Blood Blisters

My mother-in-law has just informed me that she has a very large blood blister which has come up on one of her toes.  She does not remember any trauma which may have been incurred and says it has been developing for about 4 days.  She is 88 years old so she may not remember.  However, I do not know how to tell her to treat this.  (She is in another city) Should she apply heat, soak in something ... ?? I am reluctant to tell her to drain it for fear of infection.  Her circulationin very poor.
Any help you can give me would be appreciated.

[Alan Rockoff, MD]

Kismet:

If the blister is painless, it comes most likely from unremebered trauma.  Even people a lot younger than 88 often don't recall the minor bump or scrape which produced the alarming purple bruise or blister they see one day.

I think, however, that in light of her advanced age, your mother-in-law would be better off calling her doctor for advise.  Puncturing the blister is, as you suggest, not a good idea.  If it's just a blister, time will take care of it with just padding and time (perhaps a week.)

Best.

Dr. Rockoff