How do I deal with this?

I hope you find the answer and I'd be interested in hearing about what works.

The only way I've dealt with blisters in the exact same place is to stop running. I've never tried orthotics, but I've been to the podiatrist, tried different shoes, different socks, everything else and no dice.

Good luck.

 Hmm, mine have never once bled.  But on mine I usually have a thick layer dead skin over the blister, which you either peeled off or don't have...

ETA:  Heh, just noticed the HFTU in you signature...  Maybe time to try an elliptical machine?

Yeah, IDK?

I would think that would have an impact on the bio-mechanical function of the orthotic but I'm no Dr. 

I just don't know what all of a sudden cause it to happen. Maybe increased millage?  

It fell off and there is another layer that is starting to peel off. 

I started getting blisters on my left foot in the same place with one of my pairs of shoes.  I tried what you tried plus duct tape and some other remedies I read.  I have switched socks to running socks (I typically wear very thin socks) and as of this week, the problem seems to be fixed.

As a former (1980) US Army Combat Medic, I have seen many blisters similar to yours caused by a variety of reasons and conditions. 

Based on your picture, it appears that this has been going on for some time. Your feet look pretty well used.  However you have a few callused areas on your heel, and both sides of the ball of your foot, that you should consider dressing up with sand paper or a callus tool (sand paper glued to a plastic spoon type device).

I see no signs of damage via immersion syndrome, (do to excessive moisture).  You must be getting your shoes off and dried out right away after each run.  That is really important, good job.

Anyway, the following is what I would do in the matter of importance.

#1) Let your blister heal at least to the point where the scaling and flaking have disappeared.  Pay particular attention to the area nearest your heal where the flaking begins, as it appears to be very close to becoming an open wound.

#2) While your blister is healing, speak to the doctor, trainer or whomever provided or fit you with the orthotic devices.  A modification may be in order to reduce or resolve this problem.  It will come down to fitment and equal pressure on the load and friction bearing surfaces of your foot in order to eliminate this problem.  If this does not work, fire the doctor, toss the orthotics and buy new shoes that fit well enough to eliminated the need for orthotic.

#3) Do not apply adhesive type products (moleskin, tape, ect..) directly over a blister that is in the current sate of healing that yours is.  It is possible that while exercising or when removing these products, the tape will cause the closed wound to become an open wound.  An open wound saturated in sweat, naturally occurring foot bacteria and super sticky adhesive is a bad combination.

#4) Do use adhesive type products (moleskin, tape, ect..) in emergency situations.  For instance, during a race.  Or if you happened to be fighting a war and the bad guys are a few clicks away.

#5) Never pop a blister with a needle or pocket knife as you are turning a closed wound into an open wound.

In summary:

A: Let it heal.

B: Fix or find orthotics and or shoes that do not cause or contribute to this problem.

C: Do not try to patch a shoe fitment problem with tape unless it is an emergency situation.

E: Never turn a closed wound into an open wound.

Good luck

Mark Nicholson

Combat Medic

US Army

1/94^th FA MLRS

Nuernberg West Germany

1980

Sound advice Mark, thanks!

I didn't see your post until now (just finished a 4 mile run, it was planned as a 10) and this is what I did:

I covered the blister in two layers of mole skin (directly on the blister). I then wrapped my foot in medical tape. I felt fine through the first 3 miles but then the mole skin moved out of position and it started to hurt again. I called it quits at mile 4 because I didn't think there was a point in making it worse just to complete a training run. I'll keep off it this week and hope that it heals enough to run  on the week before my OLY. I'm going to see the guy that made the orthotic and see what can be done to fix the problem.

I'll take a pumice stone to my heal and the balls of my feet. Is there a benefit to this other then just making my feet look better?

Thanks again!