I have a foot ulcer - should my leg be amputated?

If you have diabetes and have an ulcer on your foot or toes, then the worry of amputation may have crossed your mind. Many people with diabetes fear that their progression will end up with an amputation. Luckily, most of the foot ulcers do not end up in an amputation. If you have a small ulcer with infection or poor blood supply, you must pay attention to the development. In a short time, a small ulcer can develop into a large ulcer with inflammation where an operation may be necessary, a development that in rare cases can take place in 24 hours.

It is therefore important that you keep a close eye on the ulcer every day. You can see more in the film “Caring for a foot ulcer - what can I do myself?”.

In some cases, the best treatment for the ulcer is amputation. It can be a toe, multiple toes, part of the foot or part of the leg. The doctor usually recommends an amputation if there is a serious infection in the ulcer which cannot be treated well enough with normal ulcer treatment such as removing pressure and antibiotics. The physician can also recommend an amputation if there is a poor blood supply to the area. We also call this arteriosclerosis. This means that the ulcer has a very difficult time healing and perhaps may never heal. The doctor will always try to save as much of your foot or leg as possible. But the doctor will also operate where your surgical wounds are most likely able to heal.

It is important to say that you will never have a toe or more amputated unless you have given your consent. If you become acutely ill where you are not able to make the decision for an amputation yourself, the doctors will speak with your nearest relations about the treatment.

Many people think that if they have a big toe amputated, for example, they can no longer walk and keep their balance. But this is not correct. You can learn to walk, even if you are missing a big toe or several toes. It just requires that you have shoes custom-made by a shoemaker or prosthetist. You may need to be in a wheelchair after the operation so that you do not strain your foot. It may be a bit more difficult to start walking again, but here you can get a referral for rehabilitation in your municipality.

For more information go to www.helbredsprofilen.dk