Been about 5 weeks since I'd just scraped the top layer of skin off a tiny bit of my heel. Infected even with ointments, etc, this is what it's doing now, bloody hurts still. Thank goodness I can't wear shoes anyhow because this would have made it near impossible.
Anything else I can do? Tried ointments, bandaging, honey even under the bandage, keeps scabbing over a little then getting infected again and opening back up again..
I really don't envy you that one. Fortunately I have never had any ulceration on my feet or toes. Fingers crossed.
But I will offer a suggestion that finally cleared up a finger ulcer I had had about 6 months. Iodine. I found an old bottle of it and had been reading that it supposedly works with ulcers. Decided to try it and it worked. It still took about a week/10 days to finally disappear but I felt that was quick bearing in mind how long I had had it.
The good thing is that it is a liquid so potentially you can put a dressing over it after application.
Your ulcer looks quite large though so if you are going to try this, do so quickly or seek help from your regular medical team.
A forum member suggested that you can't get iodine these days, but it may be worth asking at the chemist.
Keep your feet warm to aid blood flow to assist healing. Eat a nutrient rich diet, trying to avoid sugar as much as possible. There are various meds that supposedly help to avoid ulcers or help them heal. Ask your medical team.
Putting pillows or cushions under the back of your knees at night to raise the foot might be helpful???
I'm in Australia, going into summer shortly, so the warm isn't hard at all.
I'm on the highest dose possible of Felodipine, and then on methotrexate and hydroxychloroquinine, too. Docs said about Ildepost (sp??) Infusion next winter, but, ??
Never thought of iodine, though, will give it a go, thank you!
In the UK I believe they give the infusion according to medical need. It may be worth speaking to your medical team.
The biggest danger with the ulcer on the foot is that further infection takes hold. It is possible for any ulcerated wound to become gangerous. Not trying to scare you but that looks quite large and should be treated with extreme care.
It looks like you need to be on a course of antibiotics to me. I regularly have calcium deposits in my fingers which often become infected. From experience they don't usually heal themselves whatever you do. Go and see your doctor - you don't want the ulcer to get bigger. I am under Prof Herrick's team at Salford Royal and the general advice is to keep the ulcer uncovered if you can avoid knocking it but use a micropore dressing if you need to cover it. The skin on your heel looks very dry. Use plenty of cream on them as you don't want the skin to split which could also become infected. I use aqueous cream. Good luck!
I use a good lotion at least 3 times a day, on hands and feet, use a wax, too, has helped get the cracks mostly out of my fingers but my heels are persistent...
For the last two, three weeks I've left it uncovered, hoping that since it wasn't healing covered it would heal uncovered, but it's just scabbing over more, then getting infected again, popping the scab off and starting over.
Hubby sees doc in two days, will ask the doc then, but I rang and talked to rheumy nurse yesterday, have been put in for next week to see her and the rheumatologists, so hopefully some answers then
Hi,
I have had similar problems.
If you can get hold of it "Fucibet cream". It's an antibiotic. Make a dressing lift from cotton wool rolled like a doughnut and surround the wound with it. Put a small amount of the cream in the centre, cover the whole thing lightly. That worked well for me.
Also, I am on 150mg of sildenafil daily. The sildenafil is the savior of all ulcer suffers as it opens up the blood vessels to increase blood flow and help the healing process. Well worth speaking to your doctor about. It saved my fingers. Without doubt.
Good luck with it. Regards. Mark.
I'm on Felodipine, which is a blood pressure med, but with me I've got Erythromelalgia, too, so having something that forces the blood vessels open causes all sorts of dramas all on its own for me.
But an antibiotic cream is a brilliant idea, will ask the doc when we go in in two days time
TOE ULCER?
Digital ulcer ?
Holiday
Raynaud syndrome on 2 digits - (1) infected - (1 inflamed.
