I had a conversation yesterday with a med consultant who has just finished treating me for the after effects of athletes foot I suffered from at the beginning of September just after the HU France meeting.

We've probably all suffered from this fungal problem over the years, but it can be serious if not treated quickly and effectively with ( cheap) anti fungal powders and/or cream.

In my own case, I had high fever for two days, and a crack under my little toe let in bacteria causing cellulitis, Cellulitis - Mayo Clinic which infected the whole of my right leg within two days. It was red and swollen and very painful. it also affected my kidneys but only mildly thank goodness. However it has taken one month of strong antibiotics to get rid of it.

The consultant suggested that using the powdered form of the anti fungal treatment is best, and not only to powder the feet, but the inside of socks and the inside of riding footwear as a matter of course as a preventative. It's vital to look after your feet and dry them as soon as possible if they get wet, and to take off boots in hot conditions when not being used on the bike, to let the feet breathe and dry between the toes. I know this is ''ideal'' and stating the obvious advice, but it is easy to ignore it and sometimes difficult to follow, but the message is important.

I was lucky to be at home, I could have gone down on the road, and that could have been difficult and potentially very serious if the infection had gone further into the major organs.

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

My wife has recently recovered from a dose of cellulitis which was incurred via an insect bite on her lower leg; much the same effects and symptoms a couple of days after walking in long grass with bare legs.
Initial treatment with less strong antibiotics did not cure it and two-three visits to the docs were needed to clear the infection.

As per the information on many internet sites, it is potentially life threatening.

__________________
Dave

Great advice Pongo!
Athletes foot can get out of control when riding ... especially in HOT weather. Powder and good quality, clean socks help a lot.

I found one other thing that has really helped my feet ... not only Athletes Foot but cracking, calluses and grunge between your toes. What is it? Walking on the beach barefoot! If you are traveling near sandy beach areas do a half hour walk on the beach everyday that you can.

Beach walking not only gets your feet healthier ... but toughens them up!
(a good thing!) As a Surfer kid I could run over rocks and walk on super hot pavement ... no problem. TOUGH FEET!
(not so much now )

Your feet will be transformed. It really helps. But use the anti-fungal powder too!

If you are stuck for a treatment the military are taught when in the field to urinate on their own feet as a cure/prevention for this fungal infection. It sounds a bit gross but it apparetly works. If you don't believe me look it up on the internet.

Yea, we got that one too ... best to SOAK your feet in Urine for about 10 minutes for any sort of result. In any case, very temporary relief from Athletes foot. High tech anti-fungals needed to really get rid of it.

But Pee is good some something else:
Jelly Fish stings. It won't save you from giant killer Jellies (like in Oz) but works GREAT on typical floater Jellies like we see in California and Mexico. (old surfer trick I learned as kid)

Another miracle beach remedy is for Sting Ray stings. These bastards will hurt you bad if you step on one. Very common injury in Mexico. Solution? Very HOT WATER! Pain gone.

Another one I learned in Hawaii is for Giant Centipede bites: Salt Water. I was bit by one about 12" long ... agonizing pain. The local Hawaiian guys got me to the Ocean and pain was gone in two minutes. Miracle!

Question:
Who knows a fix for your feet if you've stepped on those bastard Sea Urchins?
Poisonous spines very painful, takes several days to puss up and be pushed out. Anyone know anything? I once fell off my Surfboard ... and rolled onto Urchins. OUCH! (no wet suit) High fever all night, PAIN. (about 10 spines in me)

Had the hot water treatment after a stingray zap on the hand at the Torrey Pines beach in San Diego in 1985. Very expensive hospital hot water!

__________________
-''It is better to walk alone than with a crowd going in the wrong direction''. ( Herman Siu)
-'' Live life then give life '' (www.lltgl.org.uk)

foot rot was always one of our main pieces of education as military medics, along with it's closely related friend, crotch rot!

I've peeled someones socks off on more than one occassion and taken skin with them, leaving a foot with what looks like a third degree burn.

For foot rot (also known as atheletes foot, and can develop into full on trench foot)

I prefer powder to cream as the powder dries your foot.
be sure to dry your feet thoroughly
Keep a dry pair of socks to put on as soon as you stop if your feet are wet. Powder the feet, including between your toes and drop a bit into your socks as well.
Wear clean socks everyday. you only need three pairs to do this, wash them in the sink in the evening, then dry them out ready for the day after next. wear a dry pair overnight if you need socks overnight and a clean pair in the morning. You could even manage with just two pairs.
It's hard to see your own feet, so if your with a buddy inspect each others feet.
Use natural fibres. I wear wool socks even in the desert. They keep your feet cool and sweat free. Canvas or leather boots as well.

Crotch rot might be taking the buddy system too far!! Again though, powder is good (ordinary baby talc) but don't go overboard. make sure it's well rubbed in or it clumps and causes more problems. Personally I prefer not to use powder and just ensure thorough drying.
Natural fibres again, cotton boxers are ideal.
As with socks, I've removed the skin off someones scrotum before now with a bad case of crotch rot!!

If you are carrying a collection of antibiotics flucloxacillin is a good starter but most penicillins will help.

get early medical help if it develops into cellulitis. this is both limb and life threatening, and can become so in a matter of hours. draw around the infection demarcation line with a pen so it's speed of progress can be checked. Red track lines are a real red flag, that's the infection spreading through your blood vessels. At this point, you need help, now!

hope that helps

__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

Hmmm. I haven't seen any RCTs to support that particular course of action.
Wasn't mentioned during the training I did, either.

Likewise!

__________________
1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

The one final thing I did was to throw away all for my old socks which using powder .anything else that might have been infected.

Question:
Who knows a fix for your feet if you've stepped on those bastard Sea Urchins?
Poisonous spines very painful, takes several days to puss up and be pushed out. Anyone know anything? I once fell off my Surfboard ... and rolled onto Urchins. OUCH! (no wet suit) High fever all night, PAIN. (about 10 spines in me)

Mango skin strapped over the area of spines. The bonusis that you get to eat the fruit first!

Lived in Kenya for a number of years and used to go down to Mombassa. I stood on an urchin and that was what the locals used on me.

Inside or outside of the Mango?

Cheers for the tip!

A cure for athletes foot is to soak them in hot water and a pinch of potassium permanganate. This stuff kills may fungal lifeforms.

PS you will have brown feet for a few days.