anyone else struggling with blisters and bruises from pointe shoes?

[[deleted user]]

Im 12, and I started pointe in September. I've been having some trouble with having blisters and bruises on my toes and nails. I've been told to put a flaming hot needle into my nail to release the blood for a bruised toenail, but I'm not sure. Also, I play tennis too, so when my shoe slams into my toe (which is nearly always wrapped in tape and padding to prevent more toe injuries) it really hurts!! Can someone give me some more advice? Thanks so much.

[Katie]

Hi. i started pointe when i am 13 and i am about 14 1/2. I play tennis too actually but only in the fall for my school. I've never had blisters or bruises because I don't do pointe everyday but I would lay off and take a break on pointe. that's what my dance teacher says. you don't want to make it any worse.

[Fiona]

Annie, if yu've just started poine, only do it for short amounts of times until you get used to it. If your dance teacher makes you put them on while your feel are still sore, go up on pointe sparingly and do the exercises on demi-pointe.
I play tennis too, try to slow down a bit and not move around the court as much. Explain our prblem to the coach.
Always use maximum padding when you do pointe if your feet are very sensitive and you have to to do pointe a lot. eg. Ouch pouches, lamb's wool, tubular foam, tape...
If you have blisters, give pointe a break for a day or two. Give yourself a chance to heal.

[[deleted user]]

thanks so much!

[Alyssa]

Hey when you are on pointe you can try to also put lambs wool (or cotton) on your feet especially where it rubs along with your toe pads and whatever else you use iv done pointe for 4 years now and had that same problem my teacher always used to say "endure the pain and you will get better push through the pain and you will succeed but when it gets bad enough only you no your body and how much you can take so don't push to hard of it may effect you later" like Fiona said do some things on demi pointe and be careful but pain is a part of the process so be careful and you may want to even put some lambs wool or cotton around your feet in all your shoes then wrap them it will make it hurt less and even if you wrap your foot if you put one of cotton or lambs wool around the sore part it helps it have an extra layer of padding and helps it breath a little so you might want to try that i hope this helps a little because i had the same problem and it was horrible.

[[deleted user]]

Alyssa wrote: "Hey when you are on pointe you can try to also put lambs wool (or cotton) on your feet especially where it rubs along with your toe pads and whatever else you use iv done pointe for 4 years now and..."

Thanks!!!

[Alyssa]

anytime :)

[Grace]

I get bruised toenails a lot. Try using a thicker toe pad but one that you can still feel the floor in. That helps with me.

[Pame]

I have a lot of probs with that! My feet are HIDEOUS , i usually put my feet in hot water in a bucket when i come home from pointe class! It feels like heaven!