Gangrene

[flava]

Dear forum mates please help with info.

A close family member recently had double amputation due to Gangrene (it’s been a horrific experience for entire family). I read of re-occurrence after 3 – 5 years in some cases. Now if the poison is removed during the amputation, what causes the second infection & does anyone have an idea how this can be prevented? I have no luck with finding answers on Google about this…

 

[Ecco]

Guess it depends on why he/she got the gangrene in the first place - its not really about poison - more dead tissue/cells. After the amputation, very rare to get it back, unless it cause by diabetes or something else.

If it was as a result of an injury, i doubt a recurrence is possible without another injury.

 

[flava]

Guess it depends on why he/she got the gangrene in the first place - its not really about poison - more dead tissue/cells. After the amputation, very rare to get it back, unless it cause by diabetes or something else.

If it was as a result of an injury, i doubt a recurrence is possible without another injury.

The cause of the Gangrene was due to diabetes..

 

[buyeye]

Diabetics get a peripheral neuropathy which means they dont feel it when they hurt their legs or toes .
Then they get sores/wounds which get infected due to the high blood sugar which feeds the bacteria. Then they get the gangrene causing bacteria thats when you have to amputate.

To prevent it happening again you have to actually look at the feet and legs everyday and treat all wounds/sores as soon as you see them.

 

[burn]

Have you considered asking the doctor that diagnosed and treated the gangrene?

Generally a better bet than Google, especially as he/she would have direct knowledge as to the exact circumstances of the patient.

 

[guest2013-1]

I don't want to be "awesomely optimistic here", but if they don't manage their diabetes properly, prepare for a funeral. I had an aunt die after she had her foot amputated etc.

And they say cocaine is a killer.... try sugar!

 

[fastesthamster]

I don't want to be "awesomely optimistic here", but if they don't manage their diabetes properly, prepare for a funeral. I had an aunt die after she had her foot amputated etc.

And they say cocaine is a killer.... try sugar!

From wiki:

A number of lifestyle factors are known to be important to the development of type 2 diabetes including: obesity, lack of physical activity, poor diet, stress, and urbanization.[6] Excess body fat is associated with 30% of cases in those of Chinese and Japanese descent, 60-80% of cases in those of European and African descent, and 100% of Pima Indians and Pacific Islanders.[3] In those who are not obese, per a body mass index of greater than thirty, they often have a high waist–hip ratio.[3] A number of dietary factors such as consumption of sugar sweetened drinks in excess,[12][13] the type of fats in the diet with saturated fats and trans fatty acids increasing the risk and polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fat decreasing the risk.[9] Eating lots of white rice appears to also play a role.

Emphasis mine. Yes, sugar contributes. But there's more to it than just "sugar is the killer".

In my completely uneducated, and only slightly informed opinion, obesity and lack of exercise seems to be the root cause, not sugar in and of itself. Open to correction and criticism.

 

[T-Man]

Dear forum mates please help with info.

A close family member recently had double amputation due to Gangrene (it’s been a horrific experience for entire family). I read of re-occurrence after 3 – 5 years in some cases. Now if the poison is removed during the amputation, what causes the second infection & does anyone have an idea how this can be prevented? I have no luck with finding answers on Google about this…

You need to fix the cause - sugar/bloodglucose needs to be controlled, have someone check his/her legs for wounds - many diabetics can't see properly anymore.

Obviously smoking is also a no-no.. cause of Buerger's disease.

 

[flava]

Have you considered asking the doctor that diagnosed and treated the gangrene?

Generally a better bet than Google, especially as he/she would have direct knowledge as to the exact circumstances of the patient.

Very good suggestion. The problem is whenever we are there it's the interns who are doing the rounds & the doctor is always unavailable - no surprise since its public hospital.

 

[flava]

T-Man
You need to fix the cause - sugar/bloodglucose needs to be controlled, have someone check his/her legs for wounds - many diabetics can't see properly anymore.

Obviously smoking is also a no-no.. cause of Buerger's disease.


This has been the daily practice ever since I can remember. There were never any sores to begin with, just very cold feet that were reported at the local clinic but the matter was never taken seriously.. too late to point fingers now. We can only make the best of the current situation.

 

[Nanfeishen]

Dear forum mates please help with info.

A close family member recently had double amputation due to Gangrene (it’s been a horrific experience for entire family). I read of re-occurrence after 3 – 5 years in some cases. Now if the poison is removed during the amputation, what causes the second infection & does anyone have an idea how this can be prevented? I have no luck with finding answers on Google about this…

Sorry to hear of this
Some links - maybe some help

Wound healing complications associated with lower limb amputation

The majority of patients undergoing amputation of the lower limb have peripheral vascular disease

http://www.worldwidewounds.com/2006...nd-Healing-Complications-Limb-Amputation.html

Leg or foot amputation - Recovery
http://www.umm.edu/ency/article/007365rcv.htm

The Diabetic Foot
http://www.foot.com/info/cond_diabetic_foot.jsp

Scholarly articles for diabetes amputation recovery
http://scholar.google.co.za/scholar...a=X&ei=OGCFT-GFB46AhQeE2uWmCA&ved=0CDsQgQMwAA

Peripheral vascular disease
http://www.epodiatry.com/poor-circulation.htm