Sharing progress re: severe Edema blisters

[Gemgal66]

So in my original post I shared that I had severe blisters from Edema and here we are now 4 weeks later with the very slow, extremely Painful healing process I’ve been going through. I’m happy to report that the Edema has improved a bit and it is sometimes really bad and other times moderate. Have been unable to eliminate it as I cannot tolerate my feet being up or wrapped as both cause extreme heat and pain. I am still using cool water baths with my feet inside extra large ziploc bags immersed in cool water. I had been having some success with gabapentin and a small amount of pain relief with 100mg doses of tramadol and 10mg doses of oxycodone. But I am now trying neuropathic treatments of hypericum perforatum, colubrina and arsenicum album and feel like they are helping much more I’m not having as much nerve pain and the severity is also less. I have taken other members advice on here and I am using tapping as a coping mechanism during nerve pain bouts and it definitely helps ! I am still going to try other methods shared from others as well I am still suffering with all day flares and the goal is to lower that and hopefully eliminate them all together and be able to get back to a normal life. I am so thankful for all of you for your knowledge and support and appreciate any ideas that are shared with me ! Not sure if all the photos will come through as I have always had trouble with the photos on here, but I guess I will see after I choose to post lol
Oh ! P.S the white you see is a triad paste used with bandages that rehab put on and the bleeding and torn blisters happened after I was told to wrap my feet in tensors (by myself) and they stuck to the bandages which stuck to the blisters and now my left foot has developed a large blister

[Machel]

Hi Gemgal,

I’m so happy to see you are receiving treatment that is helping to heal those blisters. I can’t begin to imagine all the pain you are going through. You have been brave and strong to fight through this! I hope you continue to see improvement and relief with the blisters and edema then you can move on for treatment of EM. Keep up the good fight!!

[Gemgal66]

@Machel awww Thank you ! It’s definitely been a battle but I’m lucky I’ve had so much help from family, friends and this community

[jswilcox2]

If gabapentin does provide significant results, as for Lyrica. It’s more expensive but it was the only thing that worked for me, in combination with Salsalate (aspirin based anti-inflammatory), cymbalta, Lyrica and CBD oil. FYI - I know the cold soaks make it tolerable but it also causes the skin to break down. The blistering isn’t going to heal until you stop. I know from experience.

[standing_cat]

Best wishes for recovery. That looks painful. I hurt just looking at the pics. You are a warrior.

[Gemgal66]

@standing_cat awww ! thank you

[Gemgal66]

@jswilcox2 thank you for your advice however I am unable to take cymbalta or Lyrica because of the drastic side effects I had. I don’t put my feet directly in water, I have them in large ziploc bags and then immerse them in cool water, so they never get wet and the bags help protect from the coldness a bit as well At this point it is the only way I can cool them or bring down the swelling. A fan does not achieve that for me. I am unable to have them raised as the nerve pain and heat multiplies as soon as I do. I know it’s very odd because raising them above your heart is recommended for EM and for Edema, but that’s the way my body responds.

[Sharonl]

I had a couple of blisters like yours. I went to the wound center and the doctor poked the blister and cleaned up the area and put Xeroform on it. I changed the Xeroform every day and it finally healed. Xeroform is gauze with petrolatum, there are different brand names.