It’s odd to see the impact including Sue in my care has had on us as a team.  I find she is more protective of my foot, but from a professional point of view she is also more pushy about my foot care. She is more engaged.  As a result I’m taking less risks. I’m caring for my feet more because I don’t want to be asking Sue to be looking at or after ulcerated toes. The simple act of us both engaging in my foot care has had a far bigger impact than on the wound itself.

On a recent holiday we wanted to take the furry kids to a forest walk in a place we had visited earlier in the week but had only walked a few hundred meters.  We turned up and went to look at the walks a red, green or yellow trail. Sue suggested we did the green, it was 2 miles, it was a slow steady pace and we completed it.  When we got back inspection of the toe revealed nothing, it was as if I hadn’t walked out the bedroom, that to me was proof I had done the right thing for me.

On return home the following Wednesday I was due to see podiatry. By now I guess I was convinced my way was my way and it worked, I was past caring if it was right or wrong all I knew was it worked for me.  I turned up and after a quick inspection and debride it was confirmed my toe was healed.  We had a long chat about the plan going forward and how to reduce the risk of a reoccurrence, note I say reduce the risk, I will get another ulcer as sure as the sun comes up I will, all I can do is make the number I get less than I otherwise would.  Inspection of insoles, debriding, a foot care regime and just being careful all were talked about. I walked out the clinic agreeing to transfer from cast to shoe on a gradual process and that’s well on its way, although people laugh at me, as when I put my shoe on I still walk like I have the cast on, I guess that will take time.

So what have I learnt from all this, well I guess lots really the first thing is to learn ask questions and look for advice. Don’t accept what you are told from just one person, if it doesn’t appear to be working find out why.  If you are willing get skilled, learn to dress your wound, learn to take care of it and above all take responsibility for it. Podiatrists see you and your wound for 20 mins or so, you live with it for the other 23hrs and 40 mins a day so it’s yours. They do not have a magic dressing that will heal it overnight, you have to take ownership and do everything you can.

 

 

 

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