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Swollen Foot Problems With Type 2 Diabetes

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Simon1944

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
For the past five weeks I have had problems with a swollen left foot and ankle plus intermittent pain in my little toe.

I have made five visits to the doctor and one to A&E, plus two blood tests. The only thing that has been eliminated is a broken bone,cellulitis and gout. The second blood test suggested I might have a low-level infection.

So far I have been prescribed two courses of Flucloxacillin and Naproxen and one course of Phenoxymethylpenicillin. I also take Amitriptyine following recent surgery to my hand.

As a 72 year old, keen walker and cyclist, I am getting very concerned that all I get is a puzzled reaction from many medics.
 
Hi Simon, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about the problems with your foot and ankle - was there anything specific that triggered it, do you think? How long have you been diagnosed with diabetes, and are you on any medication for it? Has your foot been examined by a podiatrist, with pulses taken?
 
Hi, Welcome. I know that feeling when in your minds eye you can see the medic scratching there heads. I've had it a few times myself.

Some infections are resistant to certain anti Bs now, so it's possible that the ones they have tried you on just haven't worked., this has happened to me recently.
I agree with Northener in asking, has your foot been properly checke by a podiatrist or at the hospital for circulation problems.
I am also wondering if the pain in your little toe could be the start of Neuropathy either coming or going, nerves being damaged or recovering are painful too.
 
Northerner said:
Hi Simon, welcome to the forum 🙂 Very sorry to hear about the problems with your foot and ankle - was there anything specific that triggered it, do you think? How long have you been diagnosed with diabetes, and are you on any medication for it? Has your foot been examined by a podiatrist, with pulses taken?
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Thank you for your welcome. I have had type2 diabetes for about six years. I'm taking Metformin and Simvastatin. I will ask my doctor to refer me to a podiatrist at Addenbrooke's hospital.
 
Ljc said:
Hi, Welcome. I know that feeling when in your minds eye you can see the medic scratching there heads. I've had it a few times myself.

Some infections are resistant to certain anti Bs now, so it's possible that the ones they have tried you on just haven't worked., this has happened to me recently.
I agree with Northener in asking, has your foot been properly checke by a podiatrist or at the hospital for circulation problems.
I am also wondering if the pain in your little toe could be the start of Neuropathy either coming or going, nerves being damaged or recovering are painful too.
Click to expand...

Thanks for responding. I'm on a wide spectrum antibiotic, which I hope will sort it out. I was told, when I last attended the diabetic clinic, that I had slight neuropathy in my feet. As I replied to Northener, I will ask to be referred to a podiatrist.
 
Simon1944 said:
Thank you for your welcome. I have had type2 diabetes for about six years. I'm taking Metformin and Simvastatin. I will ask my doctor to refer me to a podiatrist at Addenbrooke's hospital.
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Hope you get an appointment soon Simon, let us know how you get on 🙂
 
Simon1944 said:
Thanks for responding. I'm on a wide spectrum antibiotic, which I hope will sort it out. I was told, when I last attended the diabetic clinic, that I had slight neuropathy in my feet. As I replied to Northener, I will ask to be referred to a podiatrist.
Click to expand...

Simon1944, please do call your local Podiatary service and see if they do a walk in clinic. A year or so ago, I noticed a discolouration under my big toenail, with no recollection of injury. I called asking for an appointment and was advised there was such a clinic about 15 miles away, so I rocked up. As it transpired, it was nothing of concern, but it was very comforting to be seen same day. I did have to wait my tuen at the walk-in, but that's only fair.

As you're talking about Addenbrookes, I have assumed you're in Cambs. In Cambs, the podiatry service is self-refer for those at risk. Diabetics are considered such a group.

You can see on this link where podiatry happens in your Trust, although not all will necessarily have walk-in facilities, but there is a number to call to self-refer, so you can be sure to talk to someone. http://www.cpft.nhs.uk/services/podiatry.htm

Please call tomorrow. If it were my foot, I'd want it to be looked after by a specialist, including the use of a Doppler.

I hope it goes well for you.
 
AndBreathe said:
Simon1944, please do call your local Podiatary service and see if they do a walk in clinic. A year or so ago, I noticed a discolouration under my big toenail, with no recollection of injury. I called asking for an appointment and was advised there was such a clinic about 15 miles away, so I rocked up. As it transpired, it was nothing of concern, but it was very comforting to be seen same day. I did have to wait my tuen at the walk-in, but that's only fair.

As you're talking about Addenbrookes, I have assumed you're in Cambs. In Cambs, the podiatry service is self-refer for those at risk. Diabetics are considered such a group.

You can see on this link where podiatry happens in your Trust, although not all will necessarily have walk-in facilities, but there is a number to call to self-refer, so you can be sure to talk to someone. http://www.cpft.nhs.uk/services/podiatry.htm

Please call tomorrow. If it were my foot, I'd want it to be looked after by a specialist, including the use of a Doppler.

I hope it goes well for you.
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Many thanks for your advice. I'm waiting for the Addenbrooke's Foot Clinic to return my phone call.

I will post again when I get a definitive diagnosis!
 
Sorry to hear you are having problems with swollen ankles and it sounds like you have had all kinds of tests.

The advice I was given and seems to be working was drink more water and keep my feet elevated whenever I could.
 
Simon1944 said:
Many thanks for your advice. I'm waiting for the Addenbrooke's Foot Clinic to return my phone call.

I will post again when I get a definitive diagnosis!
Click to expand...

Did they call you back Simon?
 
Caroline said:
Sorry to hear you are having problems with swollen ankles and it sounds like you have had all kinds of tests.

The advice I was given and seems to be working was drink more water and keep my feet elevated whenever I could.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that sounds as though it's worth trying.
 
Simon1944 said:
Yes they did! I have an appointment at Addenbrooke's tomorrow at 12. I will report back, hopefully, with a diagnosis.
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Jolly good. Fingers crossed for you.
 
I attended Addenbrooke's Diabetic Foot Clinic today. They decided that it wasn't diabetes related. It may be a fracture that doesn't show on an X-ray, so I'm now waiting for a MRI scan.

I have been fitted with an Aircast boot (see photo) and look like a one-legged Storm Trooper!

I would like to thank all those who responded to my query. It has been a great comfort to have had such well-informed and concerned interest.
 

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Simon1944 said:
I attended Addenbrooke's Diabetic Foot Clinic today. They decided that it wasn't diabetes related. It may be a fracture that doesn't show on an X-ray, so I'm now waiting for a MRI scan.

I have been fitted with an Aircast boot (see photo) and look like a one-legged Storm Trooper!

I would like to thank all those who responded to my query. It has been a great comfort to have had such well-informed and concerned interest.
Click to expand...
Good news that it's not diabetes-related Simon 🙂 I hope that they can determine exactly what the problem is, and that it heals quickly 🙂
 
Did the diabetes team mention/rule out Charcot foot Simon? It is an exceedingly rare diabetic complication of bones and joints but reading your story sounds a loud alarm bell in my head as my Charcot foot was dismissed as a sprain by the hospital when a lot more was going on. I'm sure it won't be anything of the kind but please bear it in mind and get it ruled out - if that hasn't already happened. Good luck I hope it mends quickly for you.
 
Thank you for the warning. I will raise the possibility of Charcot when I next visit the podiatrist following the MRI scan.
 
Last week I returned to the self-referring Diabetic Foot Clinic, at Addenbrooke's Hospital, following an MRI scan of my foot. The doctor said the scan was inconclusive, but everything indicated a stress fracture. I have to wear the Aircast boot until the swelling and pain subsides.

The doctor said that it was extremely unlikely that I had Charcot.

Once again I would like to thank everyone who responded to my initial post.
 
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