OkeeDokee!!!! And I thank you a whole bunch.

I'll go on the thiamin as soon as I can.

I only get the burning once in a great while. If I'm stressed, then it comes, but if I'm okay, then it happens when the weather goes crazy, like when the humidity is 90%.

Lately, in Brooklyn, NY the weather is up the kazoo. One hour I'm walking around in a low cut spandex blouse and then I'm putting on a coat.

No wonder I'm on fire.

Neuropathy stinks. But I deal.

Oh, got a question about a friend of mine who is developmentally delayed. He's in his 50's has diabetes and has neuropathy (Only he doesn't know he has neuropathy). He just has burning. He doesn't understand the complexities. He is on neurontin, and oral meds. His sugar is controlled but he got neuropathy anyway.

He has had a recurring foot ulcer for 7 months. They put him in the hospital because the infection went to the bone. That was 7 months ago. They cleared up the infection with IV antibiotics and put him in the shoe boot thing. But it came back. He just called me and said "I'm not doing too good, I got the infection back, they took a piece of the ulcer and the doctor put it in a tube and he's bringing it to the lab. I said "Oh, okay, the doctor knows what he's doing, don't worry". I have to talk to him like a child and keep his spirits up. Then he said "they are sending me for an MRI on Thursday morning".

So here's my question. What are they looking for if they are taking a specimen of his ulcer and bringing it to pathology?? And what is the MRI for??

I know diabetics and foot ulcers but what are options when the guy's sugar is just fine but the ulcer doesn't want to heal.

I'm thinking that they are looking for a specific infection so they can prescribe a different antibiotic???? And what does an MRI reveal??

Thanks. Sometimes he calls me and wants answers and I want to gently tell him stuff but not go over his head (if you know what I mean).

He's a 6 foot 6 tall gentle giant of a guy who was a forceps baby and is slightly developmentally delayed. Can't read or write but he's all alone and on SSD.

Thanks, if you can give me some answers.
Melody

since you don't have severe pain/burning, you probably only need 100mg of thiamine a day.

In regards to your friend:
1) they probably took a tissue sample to culture to find out what organisms (germs) are present

2) The MRI is probably to evaluate the bones/ligaments and deep structures
to see if the ulcer goes beyond what can be seen.

Thanks Mrs. D. for the information (re: vitamins, and my friend). Much appreciated.

Alan and the big guy go to the same podiatrist. He went yesterday, and Alan just now left, carrying his Cam Walker. He wouldn't put it on because he says it irritates his legs and it doesn't work anyway. (Well, it worked for 3 weeks, didn't it?). He's going to politely say to the doctor "enough already, I've had this ulcer on and off for 2 years, I need a life, do SOMETHING".

He's already been told that there's a bony thing that is causing the ulcer and there are two things that can be done. Shave the bony thing, or go in, reposition the bones (which might affect the big toe, blah blah blah).

Well, the other podiatrist didn't want to operate on Alan. That's why we went to this guy.

Hopefully he'll say "well, we've debrided this and it still came back, you've used regranex, you've stayed off your feet, etc", now we have to do more agressive measures".

Hopefully that might mean sending him for an MRI, (or maybe the x-rays he has already taken will be enough??).

Anyway, Alan is really prepared to say "PLEASE DO SOMETHING".

So we shall see.

Melody