I would like to talk to a diabetic with charcot and a ankle fusion. I am now in a boot walking cast and have ?
340310
I'm not a diabetic, but i know about ankle pain. 2 yrs ago I ws in acar accident and broke my heel and taylor joint (that's under the ankle joint). Also the ligaments, tendons , nerves, and blood vessels were damaged. My toenails didn't grow for 8 months! On the upside of that my pedicure really lasted! Ha! The swelling was horrendous! From my knee down to my toes was the same size. I was in a cast for 6 weeks and wore an equalizer boot to my knee for a year. The swelling went down about 6 months after I got out of the boot. I still have lots of pain and suffering, and my doctor and i are contemplating joint fusion. The sound of that is scary to me, like will I be left with a limp for life. (I already limp but I keep hoping it will gradually go away). You're not alone and now I know I'm not either!
173997
Get good shoes for walking, take whatever pain med you can tolerate (ask your doctor first), use ice pack when needed. Main thing is see your doctor. Good luck.
125615
Yes, and it hurts like hell! Just alternate heat and ice every 20 minutes, and it will help a lot. I did this by powerwalking. It takes a while to heal. My doctor put me in a walking boot so I could continue to walk. Just be patient!
419974
Well, your question was whether diabetic neuropathy can bring on pain in a person's legs.  Yes, it can.  More often, though, is a loss of pain and other sensation in the legs.  That's how a diabetic person can sustain a serious injury to the foot and not feel a thing.\n \nIn your mother's case, I suggest strongly that her physician be alerted to her situation.  There are other anodynes that can be tried (an anodyne is a painkiller).  It's odd that not even morphine relieves her pain, which suggests that drug should simply not be given her anymore.  There is such a thing as drug tolerance, in which the person needs more and more of the drug to come anywhere near the sought-after relief.  In the case of an opiate like morphine, there are complications that can be life-threatening.  \n\nThere are worthwhile alternatives that should be offered your mother.  But the doc has to be made aware of her ongoing discomfort.  There are doctors who are pain specialists; if hers is not one of these, your mother is within her rights to ask for a referral to one.
314833
I have experienced joint replacement and it has helped me tremendously.  The most important thing is to do the physical therapy just as they tell you to.  It is painful but it will be beneficial in the end.  Today they can replace your finger joints also.  I am going to go for that too.  My hands are so crippled and they hurt so bad.  My knees feel much better.  Get them both done one after the other.  I have also had my hips replaced.  You might call me the bionic woman.  Or the million dollar woman if you could see my medical bills!  But you only live once and I wanted to be able to still do things in life.  I do take pain medication on occasion, especially when it is rainy and cold outside.  Mostly I try mind over matter.  There is no cure for this crippling disease so we must make the best of it.
954845
Flat feet, weak ankles, see your doctor.  this could be corrected with arch supports
781929
Your impression that no one really understands the pathophysiology of Charcot arthropathy is correct.  Here is a direct quote from eMedicine.com:\n\n"The exact nature of Charcot arthropathy remains unknown."\n\nThe two predominant theories:\n\n(1) Loss of proprioception makes it more likely that the person will injure himself.  Loss of pain sensation results in the person injuring himself without realizing it and subsequently worsening the injury by, for example, continuing to walk on a dislocated talo-calcaneal joint (I've actually seen this).  There is a nice, intuitive logic to this idea.\n\n(2) Autonomic neuropathy leads to an inappropriate increase in blood flow which leads to osteopenia.  I was surprised when I read this explanation.  I would have thought the exact opposite--that increased blood flow would *increase* bone density, not decrease it.  I found two different reliable sources that said the same thing though.  The interesting question would be why this happens.  My best guess (I didn't really research this) is that osteolytic activity (of the osteoclasts) is mediated heavily by circulating factors, whereas osteogenic activity (of the osteoblasts) is mediated more heavily by locally produced factors.  The osteolytic factors (PTH as an example) would promote osteolysis everywhere, while the osteogenic factors would only be produced locally in regions of bone that needed them (in response to physical stress).  In this way an increase in blood flow would result in an increase in the amount of osteolytic factors reaching a particular region of bone.  That's my theory anyway.\n\nThere are other ideas regarding the role of inflammatory reactions leading to increased osteoclast activity (Jeffcoate et al 2005 _Lancet_ 366: 2058) and the possibility that the nervous system has some direct control over bone biology (Jones et al 2004 _Iowa Orthoped J_ 24: 123).
262348
Been there and done that. I sympathize with you.\n\nFor a temporary fix, you need to get sport tape and tape up your arches. You must hold your foot so that it is in a normal standing position while you're taping. Do not let your feet into a relaxed position while taping, or you won't be able to stand up when you're done. Start taping on the top of your foot behind but near the widest part of your foot, right behind the toes. Continue taping, slightly diagonally as far back as is practical. The downside of this is that you've got to peel that tape back off at the end of the day. And that is NOT fun--talk about a STRANGE feeling as you pull it off the bottom of the foot. But at least this should get you through temporarily.\n\nFor a permanent solution, you will need to see a podiatrist and obtain orthotics for your shoes. These are tailor-made inserts, molded exactly to fit your foot. They are rather expensive (mine were about $350 about seven years ago), but many health insurance policies cover them. Even if they don't, believe me they are worth the cost.\n\nIf you have plantar faciitis in both feet, expect it to take at least a year of wearing the orthotics to completely heal. (You'll see marked improvement much sooner than that, though.)\n\nOne major no-no for those who have plantar faciitis--NEVER go barefoot or wear shoes without good arch support. That lets the arch drop again.
1082575
Contact the American Diabetes Association.  Your doctor should have pamplets and information.  There should also be information that comes with your glucometer.  Your local hospital should also have information available.
763798
I'm a RN who has taught Nursing for over 20 years and who has taught Diabetes Management at a large local hospital.  First of all I congratulate you for your willingness to help your stepmom with her hyperglycemia problem.  She has type 2 diabetes or previously known as adult onset diabetes.  Type 2 diabetics have insulin resistance.  Although their pancreas does produce some insulin their body is not able to properly utilize the insulin to allow glucose to get into their cells for fuel and energy.  As a result they become very tired and lethargic,  are thirsty and hungry often, and have to get rid of urine frequently.  Other symptoms may include blurred vision, dizziness, inability to concentrate,  headaches, yeast infections, leg pain, etc. Diabetes Type 2 is treated by diet, exercise, and medication.  Thank you for listing the medications your stepmom is on:  Metformin 500 mg qid and Glipizide 10 mg bid.  Her blood sugars are too high and the medication is no longer working efficiently for her.  As a result she is experiencing hyperglycemia or too high blood sugars.  In my professional opinion she now needs to be seen by a Diabetologist who can evaluate her thoroughly and probably would alter her medication and diet. A Diabetologist is an Endocrinologist who specializes in Diabetes.  You can find one by phoning your local hospital and requesting the names and phone numbers of Diabetologists that they have on their medical staff.  I'm pleased to hear that you have been trying to get her to work out with you.  That is a great start!  I cannot emphasize enough the importance of a Diabetologist treating your stepmom as quickly as possible so that her poor sugar control can be turned around.  The long term effects of uncontrolled Diabetes can result in neuropathy, blindness, foot amputation, severe cardiac disease and kidney disease.  What is done for her now or not done for her could have lasting effects long term.  To look up related sites on the web look up type 2 diabetes management.  I wish your stepmom God's blessings and healing touch.  Good luck to you.
1021130
We need more info.  Are you diabetic or do you have decreased circulation in your legs?  Do you have any calf pain while walking or any pain associated with these lesions?  What ointments has the dermatologist had you use?  What other medications are you on?  Do you keep your body clean in general?  Do they smell? Does the skin around these lesions look normal or is there any discoloration, either around the lesions or to the entire leg?  Do you have any allergies?  Dude, need the info before trying to  help you.
684116
get a dr. scholls foot spa, it massages and everything
1084098
as an above the knee amputee, the right leg (my gas pedal foot) is gone and i was a driver for 25 years for a living, i was in the hospital and rehab center for three months healing, building upper body strength and learning to transfer by myself without the help of a therapist. i had to build the strength in my left leg to hold all my body weight while i stand to transfer while holding on something for balance. \n\ni had to learn to stand on one leg with holding on the bed, wheelchair, walker, handrails, i had to learn to do things using only one hand, such as pulling my pants up after using the restroom. \n\ni had to learn to transfer to a wheelchair and push the wheelchair with me in it, not so easy as first, as you get stronger you can go faster. but going up ramps are still a pain, i can only do the lower ramps, no steep ones, i ask for help to do those ones. \n\ni had to learn to cook, do dishes, laundry from a wheelchair. i have to have someone with me to do groceries to push my grocery cart while i wheel around the store buying what i need.\n\ni am in the process of getting a prosthetic leg now, so i will have to learn to walk again with it. it will be a process since it has been over a year since i walked.\n\ni have to say, if you don't have any experience other then driving, it will be hard to find a job in a wheelchair.\n\nif you want to talk to me about more just e-mail me and i will answer the questions as best as i can. i will say being handicap is not easy, but you can live with it. you have to have a positive attitude, and don't ponder on your handicap, just do what you can do and the rest will come back slowly, but it is coming back.\n\nexcuse my spelling, spell check did not work.
1068587
you are playing with fire.diabeties is not a joke. you could go on dialyses.have it taken care.better to pay for drs bills instead of ur life
173479
Nothing in particular, except smoking. Smoking causes characteristic damage to several body systems, and it reinforces the damage diabetes does. No one needs both at work. Give it up! If you have lost feeling in the feet, it's best by far to check them often for signs of blisters or cuts or skin breaks of any kind. The reason is that, if you can't feel it, you won't take care of it. Diabetes is the largest cause of amputation in adults in theh North America save trauma (like automobile accidents). The reason is largely reduced circulation, and reduced wound healing, and increased infection severity in many diabetics. Watch those feet.   \n\n\nNo food, or food type, is inherently bad for diabetics, and in the case of Type 1 diabetics, there is less concern for various kinds of food than for Type 2 diabetics, for whom excess weight seems to both bring on Type 2, but also to make more severe cases. \n\nThe problem for Type 1s is that, producing no insulin of their own, it's necessary to provide insulin from the outside, and to come as close as possible to the non-diabetic levels of insulin so that blood glucose levels are as near normal as possible. Insulin controls how, and how much, about 2.3 of body cells taek up glucose from the blood. Among much else, of course, for it is a hormone which has wide and varied effects throughout the body. \n\nThere are several things which affect how fast and high blood glucose goes: \n\n--First is how much food is eaten. In this case, sugar (sucrose), milk sugar (lactose), starch (many glucoses stuck together in chains), fat (a small part of fats -- the glycerol backbone -- can be converted to glucose in the body), and so on. All provide glucose, eventually, to the blood. One of the purpsoes of the 'exchange' system is to provide a handy way to estimate the food quantities eaten. \n\n--Second is exercise. Even without insulin, exercise (even mild exercise such as a brisk walk) causes glucose to be uptaken by muscle cells. Given any partiuclar amount of food, exercising before the meal will result in less inculin needed than otherwise, since the mechanisms are independent. teh effect lasts for some hours, so a brisk walk for 30 minutes just after luch will still increase glucose absorprion rates of food eaten at dinner.  \n\n--Third, is the amount of insulin. All other things being equal, more insulin means that more glucose will be absorbed from the blood by body cells and less insulin will mean less. \n\n--Fourth, type of insulin. There are several types of insulin. They vary largely by how long their effect (forcing absroption of glucose from the blood) lasts, and whether there is a marked peak in action. So, a given amount of regular insulin acts faster and more intensely than lente ('slow') insulin which takes longer to exhaust itself, or ultra lente ('very slow') insulin. NPH insulin falls between regular and lente in speed of action adn suration of action. The analog insulins (one from Lilly and one from Novo Nordisk) are much more quickly acting, beginning totake effect with 15 or 20 minutes and being done in an hour or perhaps an hour and a half. Two special insulins, Lantus and Detemir, are unusual in that they exhibit very little peak of action. Their insulin effect  takes place steadily over about 24 hours. \n\nLocation of administration also has a secondary effect on how long the insulin effect lasts. \n\n--Fifth is the composition of the food eaten.  For example, skim milk contains lactose (a mildly sweetish dual sugar) which is disassembled into its component simple sugars and absorbed by the intestines. Drinking the same amount of whole milk delivers the same amount of lactose, but much more slowly since the butterfat in the whole milk slows down digestive action on the lactose. A baked potato eaten 'dry' will be converted to glucose and absorbed, while the smae amount of potato eaten with butter or sour cream is much more slowly a
817929
I broke my little toe once.  I could tell it was broken because there was VERY strong sharp pain whenever I touched it or tried to walk.  I went to the E.R., and they gave me a "walking cast" which is basically a boot that I could take on and off.  It has a rounded sole so that you can walk comfortably without putting any pressure on the broken bone.  I did not need crutches, thank GOODNESS, but I had to wear the boot for a month.  It only cost me about $75 without insurance (that's not counting x-rays though... I got those for free through my college health center.)  You should go to the hospital.  Good luck!
192621
What the fucking fuck?\n\nDiabetes is not a disability unless they've already hacked off one of your feet or something. Grow up and show some responsibility and accountability for yourself!