTER?
By Michael Nirenberg, DPM

Having treated thousands of feet, I often see patients complaining of a blister that is actually a type of cyst called a mucoid cyst. Recognizing you have a mucoid cyst and not a blister is important because mucoid cysts are treated differently. The key differences between blisters and mucoid cysts are:

•    Blisters can occur anywhere on the foot. Common places for blisters are the ball of the foot, the back of the heel, or on or between the toes. Mucoid cysts only occur on the top of the toes or fingers beside the nail or about a centimeter from the nail.
•    Blisters often develop from friction. We don't know why mucoid cysts develop, however, scientists believe they are the result of minor trauma to the toe or finger. In runners, this could be due to the repetitive jamming of the toe against the shoe. 
•    Blisters contain a clear watery-like fluid sometimes tinged with blood, whereas mucoid cysts have a thick, jelly-like substance.
•    Blisters come in various shapes and sizes; mucoid cysts are dome shaped and round.

There are two types of mucoid cysts: those connected to a joint inside the finger or toe and those that are isolated or not connected to a joint. Most mucoid cysts are painless, though tight-fitting shoes can cause them to become painful. 
     Mucoid cysts tend to occur more often in females and usually during the fifth to seventh decades of life, but I have seen them occur in people of all ages, including teenagers.

The treatment for a blister is usually to drain it. Mucoid cysts will usually recur if simply drained; they require surgery. The doctor will need to excise the entire cyst, often dissecting down to the bone. However, if the mucoid cyst is not painful, you can ignore it or if it only causes minimal discomfort, your doctor may recommend padding it with moleskin or felt.
     Whenever any mass or lesion occurs on your foot, have it checked by a podiatrist; for lesions or masses elsewhere on your body, see a dermatologist. Even though you may believe it's nothing serious, in some cases, an abnormal lesion or mass could be cancer.

Dr. Michael Nirenberg, “America’s PodiatristSM,” is a podiatric physician, surgeon and forensic podiatrist. If you have a question for him, e-mail him here or visit AmericasPodiatrist.com.

Photos are used with permission: Dockery GL: Cutaneous Disorders of the Lower Extremity, WB Saunders, 1997.

READER FEEDBACK AND COMMENTS
Peter Fish wrote in reponse to my editorial on patching blisters, “What's even better than having a good blister patch is not having blisters. In around 30,000 miles since I started running in 1994, I have never had a blister, with the exception of my 4th and 5th toes, which curl under and require special treatment.
     I wear Thorlo crew running socks, the big thick blue and white ones. Lately, I've taken to cutting off the toes and wearing them over a thin pair of Injinji socks, which takes care of the problem toes pretty well, especially if I also wrap them in Kinesio tape.
     I have no financial interest in Thorlos, but I've emailed them a few times in the hope that they would reward my loyalty (and occasional recommendations) with a few free pairs, but so far, it hasn't worked. Maybe my efforts to push their product have resulted in declining sales, perhaps on account of my performance in races.”

MA, from Canada, wrote: “Hahahaha! Loved that you wrote about Crocs! I have 5 pairs – a mixture of Crocs, Waldies and Holey Soles – in pale gold, screaming yellow, lilac, navy and navy with Vibram soles (for boat decks). Love them... even though everyone who does not wear them (yet!) will not hesitate to tell you how ugly they are! I personally think they are funky. And now you can also by charm accessories for them! My canoe instructor turned me on to them 2-3 yrs. back. I thought they were ugly ‘til I bought a pair! And someone at Primal Quest Utah did a large portion of the race in them. I will keep my eyes open for the Croc RX Relief model. That’s good to know. Thanks.”

Stuart Skeeter wrote: “Responding to your request for comments regarding Gorilla Tape. I have used standard duct tape with Tincture of Benzoin to help with full adhesion. This has worked great for me during ultras. I believed that Gorilla would be better, given their claims for "stickiest". Although it is quite sticky, I don't think it worked as well overall. As you alluded, I found it to be less pliable due to thickness.  With "old" duct tape, I tend not to notice it a bit. With Gorilla, I always felt it and it was prone to feel more hotspots along the edges than with the old kind. I'll definitely use Gorilla Tape for home repairs, but will stick with the "old-school" silver duct tape for prepping my feet before ultra runs. Thanks for you monthly postings!”

Proving that material on the Web is seemingly forever, I received an email from Carolyn Branch, “I am so thankful to have the exercises that you posted November 2005 to strengthen and stretch your feet, ankles, Achilles tendon, etc. I believe they will help me. Thank you so much.”

Reader feedback to this E-zine and its articles is welcome and encouraged. Please email any foot care ideas or tips that you have tried and would like to share with others, or ideas for an article for the ezine.

BAD FEET PHOTOS
I dug through my stash of feet photos and found a good one to share because it will teach at the same time. The shot here is not mine, but is from a podiatrist friend who took the photo in the Racing the Planet Sahara 7 Day footrace.
     Look closely and you can see thread running through the blister. This is a good trick because the thread acts as a wick to keep fluid draining. Many time athletes may a hole in a blister with a needle, which as many puncture do, seals up again. Here the thread prevents the hole from sealing back up on itself, and fluid is drawn along the thread and out of the blister. Add a bit if thread and several needles to your foot care kit and you will be ready to try this tip. Just make sure you can thread the needle!

Just think; your feet could be featured in this e-zine for everyone to see! Submit your photo or short story by email or snail mail. Stories should be no longer than 250 words. Send them to me by email.

WRITE AN AMAZON REVIEW FOR A FREE COPY OF HAPPY FEET
Those of you with the 4th edition of Fixing Your Feet can get a free copy of my booklet, Happy Feet: Foot Care Advice for Walkers and Travelers. Click on Amazon or Barnes & Noble to go to the book’s page—and write a review of the 4th edition. Then send me an email telling me which site the review is on and your snail mail address. I will mail you a free copy of this 36-page booklet. Use it yourself, or give it to someone else. The booklet has a $5.00 value. Sorry, but because of postage, this offer is good only in the U.S and Canada.

MY HAPPY FEET BLOG
If you like to stay informed about foot care issues and information - on a more regular basis than this monthly newsletter, check out my blog, Happy Feet: Expert Foot Care Advice for People Who Love Their Feet. This is different from this ezine. The Happy Feet blog will have a new short topic every week. It’s at Happy Feet.

GOT A STORY TO SHARE?
I am always on the look out for stories to share about their adventures with some type of connection to feet. If you have something to share, please send me an email.

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CONTACT INFORMATION
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