Any OIF/OEF vets having persistent problems with your feet?

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I sure am. I just thought it would clear up but I guess a decade later it ain't happening.

I think it stemmed from the wet, sweat filled boots and lots of walking.

I get these spots that the skin just sort of falls off and other angry red spots and other small fluid filled dots. A large 2"X1" part of my heel went from being normal to just separating and falling off my foot in a 24hr period and the red skin under it looks...bad.

They don't really hurt unless I pop one of the little pus filled things or mess with the dark red spots.

Athletes foot stuff has not helped, neosporin has not helped, cleaning and disinfecting with alcohol has not helped (internally and externally)

My feet look like I could catch a fish out of a lake or something

@Chuckman ?
 
I wasn't in OIF/OEF, but I had a similar issue with ONE foot after basic back in the early 90s. I had flaky, dead skin on that foot...just the one foot...for about 15 years. The skin would sometimes crack, mostly would just peel away. Nothing worked on it. Then one day I noticed it was gone.
 
Damn. That's nasty. My first two guesses are fungal infection or bacterial infection. Nothing OTC will help, yeah you'll need to see a doc on that one.
 
I'm OIF/OEF and I have exactly what you're talking about as well.
 
I'm OIF/OEF and I have exactly what you're talking about as well.

Look like this?

Warning for anyone squeamish. I've excluded pus and blood pictures.











40PUkyZ.jpg



This is the part that fell off randomly and another piece just turned loose and fell off five minutes ago.
3sSj9lH.jpg


Angry red spots after being drained of pus and blood. The pus is clear and slick, no odor, viscosity, or color
9VXCa85.jpg
 
Nothing like that but my feet and legs are getting shooting pains and cramping especially at night.
 
Look like this?

Warning for anyone squeamish. I've excluded pus and blood pictures.











40PUkyZ.jpg



This is the part that fell off randomly and another piece just turned loose and fell off five minutes ago.
3sSj9lH.jpg


Angry red spots after being drained of pus and blood. The pus is clear and slick, no odor, viscosity, or color
9VXCa85.jpg

No I have never been that weak.

Ever........
 
Funny story,

I was at work doing the 4473 on a WSI LVOA-C to a member of a SMU on Bragg. This dude is solid as a rock and runs marathon's when nothing else is going on that day..

He was having sinus issues this special day of gun buying. I asked him what's up and told me, then asked if mine act up? And I quote:

Nope I have never been so weak in my life. Bitch...

And the look of hate, death and indexing for a mosenbique drill I was identified.

Lol
 
Look like this?

Warning for anyone squeamish. I've excluded pus and blood pictures.

Yep. Exactly like that. I was told it was basically trench foot. I was in Iraq the first year and we were in Chem suits (mopp 3) a lot. I actually took my rubber Chem boot off one day and dumped a few cups of water out of it. My feet have been like yours ever since. I've used some of the otc antifungal sprays and have kept it under control the last few years. I tend to pop those little tiny pinhead blisters early and not let them get big, dry out and cause chunks of skin to fall off. I usually try and take my socks off once during the day and let my feet dry out at work too. If found no real cure all. Even the shit the VA gave me didn't do jack. The biggest thing that helped me was changing socks. Making sure you're feet are breathing will help more than anything.









40PUkyZ.jpg



This is the part that fell off randomly and another piece just turned loose and fell off five minutes ago.
3sSj9lH.jpg


Angry red spots after being drained of pus and blood. The pus is clear and slick, no odor, viscosity, or color
9VXCa85.jpg
 
I wasn't oif oef but I had 2 issues after getting out. The same flaky skin you describe (but never that bad) and both big toes were numb for about 8-10 years.

For that skin issue you'll want to wash your feet religiously and carry an extra pair of socks with you to work and change them during the day. And see a dr.
 
Well even though it sucks, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Caused by some common factor(s) whether environmental, vector borne, or a combination...heat/sweat/bacteria/flies/sand fleas etc....


@Traceround, @Doc4USMC sent me some info I'll forward you, And I think has this thing dialed in. Can't thank him enough for the info. A lot of Google pics look exactly like mine (thank baby Jesus in a tuxedo tshirt it's not on my hands like some of those poor bastards) and apparently due to blisters or open sores in the heat/sweat/wet environs of OIF I picked up some sort of infection.


Thanks guys
 
Well even though it sucks, I'm glad I'm not the only one. Caused by some common factor(s) whether environmental, vector borne, or a combination...heat/sweat/bacteria/flies/sand fleas etc....


@Traceround, @Doc4USMC sent me some info I'll forward you, And I think has this thing dialed in. Can't thank him enough for the info. A lot of Google pics look exactly like mine (thank baby Jesus in a tuxedo tshirt it's not on my hands like some of those poor bastards) and apparently due to blisters or open sores in the heat/sweat/wet environs of OIF I picked up some sort of infection.


Thanks guys

I had the red dots in the curve of my left foot years back, seemed to go away at some point.
 
I wasn't oif oef but I had 2 issues after getting out. The same flaky skin you describe (but never that bad) and both big toes were numb for about 8-10 years.

For that skin issue you'll want to wash your feet religiously and carry an extra pair of socks with you to work and change them during the day. And see a dr.

Yep. Looks like something fungal, but I'm no dr, a podiatrist or dermatologist would be the place to start.
 
Pour some whiskey on it and walk it off man :p
 
Well, I have been walking on it while subsequently walking parts of my feet off, if that counts
 
So I showed the pics and comments to my bighead medical brained wife and she wanted to know if it itches and have you tried hydrocortisone? Her reaction was the same as others..... seek a good Dermatologist.
 
See a Derma, but also look up "Pompholyx". See if that sounds right. It is a kind of chronic eczema, but the Derma doc can verify. On a seperate note try switching to detergents that are non perfumed like " All Free and Clear". It is just a guess from the wifey.

Oh yeah and if "Neosporin" males it worse then it could be agravating the condition.
 
Last edited:
So I showed the pics and comments to my bighead medical brained wife and she wanted to know if it itches and have you tried hydrocortisone? Her reaction was the same as others..... seek a good Dermatologist.
I know mine itches the minute my feet start to sweat and usually itches a lot by the end of the day. I've itches them to the point that the small blisters would open up. I know I've tried a lot of things and one of the last spray/cream combos seemed to help a bit. Mines no where near as bad as it used to be.
 
My problems are from years stuffed into combat boots in all seasons and temps! Lacing them too tight and generally beating the hell outta them. I'm paying for that now!
 
My only issue is a bunion, but being proactive keeps it in check
 
It most definitely looks fungal. A dermatologist will need to do a biopsy for analysis to see what it is exactly then tailor the treatment.

The last time I had a biopsy done on the sole of my foot I refused the local anesthetic, I knew from previous experience how painful the injection would be and didn't see the point in them administering one dose of pain to mitigate another. On my yearly trips back to the dermatologist that's all they talk about, seems I'm the only one he's ever seen to refuse the local.
 
So I showed the pics and comments to my bighead medical brained wife and she wanted to know if it itches and have you tried hydrocortisone? Her reaction was the same as others..... seek a good Dermatologist.

Doesn't itch.

See a Derma, but also look up "Pompholyx". See if that sounds right. It is a kind of chronic eczema, but the Derma doc can verify. On a seperate note try switching to detergents that are non perfumed like " All Free and Clear". It is just a guess from the wifey.

Oh yeah and if "Neosporin" males it worse then it could be agravating the condition.

@Doc4USMC suggested after I started this thread that I try some over the counter ointment (10% Benzoyl Peroxide) and said it looks like pompholyx or dyshydrotic eczema. It's drying everything up really well and I just have to trim away the dead skin and keep the fresh skin dry and clean.

I have always used scent-free/perfume free detergent.....instead of a bunch of kinds I just use the same crap I wash my son's clothes in.
 
Rub some poison ivy on it and let the fungi attempt to fight to stay alive. It will peel and be gone...

Or see a doctor.
 
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