Ankle Update 20240513

I saw the orthopedic surgeon this morning and there is potential bad news. It is difficult to see but it appears that I am losing bone from the tip of one of the screws in my foot. I made a composite of photos I took of x-rays.

There is definitely more bone in the April picture and just a shadow from this morning. The surgeon wants me to get a CT scan for a clearer image. He also went to consult with the other foot/ankle surgeon in his office, and both are uncertain what it could be. He did suggest Charcot Foot, which would fit since I am diabetic, but why so much change in three weeks? I was told to stop physical therapy until after he sees the CT scan.

If the bone is indeed deteriorating, one solution is to remove the bottom screw from my foot. We need to make sure that the ankle is properly fused to the metal rod. That would require another surgery, but it would be relatively minor and require much less recovery. Still sucks though.