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To: JLGALT

I can tell you my dad's story and hope there's something in it for you. He was a 30 year Diabetic having gotten it about the same age as you. His kidney's began to fail. (Keep a good eye on your kidneys.) I'll get to the legs in a minute.
He went on dialysis, peritoneal so he could do it at home because he thought that would free him up. It didn't. But he wasn't exposed to the depression at the dialysis center. Then one day he found something stuck to his toe. It was dead skin- the onset of gangrene. What we learned may help.

Diabetic shoes are designed to keep pressure off important parts of the foot. He always wore good shoes, but I think he thought diabete shoes were a sales gimmick. A good podiatrist is important, one that will work as a team with a vascular specialist to keep the circulation going. I now think that leg and foot massage (professional or not, it wouldn't matter) would have been extremely beneficial to him. This podiatrist we found didn't even want Dad to cut his own toenails-one nick could have brought trouble. To improve circulation, Dad's leg arteries cleared of blockage, he was put on a blood thinner (Plavix), and work vascular surgeon worked vigilantly and vigorously with the podiatrist who manually and medically (can't remember the cream to help 'eat' the gangrene) removing the gangrene (nearly to the bone), then generating regrowth (Regranex) Dad's gangrene WAS cured. No amputation. It took 6 months, 'firing' doctors who wanted to use neosporin, gauze, and who would have ultimately and simply amputated.


Stay on top of it, and one 'step' ahead. Sitting for long periods isn't good, alternate. Walking and eliminating salt are great for circulation. Smoking ain't. Podiatrist saw his cigarettes and read Dad the riot act, told him if the vascular guy saw them, he would probably refuse to clear anymore arteries.

Good luck!


30 posted on 02/05/2006 4:06:14 AM PST by freema (Proud Marine FRiend, Mom, Aunt, Sister, Friend, Wife, Daughter, Niece)
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To: freema
Many thanks for your answer. I'll investigate the shoes tomorrow. Right now my kidneys are fine so I don't have that problem but, I also have Gout which makes my leg/feet problems a lot worse.

Again, thanks for taking the time to answer!
33 posted on 02/05/2006 5:14:01 AM PST by JLGALT (Move-on.org = the world's best laxative!)
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