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I've done something silly

Emmotha

Emmotha

Well-Known Member
Messages
1,123
Type of diabetes
Type 1
Treatment type
Insulin
I was checking my feet, and found I couldn't feel my toe tip on my right foot, next to my big toe.
So then I noticed hard skin and thought hat must be why. So I got the foot filer out on it and scrubbed until soft. Then I could feel a tap on it again.

BUT now, ten mins later... It's starting to really hurt! I obv scrubbed too much but didn't feel it!!

Does this mean I have neurothapy? Or am I ok because I can feel the pain? I felt nothing when filing and it's not red
 
@Emmotha, as diabetics we have to be extremely careful when treating our own feet so its best that you have your feet looked at by a podiatrist, as part of your diabetes care-plan you should have your feet checked once a year.
 
Do be careful with your feet .. If it still painful in the morning it may need a trip to the Podiatrist or the drs !
 
Oh okie doke. Thanks for the advice!

Eek it's all very scary
 
The technician at my foot clinic, who is amazing, says that the most serious and dangerous cases she sees are when patients try to tackle their own feet. Don't do it - and go and see your foot specialist now. Pain or no pain - our sense of pain is not reliable, particularly when it comes to feet.
 
And if you have worn pointy shoes, or played a sport that involves bashing your toes against the end of a boot, the likelihood is that the nerve damage wasn't caused by your diabetes.
 
noblehead said:
@Emmotha, as diabetics we have to be extremely careful when treating our own feet so its best that you have your feet looked at by a podiatrist, as part of your diabetes care-plan you should have your feet checked once a year.
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I hope you didn't see Jack's advice.

You may need to be referred, so see your Dr or nurse.

It may take a long time to see a podiatrist - don't be afraid to go to A&E. I was told that diabetics are 15 times more likely to suffer amputation.

The foot sensitivity test involves someone else pressing a bendy nylon bristle - such as a washing up brush bristle - into toes & around your feet. You should feel it before it bends. And whether or not you can feel it - see a podiatrist! It is unlikely that that toe is the only place you have hard skin - so you need to see a podiatrist anyway.

Sorry to bang the drum.

 
I'm sorry if I led someone astray. In australia we get an annual foot check with a podiatrist and that was one of the tests he did. when talking about my self foot care, when I asked if 'it feels funny' he said I could do that test to see if I felt sharp.
again apologies to all
 
I don't think it's a bad idea at all to check our own foot sensitivity. Just that we can't rely solely (ha ha) on that, we need to also get checks by professionals at regular intervals.

I have self referred because I noticed a diminished feeling in my toes, and the foot specialist was glad that I came in.
 
I think Im fairly lucky with my feet as I still have fairly good blood supply to them and have no problems regarding loss of feeling.
I tend to get a build up of hard skin on the side of my big toes and around my heels. I get it off with using a hard skin scraper after I have had a shower and the hard skin has gone white and soft being careful not to go back to bare skin. Obviously, if I didnt have good sensation in my feet, I would not be getting rid of hard skin myself and would leave that down to a podiastrist.
@Emmotha you will probably be ok, put a cushioned plaster over the toe and allow the tender bit to heal. Once the tenderness has subsided, allow the air to get to the skin by wearing something open toe in doors. If you notice any problem looming, then see yr GP or go to one of those walk in centres and ask to see a foot specialist or nurse to get their opinion
 
Emmotha said:
I was checking my feet, and found I couldn't feel my toe tip on my right foot, next to my big toe.
So then I noticed hard skin and thought hat must be why. So I got the foot filer out on it and scrubbed until soft. Then I could feel a tap on it again.

BUT now, ten mins later... It's starting to really hurt! I obv scrubbed too much but didn't feel it!!

Does this mean I have neuropathy? Or am I ok because I can feel the pain? I felt nothing when filing and it's not red
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It's all been said, don't overlook your feet, as somebody said, our feeling isn't reliable, doesn't need a name although neuropathy probably fits quite well. I did something similar by some over zealous nail trimming, couldn't stop the bleeding and had to go to A&E. It's preferable to get somebody like a podiatrist to check. I have to pay for my podiatrist, every 5 - 6 weeks, but it's an investment in my books. I'm not sure what's available through the NHS, nothing has ever been offered to me.
 
It was the pain in my feet and reoccurring thrush that led me to get tested for diabetes. I didn't have any other symptoms besides exhaustion. I have been under a podiatrist's care for 9 months, mainly to treat a stubborn infection (now gone) that got in probably because I was always filing hard skin off the bottom of one foot. Aside from moisturizing (per doctor's instructions, and never between the toes) and very lightly filing my toenails if they need it, I don't do anything to my feet. I let the podiatrist do it because I don't want any more problems.
 
I've been pretty lucky with my feet. I've still got good circulation and feeling, although my ankle sprain last year caused nerve damage and I suffer pins and needles there. I caused a puncture wound in my foot standing on a pen needle casing (ironically) and it hurt like hell. Cleaned with hibiscrub, treated with savlon and heavy plastering and changed dressings twice a day. I did check it out with the GP and she was very impressed, saying it healed well and I'd done the right things.

Always need to take care of your feet.
 
Thanks for the advice everyone. I kept a close eye on it and the redness went away. The pins and needles are still in my hands and feet so I will make an appointment to see my DN :-)
 
graj0 said:
It's all been said, don't overlook your feet, as somebody said, our feeling isn't reliable, doesn't need a name although neuropathy probably fits quite well. I did something similar by some over zealous nail trimming, couldn't stop the bleeding and had to go to A&E. It's preferable to get somebody like a podiatrist to check. I have to pay for my podiatrist, every 5 - 6 weeks, but it's an investment in my books. I'm not sure what's available through the NHS, nothing has ever been offered to me.
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Hola

Nothing here either. DN gives out a number for private treatment as local NHS not treating any new patients at the mo.

Bumpers - my feet are in a right two and eight!
 
I had my first post diagnosis podiatry appointment this week, was told everything was fine, good pulse and sensation. He advocatrd filing not moisturising to deal with hard skin.
I do still experience pins and needles in my hands and on my scalp, neither my gp nor dn appear remotely interested in this and made me feel a bit silly in bringing this to their attention.
Good luck with your dn @Emmotha , let us know how you get on.
 
My podiatrist suggested that I moisturise daily, which I've done and the hardness/cracks in my heals are much more under control... she was a saint for my corms..... very impressive HP.
 
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