The date is set, the die is cast...

I had a discussion with the doctor this morning. He showed me the X-rays that were taken Tuesday. They show that the bones of the toe are fully infected. He gave me a choice of continuing our present course of dressing changes and antibiotics, with the possibility of this lasting a year and possibly not healing, or remove the toe and any infected bone associated with it, and probably have a two month healing process and a very, very slim chance of further infection. This will put some extra pressure on the other three small toes, and possibly cause callousing, which we can deal with.

I came home and discussed it with my wife, and we agreed that the latter course is probably the best, so when I see the doctor tomorrow I will tell him to go ahead and schedule amputation of the toe.

I'd like to emphasize that I am not afraid of this procedure. I know I am in the hands of very competent medical people, that I can rise to any challenge it may present, and ultimately God's will prevails.

I'll let you know when this is scheduled. In the meantime, think good thoughts, or pray for me, whichever is your predilection, and we will see how it goes.

Lots of good thoughts heading your way, Roger!

I agree about trusting today's medical personnel with all the technology they have available. I'm alive today because of listening to them!

Sorry, but not surprised, to hear this. I wish the best for you and you are in my prayers, of course. I do know what is in front of you. Won't be a picnic but what must be, must be. Take the meds. Do the PT. Find the right shoes later on. (My challenge right now.) And don't try to rush things!

Wishing you all the best Roger.

Somehow I feel that I will be there someday.

You've had a tough ordeal already Roger, but it sounds like a positive, but not easy, way forward has been found. Here's wishing you all the best.

Sending my best for a rapid recovery, Roger. Your positive outlook will be a big help.

Roger, all the best. Sounds like a good plan and it's always good to have good doctors. And, trusting them. All thoughts and prayers will be with you and I know you will have a speedy recovery.

You are in my prayers.

Praying for the best outcome and a speedy recovery Roger.

All the best Roger. I know you have diabetes but just on a side bar, i contracted bone sepsis after a motorcycle accident (long story). But the carry away is i never lost my leg because the doc i had in SA had pioneered and developed a technique for curing bone sepsis which at the time believe it or not no one world wide had done.

The technique is known today and involves not just antibiotic treatment but irrigation and insertion of the antibiotic into the saline solution used to irrigate the bone in question. To do this tubes are inserted in the marrow core and the solution allowed to seep into the infected area and then sucked out by portavac. It goes in a cycle of so many hours in and so many hours on suction.

Another key is to have the doc send swabs of the infected area away to at least two laboratories to cultivate and determine the active culture present. KEY in this treatment is to be using an antibiotic that targets that culture and it is dynamic so needs regular sampling and adapting to the changes.

WHATS THE PRO......the cure is a 3 week cycle and you healed.

So may i humbly suggest you ask the doc about the possibilities here before you let this little piggie and that little piggie go to market not to return home.

It can be a quick process, still requires admission , they may say it wont work with your other conditions but i dont see what you have to lose asking the doc about it.

It saved my leg where a top orthopedic surgeon had given up after he could not cure it after his shotgun approach.

The guy that developed the technique was like a Albert Schweitzer type of guy. Focused on medicine not his 85 ton fishing boat and different color Mercedes for each day of the week.

Sounds like a good plan to get you up and running again. thoughts are with you.

Your positive mind set is the best cure. Keep faith in your doctor's. Prayers for recovery.
David

I had a discussion with my wife yesterday, and phoned all of my kids, and we all agreed the best course of action would be to have the toe amputated. There is a risk of the infection spreading from the toe to the rest of the foot, and no guarantee that continuing the antibiotic treatment will result in a cure for the infection. The doctor says he's done two or three of these, and never had one become infected after amputation. (O.K., he says he's done thousands! ) He will be doing it in the clinic under local anaesthetic, and says it takes about a minute and a half, plus clean-up. I'll have to rest the first day, but after that I can go back to my kickboxing lessons.

I'm scheduled for 7:30 AM, Wednesday. I would rather lose this toe than go through more months of therapy.

Given the expected two-month healing time, I should be able to go back to the swimming pool in early August. Oh, there is no PT prescribed for the loss of a middle toe. I just have to get a pair of sandals, though. My wife says I have to leave the toe at the clinic; I can't bring it home for a souvenir.

Hope everything goes as planned and you recover quickly. All the best.

So I guess this means you're gonna have to stop the toe tapping to the music for a while???

Take it easy, follow all the instructions, even though Doctors are still "practicing" their medicine, they probably know more than we
do about what's going on. Heal well!

Sounds like your choosing the best route, I'm sure all will go well, and you have lots of support here

Good Luck Roger we will kick in a prayer as well.
Garry

Doctors, smoctors, just come on back and Larry and I will sharpen a knife or two and whittle that there toe right off!!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck on the surgery, take care of the wound site, feet are so tough to heal anyway.

Good thing you chose a Wednesday, Roger. I've heard that sometimes on a rare Monday or Friday the parts get switched around.....or is that cars?? Sending my most positive thoughts for a successful outcome and quick healing. No complications allowed.