Ankle Update

Since today is February 18th, I would like to wish both Sis and Jon a happy birthday. Jon was Dawn’s 10th birthday present.

So, while the temperature plunges (today – High – 15 deg Low – 0 deg) I had my semi-annual diabetic podiatry appointment. In addition to the standard foot poking, we discussed my sprained ankle and the bruised big toenail.

I will summarize the above for those who don’t want to noodle through the whole thing. The foot poking went about like last time, some loss of sensory perception but no worse than before.

The right big toe has been bruised under the nail ever since the Foreigner concert on October 1st. The doc examined it and started carving around it with the big old nail clippers he had. After he had exposed about half of it (with no pain or discomfort) he remarked that the nail had started growing underneath it. He kept whacking away at it until it was down to the quick of the nail and stopped. He said that it should thicken up and get harder over time.

The ankle he was a little more concerned with. It was still swollen compared to the left side and was considerably warmer. What he was primarily concerned with was the possibility of a Charcot event (see which is Neuropathic Arthropathy). When you have a persistent inflammation, you can get an elevated blood flow (hence warmness) which can lead to lead to bone scavenging until your ankle collapses (generally considered not to be a good thing). He decided to get some X-Rays for both the right ankle and foot and one of the left foot to establish a baseline for longer term issues.

It just so happened that the Radiology department was next door so I walked over there and checked in. Five minutes later I was ushered into the X-Ray office, and they took a series of X-Rays of my feet and right ankle. I walked back in and was reseated in the office and ten minutes later the Dr. was back in and we discussed the X-Rays. I hadn’t broken any bones in my foot or ankle and there were no gross abnormalities.

For the short term he recommended wearing a compression stocking to improve circulation flow. I was familiar with these as Lindsay wore them for the last 10-15 years. I picked them up at Walgreens and am wearing them now. I have a follow-up appointment in two weeks to check my right ankle.

Tomorrow, I have a follow up appointment with Wyoming Otolaryngology Clinic to see how the CPAP machine is working for me. I don’t expect any problems, I’ve had string of 90% or better scores since Dec 11th of last year through last night; except for one night that I didn’t use it at all (Mike’s hospital adventure) and last night which was only 79%. That event was caused by power running down at 3:17am due to the heater running continuously (low temperatures).

Tomorrow afternoon I have an appointment at Greiner Ford to get my oil changed, filters, and tire rotation. Again I don’t expect any issues.