Cracked/Painful Heels

Shannon K · 07-16-2003, 10:52 PM

Hello! I'm not a frequent poster yet, but a daily reader!!

I don't know whether or not this is PCO related...I know diabetics have foot problems and since many of us are IR maybe it is....

but anyway, my heel is so cracked open right now it bleeds when I walk and it hurts to put any kind of pressure on it (and believe my, my big ole bod adds a lot of pressure to my poor feet!!!) I came home from work today and my shoe was stuck to my foot from the blood! I haven't done anything that I can think of to hurt myself, it seems like it just appeared a few days ago and has gotten progressively worse!

Does anyone else have this, and if so, please oh please tell me what you do to treat/prevent it. I am a teacher and so I spend most of the day on my feet and this is oh so uncomfortable!! It even hurt last night when I was in bed trying to go to sleep, without any weight or pressure on my feet! I very much appreciate any replies and am willing to try anything!

Thanks so much!

sugarhoney · 07-16-2003, 11:12 PM

i have that same problem!
AVON has a great product out .its called therapeutic cracked heel relief cream. i use it twice a week or so and it really does help.

if u need more info let me know as i do sell avon!

Chancy · 07-17-2003, 05:28 AM

I also have the same problem. The best thing that I can find that works for me is to find any kind of moisturizer that you have on hand and slather it on your feet. I mean ANYTHING! The more, the better. Glob it on really heavy and then either:

1) Put on a purchased pair of moisture socks (available at walmart)

2) Put on a pair of 100% cotton socks

3) Put your foot in a plastic grocery bag and tie it up

Leave these on overnight although if your a light sleeper, I wouldnt recommend the grocery bag idea

I agree with SugarHoney too...the Avon stuff is good. I also include that in my mixture

If this doesnt work, I know that there is creme that a doc can prescribe to help.

Hopefully, this helps,
Chancy

DillyDallysMom · 07-17-2003, 10:12 AM

yep, i have this problem too~my feet look terrible! i soak them and try to get some of the dead, callused layers off and then use lotion. actually, my doctor also recommended using Crisco, the kind in the can that's white, b/c he said it works on the top layers of the skin and doesn't soak in and disappear~it has been helping. i put it on at night and then put a pair of socks on over it. i just hate that my feet look so ugly in summer b/c i like to wear sandals and slip ons.

Chula · 07-17-2003, 11:59 AM

And I can't wear cute shoes because mine are SO UGLY

I was thinking of trying that stuff at AVON Imight do it. I would love to wear sandles.

I was even thinking of having my feet done professionally too who knows...I am going to try avon though.

Shannon _Richardson · 07-17-2003, 01:29 PM

I have had this problem for years finally I went to a foot dr. He cut alot of the old dead skin away, it did hurt alot but was well worth it. Then I had to sleep with a cream and cling wrap on my feet they began to heal very nicely. Well I started getting lazy and my feet got bad again but instead of going to the DR this time I bought a shaver type thing from walmart that you use on your feet after you have soaked them and I also use a type of grader thing. My feet look 100% better now you can't barely see the crack in the heal and its much thinner before I had skin at least 2 inches think in that area. Like the other ladies said the best thing you can do is keep it moisturized and Be sure to remove the extra skin as often as you can it really helps.

indiana_troll · 07-17-2003, 01:55 PM

My feet get that way quite often. I use Zim's Crack Cream. It smells nasty, but it definitely works. I also smother my feet in vaseline and cover with white cotton socks at night when they get really bad. Use plenty of good moisturizer on them throughout the day too. If I wear sandals all the time in the summer they tend to get worse. I switch back and forth to my tennis shoes and socks. Hope you get your feet feeling better soon. I know how painful it can be. Good luck.

Patty

andrena · 07-17-2003, 02:19 PM

I agree with everything everyone's said so far. My feet also have a tendency to get dry and cracked.

The most important thing is to get that dead skin off - then you must try and keep it off. I use plain old vaseline, slather it on every night, then sleep with socks on. The key is consistency. I have to do it EVERY night - if I miss a day or two, they start to get hard and dry again.

Good luck, I know how painful it can be.

dinosgirl · 07-17-2003, 02:44 PM

I get the same thing. Especially in the summer as I tend to go bare foot a lot more. I use Mary Kay Satin Hands on them- It works fantastic! It is a set of a few different products. A heavy moisturizure, a buffing cream, and a cleanser (works great to use on your legs after you shave!!-- and for those of us that were blessed with tummy hair!)
Look up Mary Kay on line and find a rep in your area - give her a call and ask for a sample set to see if it could work for you.

Good Luck

suzisk8 · 07-17-2003, 07:23 PM

My best friend who used to be a nail tech advised me with the following after I had a cast on my ankle and foot for three months. Cocca Butter! NOT the lotion, not the cream, but the solid stuff. It works really well. But I do agree that you do have to take off the dead skin. The swiss files with the grater on one side and the stone on the other side work well for me.

dorionrenee · 07-17-2003, 09:13 PM

It might be athlete's foot. I had that problem when I was younger. I had a big crack in the middle of my foot and it seemed to have appeared overnight and it got progressively worse. It was very painful to walk on and almost as painful once i took pressure off it. I used some athlete's foot cream on it and within a couple of days it was so much better.

Good luck!

Alliance · 07-17-2003, 11:19 PM

No...it's not athletes foot. I know it has something to with insulin resistance in your body. Men get this too! My Mother,and 2 of my siets,me,my Sil,and FIl,have the ugly cracked heels. Each of us have IR,or diabetes. Whether it has been checked out or not.

Girlinneed · 07-18-2003, 12:01 AM

I have to agree with andrena. I use plain ol' vaseline! Everynight with socks. I did this for about a month and they are no longer open cracks. They are healing! I know the pain! I hate them... thought that I was the only who had this.! I get a pedicure every 2 to 3 weeks. It helps keep the dead skin off.! I also tried my step 3 tanning lotion. It is just a moisturizer. It is by California Tan. It is great too!

Good luck!

Kara

nms · 07-18-2003, 10:43 PM

Mine get like that from athletes foot too. I never realized it was athletes foot until recently, but I read an ad about thick calused skin on the heels and sides and the cream cleared it right up after putting up with it for years and years. But if you're sure yours isn't, I also recommend the Zims Crack Creme, I find it in the first aid section at walmart, or sometimes with the hand lotions. I use it on my elbows and hands and it is amazing stuff, even when any other lotion/cotton glove treatment fails. It's greasy/oily and doesn't smell the best, but it's worth it.

Tonya-inGA · 08-29-2003, 11:43 AM

I had very cracked heels. It was painful but never drew blood.
Well, after trying almost every thing out there I finally found an awesome cream. It Dr Scholls- cracked heel cream. I use the medicated kind. It is not greasy and it rubs in really easy and you don't need a whole bunch.
You will notcied a big improvement after just one use.
I get it at wal-mart in the footcare area. It's like $4.96 a tube.
Try it! I know you won't be disappointed.

PS_ I like in Ga and wear sandals and this stuff has been great!!

Take care,
Tonya