For those of you following the foot saga, here is update 3. I am finally out of hospital! Yippee! Cured? - no.
I have had blood tests, been prodded, scanned, x-ray'd and pumped intraveneously with hard core anti-biotics 4 times a day for a week.
Conclusion from the experts is the "black" area on the side of my foot is an ischemic ulcer. First theory of the cause was vascular. They thought there was insufficient blood reaching the foot. Hence the scan. However this showed no major blockage. I was pleased with that as it means they aren't planning surgery on the arteries in my leg now. Another theory was a deep infection in the foot caused swelling which cut off the blood supply to the right side of my foot - hence the antibiotics. The stabbing pain I was experiencing seems to have gone and swelling diminished but not disappeared so they have sent me home with more anti-biotics to be taken orally and return for a follow up next week. I am fed up with anti biotics; they are disrupting my bowel movements causing stomach cramps, bad breath and nausea!
The black area, they are calling an ischemic ulcer is still there, doesn't appear to have diminished but is less painful.
I can find little information about this. No one has yet said what to expect. I will ask at the follow up. I guess their priority is to rid the foot of infection. After that I don't know. Will the black area reduce of its own accord or will it need some other treatment?
Anyone here ever had this condition? How did it unfold?
Any info welcomed. There is precious little info on the internet other than what this is but not how its treated or what to look for to see if things are improving or not.
I have had blood tests, been prodded, scanned, x-ray'd and pumped intraveneously with hard core anti-biotics 4 times a day for a week.
Conclusion from the experts is the "black" area on the side of my foot is an ischemic ulcer. First theory of the cause was vascular. They thought there was insufficient blood reaching the foot. Hence the scan. However this showed no major blockage. I was pleased with that as it means they aren't planning surgery on the arteries in my leg now. Another theory was a deep infection in the foot caused swelling which cut off the blood supply to the right side of my foot - hence the antibiotics. The stabbing pain I was experiencing seems to have gone and swelling diminished but not disappeared so they have sent me home with more anti-biotics to be taken orally and return for a follow up next week. I am fed up with anti biotics; they are disrupting my bowel movements causing stomach cramps, bad breath and nausea!
The black area, they are calling an ischemic ulcer is still there, doesn't appear to have diminished but is less painful.
I can find little information about this. No one has yet said what to expect. I will ask at the follow up. I guess their priority is to rid the foot of infection. After that I don't know. Will the black area reduce of its own accord or will it need some other treatment?
Anyone here ever had this condition? How did it unfold?
Any info welcomed. There is precious little info on the internet other than what this is but not how its treated or what to look for to see if things are improving or not.