Post by Steve on Nov 20, 2017 9:15:57 GMT -8
"All people with diabetes can develop foot ulcers and foot pain, but good foot care can help prevent them. Treatment for diabetic foot ulcers and foot pain varies depending on their causes. Discuss any foot pain or discomfort with your doctor to ensure it’s not a serious problem, as infected ulcers can result in amputation* if neglected." — HealthLine
*FOOT note: Been there, done that! A rubbed spot, reddened but not bleeding, took a matter of days to become infected to the bone. My pinky toe was amputated.
I currently have a recurring ulcer under the displaced bone from Charcot foot. I am in my fourth month of weekly trips to Wound Care, still an estimated month more to go. But the good news is that it is healing with good pink tissue (blood flow to the foot is a very good thing.) I read about the more common discovery of black tissue (eschar) found surrounding an ulcer. And the long time for recovery can be expected to be months!
I shouldn't be surprised to now see that every small "no big deal" development is always a potential big deal with diabetes! While I have been told many times that I should be applying lotion to my feet, I thought this was simply cosmetic. The idea to have soft touchable skin mattered not to me. Nobody touches my feet. Only NOW am I reading about what waits if my feet get too dry.
Dry skin brings heel cracking. Infections can start "as a result of skin tissue breaking down and exposing the layers underneath," and Bingo! Now I see why the lotion I bought is called heel care.
ANY foot situation that looks easy to dismiss is NOT to be dismissed. And if you find some pink stain on your sock, get to the doctor fast. If it has a strong smell, it isn't just foot odor. Go even faster to the doctor. Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can get cured with a saw! (I was not aware that this is a somewhat common infection that can actually be cured! Still, you don't want it.
So I am now more cautious with my foot care, lotion in the drawer. Never minding the slick foot and my clean sock going on, small price to pay. Laundry for socks is better than cracked feet.
PS: I should mention that every time I mentioned a doctor, I meant a podiatrist, a real foot specialist.
*FOOT note: Been there, done that! A rubbed spot, reddened but not bleeding, took a matter of days to become infected to the bone. My pinky toe was amputated.
I currently have a recurring ulcer under the displaced bone from Charcot foot. I am in my fourth month of weekly trips to Wound Care, still an estimated month more to go. But the good news is that it is healing with good pink tissue (blood flow to the foot is a very good thing.) I read about the more common discovery of black tissue (eschar) found surrounding an ulcer. And the long time for recovery can be expected to be months!
I shouldn't be surprised to now see that every small "no big deal" development is always a potential big deal with diabetes! While I have been told many times that I should be applying lotion to my feet, I thought this was simply cosmetic. The idea to have soft touchable skin mattered not to me. Nobody touches my feet. Only NOW am I reading about what waits if my feet get too dry.
Dry skin brings heel cracking. Infections can start "as a result of skin tissue breaking down and exposing the layers underneath," and Bingo! Now I see why the lotion I bought is called heel care.
ANY foot situation that looks easy to dismiss is NOT to be dismissed. And if you find some pink stain on your sock, get to the doctor fast. If it has a strong smell, it isn't just foot odor. Go even faster to the doctor. Osteomyelitis is a bone infection that can get cured with a saw! (I was not aware that this is a somewhat common infection that can actually be cured! Still, you don't want it.
So I am now more cautious with my foot care, lotion in the drawer. Never minding the slick foot and my clean sock going on, small price to pay. Laundry for socks is better than cracked feet.
PS: I should mention that every time I mentioned a doctor, I meant a podiatrist, a real foot specialist.
