Hi everybody.

We went to the podiatrist today. What an interesting afternoon. He took a look at Alan's ulcer and said "Actually it's not that bad, look at the tissues around it." I said "is it infected"? He said "Well, actually, when we see an open wound we consider it an infection, but I know what you mean, and no, it looks good, I'm going to debride it, we'll talk about it, and he does not need an antibiotic".

He then debrided it, asking me to come around by his chair and look what he was doing. He said "look at how pink every thing is, he has good (and I can't remember the word he used, but he liked the look" lol

I then said "someone asked me why you cut off the dead skin around the ulcer".? He replied "because no new skin can grow over dead skin"

Then he said "I'm going to prescribe two things for him. The first is a Sodium Chloride solution (he told me how to do it),

The second was SANTYL, which is a Collagenase ointment. He explained exactly what I was to do.

So once a day, I'll be cleaning and dressing his foot with these items.

He said "I know he's in good hands"

I then asked him "why on earth can't he stay in the wheelchair when he is in the house, wouldn't the ulcer heal faster?" He said "I know you, and if you put him in a wheelchair, you won't let him out'. I promised the doctor, then when he goes outside, he'll be able to walk, but when he is in the house, can he please use the wheelchair?" The doctor said "fine", so I won that round.

I then told him we would be going to see the vascular guy on Friday and did he think he might put him in an oxygen chamber. He said "actually I don't think so", and he explained that Alan's foot ulcer is a pressure wound, caused by the bone impinging on the bottom of his foot.

I asked him if the vascular guy might put the dressings on it, (the ones that form a matrix). He said 'I really don't think so, but then again, I'm not that doctor, but those dressings are used for diabetic foot ulcers (that are caused by different circumstances that Alan has"

I then asked him "and you can't shave down the bone that is causing all this WHY???"

He explained: "Well, in Alan's case, we can't go through the bottom because it's been my practice that when you go through the bottom, the scar is so painful that people can't walk on it". I then said "but he doesn't feel anything, he has neuropathy"

The doctor turned to Alan and said "And you don't think you might ever get feeling in your feet".? Alan said "I've had this for 20 years, what do you think".

I then said "We think it's from his back, and he said "Of the people I know with neuropathy, the majority of them have it due to back problems"

He said "I myself would never operate on his foot". I said "do you think we will ever find a surgeon"? He said "well, you never know, keep searching, but actually what Alan needs IS NEW INSERTS. That will do the trick.

He took Alan's insert out of his custom shoe, and held it up and said "look at these, these are all worn out, he needs a new insert in his right shoe, it will make all the difference"

Because we know that insurance won't cover this, I guess that tomorrow, we'll be calling up Orthotic people and try and get a quote.

We'll do this. It will just take time.

So there you have it.

In the podiatrist's opinion, Alan needs a new insert in the right shoe.

So onward and upward!!!

Will update after Friday

Melody

http://www.sacrowedgy.com/piriformis...Fcnc4AodsyY1HQ
http://aolsearcht9.search.aol.com/ao...e?q=piriformis syndrome&v_t=keyword_rollover

glad you got some answers good luckz

Hi. I think he's debriding the ulcer, and the callus that forms around it, well when Alan steps on it, it hurts him, and when he walks out of the podiatrist's office, he always says "Ah"!!!!!

Tonight I checked his sock and it was bloody. His doctor had prepared me for this. I told Alan "let's clean you up and I'll put a new dressing on it".

I took off everything (oh, I remembered what the doctor said when he asked me to sit next to him and he showed me Alan's foot, he said "good granulation, wow, look at that". So whatever good granulation is, Alan's is good.

After I cleaned him up, I used the saline wash, took off the dried blood, I took a q-tip and put a dab of the Santyl in the wound, covered with a non stick gauze, then another gauze, and then I wrapped the covering bandage around it. He is good to go. I read up on this Santyl. It has had good results in people with pressure ulcers.

I would have made a good nurse.

lol

Melody
P.S. Do you know that when I came home, I cooked dinner, served him, cleaned my kitchen, dressed his bandages, AND THEN I DID MY SPROUTS!!!

Thank goodness I drink wheatgrass juice. lol