Alan's Foot Ulcer
 

Hi All.

As you know, about two weeks ago, Alan got the oft loading shoe, which is supposed to let his foot ulcer heal. From what I read on the website of this shoe, and from what I read about foot ulcers, from when a person puts this shoe on, it takes from between 1 to 4 months for the foot ulcer to heal.

He's had this foot ulcer for over a year. He only has a little hole now(which used to be the size of a quarter, and that was about 6 weeks ago). But now, there's a little hole there.

So, Alan went to see the podiatrist today.

So from the time he got the shoe, until his visit today (approximately 2 weeks or so), his podiatrist said "There is no change". It didn't get any better, but it didn't get any worse". Then the doctor said (I was not there by the way), the doctor said "Alan, we are going to give this a few months, if I do not see any improvement, then we have to talk about putting you in a wound treatment center".

So here's my question for any of you who have gone this route, for any of you who have had foot ulcers, etc. etc.

Is there anything we can put on this tiny little hole that will speed up the healing so Alan doesn't have to do the wound treatment center thing???

I'm thinking maybe Aloe Vera, Vitamin E, Colloidal Silver?????

So any information you can share that you have found to be a positive help for your foot ulcers, well, I'd be most appreciative (and so would Alan, if he knew how to type on these forums ...lol)

Melody

Mel and Alan, I remember when a guy I used to date had a foot ulcer like this his dr. told him to increase his vitamins....to help heal from the inside....I know he was putting a sauve on it but think it was a prescription from the dr. I know my friends was very painful in the beginning. I hope Alan's ulcer heals sooner than expected. Best wishes for a quicker recovery!

Roxie:

Well, compared to the infection he has last year, and that this thing was the size of a quarter some weeks ago, right now, it's a little hole. It's not infected, it's just THERE!!! And Alan's podiatrist debrided it, (as he always does). I thought there might be a topical healing ointment, better than the betadyne wash we have been using. As a matter of fact, we haven't done the betadyne thing in over a week because it looked like it was healing nicely. Guess I was wrong. Alan didn't say that we should go back to the betadyne wash thing again.

And Alan doesn't feel any pain because his feet are completely numb. He only has the PN between certain toes. Not on the bottom of his feet. He wouldn't even know that one of his socks were off, that's how completely numb he is. I often have to say "you have no sock on, then he looks down and he goes "oh, where's my sock".

So if anybody thinks, maybe Colloidal Silver, or ANYTHING!!!, I'll give it a try.

thanks,
Melody

Yuk. I hate to hear about this. Poor Alan...

I don't know if this link would be of use to you or not, but hyperbaric oxygen is used in problem healing. In our area, a medical school in Ft. Worth used this several years ago in some type of study. I assume you would probably need some direction with this, either a doctor or somebody who knows what they are doing with it. It is done in a chamber as far as I know...

Cathie

http://www.healthlink.mcw.edu/article/983208928.html

I do know that those things can
 

be nasty and go on and on and ON! Actually it sounds as if Alan's doing pretty good all things considered. I have a friend whose boyfriend had bad ulcers from diabetic PN on his feet and spent about 4 weeks in a hospital then another 6 weeks recovering at home!
Think about it-Alan has a big HOLE in his foot, while the opening to the hole is much smaller, the damaged tissues underneath are probably lots bigger, Debridement is a practical and sensible approach to helping get rid of tissue healing poorly on the sole and encouraging good healing of good tissues.
The germs feet get simply LOVE what's called an 'anerobic' environment [meaning little air and dark and damp] the kind of places feet live in. Cleaning the feet and being sure they are dry and can get air [as with this orthotic] really is the best way to go.
Why cover it up with a salve and encourage bad stuff to happen?
Hugs! - j

Mel
 

Bob went through this last year,it was a little bigger than a quarter
but boy he suffered. He started at a Pod. and ended up at
the wound center. He had to end up getting his foot grafted,
and no he's not a Diabectic like Alan isn't The Dr. said some people
get the infection and are slow healers. If the wound is that small
and you see no red,or smell any infection,i would leave it alone.
But keep a eye out make sure he washes it with a mile soap and
water pat's not rub it dry,and it wouldn't hurt to use a white wash
cloth but rewash before he uses again. But if you see red,or a blister
or a smell get him somewhere. I look Bob's over carefully everynight,
i have used a small amout of seaweed and put a tiny bit of duoderm,
on it, wound Dr. said to do the above every night. Hope he will
be fine,the big handsome hunk. :) Sue

Sue:

Please explain exactly what seaweed and duoderm is. How is it used? How do you get it?

Thanks so much!!

Melody

main nutrients for wound healing
 

1) Zinc -- this one is best: http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....&pid=1361&at=0 zinc upsets the stomach and this one does not and gives good absorption.

2) Vit C-- at least 500mg/day

3) protein (arginine is used in nursing homes--it is an amino acid)
http://www.iherb.com/ProductDetails....1&pid=411&at=0
If Alan still uses the whey powder...there may be enough in that for him.

Often modern wound care involves using special dressings..most of which are expensive, but may be covered on your insurance. Keeping the wound covered with these special new products often gives good results..some contain Silver.

This is one example:
http://www.convatec.com/Ag/us/index.html

This product is also used sometimes;
http://www.allegromedical.com/wound-...t-p193419.html

Wounds left open to the air do not heal well (this is an old wive's tale today)
The new wound dressings are designed to be used for 3 days or more before a change in dressing.

Wound care is big business these days. A wound on the foot is very hard to heal... so a specialist may offer a dressing with nutrients right in it!

Mel
 

Seaweed and the cover to put over is duoderm is what if your lucky
is what the wound Dr. gives you to keep on hand. They are expensive
if your insurance doesn't give it to you,but you use just enough to cover.
Most Drs. have duoderm been around for a long time and some does
med on it. Also there something called sorry c silver,can check and let you
know soon. Sue

Well, we had a bit of excitment today. Alan's front crown came off and since this is located in the same place as the podiatrist, off we went.

While he was getting his crown re-cemented, I saw one of Alan's podiatrists and I asked. "What can I do to help his wound heal, because the other doc said Alan might have to go to the Wound Treatment Center"

So the doc replied that I should continue the wet dressings and that next week they might prescribe some enzymes for Alan. I believe he mentioned something called Regenerex. Now if this is the same thing that I once looked into, it costs $500 a tube, so forget about that.

Then the doctor said "Wound Treatment Centers are very good" and I replied "But you have to sleep there right?" (I am so stupid, I actually thought Alan would be going away for 6 weeks). The doctor explained exactly what a wound treatment center is.

So we shall do the wet dressings. His next appointment is July 19.

He takes vitamins with all the zinc and c, etc.

Oh, Dr. Theirl said that for his psoriasis, Alan should take Probiotics.

Hope you all are doing good.

Melody