When you step on the brakes your life is in your foot's hands.
-- George Carlin
Since I started writing this column I've told several cautionary tales, starring me. As painful as they have been, it's worth it if I helped just one person avoid the pitfalls of Type 2 diabetes, the disease I have.
It seems like most of my stories have revolved around my mess of a right foot. To recap: After finding out I had a broken fifth metatarsal in late 2012, I underwent surgery to repair it in February 2013. The bone did not heal, and the metal screw the surgeon put in broke. I could have had another surgery, but there was no guarantee that the bone would heal then either.
During the surgery on the right foot the doctor had taken a bit of bone from my ankle and grafted it around the break, but it didn't do its job. I now have a lump on the side of my right foot. It hurts sometimes, but I manage.
Fast forward to early 2015. Minor swelling and discomfort should have warned me that something was really going wrong, but I didn't listen. Before long I was walking on the outer side of my right foot. It was uncomfortable and it hurt, and people were constantly asking what was wrong with my foot.
My doctor gave me a referral to an orthopedic doctor at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. Her diagnosis was Charcot neuroarthropathy. It is a complication of diabetes that almost always occurs with neuropathy -- lack of sensation. Bones in the foot weaken and can fracture easily.
But because of the neuropathy, the pain goes unnoticed and the person just keeps walking on the foot.
Deformities often occur, which is what happened with me.
She prescribed a foot brace, which helps, although the foot is still a mess.
But it's my foot and I love it.
About three weeks ago I noticed a spot of what looked to be blood on the side of my sock. Under that, my skin right on top of my bone graft lump looked icky. I like to think that I check my feet pretty regularly, but apparently I just haven't been on top of my game. I will admit to some pretty big stress events over the last few months. When all you can do is try not to think of anything at all, you get numb and let things slide. That was wrong of me, and I have to correct my course.
I spent more than a week nursing the wound. I soaked it, put on antibacterial cream and kept it bandaged. As I am prone to do, I kept this new foot problem to myself and limped along.
But finally I "came clean" to my mom and sister, who figuratively held my foot to the fire and urged me to go see my doctor. He's diabetic, too, and lost part of a leg years ago due to a wound much like mine. His cautionary tale was in the back of my mind, and I knew I had to take action -- so I made an appointment and saw him last week.
It is interesting to see the reaction on people's faces when they see something yucky, and I saw some expressions that day. The nurse took a culture of the wound, and technicians X-rayed my foot to see if the infection was near the bone. The doctor said it didn't look like it had gone that far, thank God.
He prescribed an antibiotic pill and a cream, then told me I needed to go see someone who is better equipped for situations like mine.
I have an appointment today with a wound care doctor at Baptist Health Medical Center-North Little Rock. Meanwhile, I am hoping that the antibiotics are working and I am on the road to healing.
I have not forgotten about Diabetes Weight Loss Week by Week, a book I've been reading and writing about this fall. With this new foot drama, I'm not able to focus on it as I should. I will get back on track eventually. I have lost a few pounds, somehow, so I'd like to at least maintain that.
If you've been following along in the book, please don't wait on me. Continue your progress, and send me an email about how it's going. And Happy Thanksgiving!
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ActiveStyle on 11/23/2015