In December of last year, I lost half of the second toe of my left foot due to a bone infection (osteomyelitis). Had to have it amputated.
Today, not even five months later, I was told that I may lose part of the middle toe of that same foot due to the same reason.
A bone scan is being scheduled to determine if I've got osteomyelitis in the bones of the toe. If I do, those bones are going to have to be amputated.
What are the odds?
@leejackson
Pretty high, especially if you're diabetic.
@AlphaCentauri I'm not diabetic. I used to be, but for the past four years, my A1C numbers have been below 6.0.
@leejackson Was the original infection caused by a wound? Do you know what organism caused the first infection? It can give you a clue of where the original source was if it wasn't a local wound, and it can give you a clue how likely it was to survive treatment of the first infection.
@AlphaCentauri The infection began as a dark spot under my toenail. No wound. No clue as to how it developed.
@leejackson If no wound, then it would have had to have been carried through the blood stream. Bacteria get in the bloodstream all the time, anytime you get your teeth cleaned, or even if you chew with bad teeth. Other sources of bacteria do it occasionally, too. That's where the name of the bacteria gives clues. "Viridans" strep usually comes from teeth, strep bovis from bowel, pseudomonas from bowel or urine infections, staph from skin, etc.