In the diabetic foot, wounds quickly become a problem as they fail to heal and often can become a life-threatening infection. What methods would you be willing to undergo to prevent amputation or an infection that could put you in the hospital or even the grave? Many unconventional treatments are appearing to help save lives and heal wounds. Recent advances include silver dressings, honey and even maggots.
Would you be willing to undergo maggot therapy to heal your wound? In a recent article I found on Syracuse.com, Linda Franks talks about treating her wound with maggot therapy and saving her leg and her life. Although the process took two years, the heel wound has healed and the infected bone has healed and new skin has developed. She is even walking on her own, instead of utilizing a wheelchair.
Let's discuss this treatment. For many years, maggot therapy has been utilized. In ancient times they were utilized to clean wounds. Even before that time, the earth has utilized the maggot to remove dead, infected tissues. This is the basic technology utilized to help heal these wounds, as it ensures dead and infected tissues are removed without damage to healthy tissues. It was started as a technology in 1930s when maggots were produced commercially. Although it fell out of favor for years, it has returned as an option when all else fails and when doctor and patient are willing to give it a try.
What other treatments should be tried first? Antibiotics; Wound care treatments that include aggressive removal of dead tissue (debridement); Strict diabetic blood sugar control; Stopping poor habits such as smoking; Offweighting the area (i.e. no pressure to the wound); Advanced wound care modalities; Bypass surgeries; Hyperbaric oxygen. Any and all these can be utilized, but if they fail, would you be willing to try maggots?
Maggot therapy has been proven to be effective and improve wounds when other treatments fail. Now this isn't your neighborhood fly maggot, nor can you place your own maggots on your wound. Commercial, "sterile" maggots have been developed for this purpose. They are applied with pain medication use and allowed to work on the wound. The maggots are then removed a day or two after starting and disposed of. This is not a single treatment, but often requires many cycles of treatment but provide an option for the stubborn, nonhealing wounds.
I have seen the work of maggots and have seen great improvements in wounds through their therapy. One patient even had her life protected after days of an infected wound treated with maggots kept the infectious spread from other areas and additional bone damage. Is maggot therapy the first treatment people should undergo? No. Should it be considered? Absolutely. As we continue to search out new treatments to speed the healing of diabetic wounds, no successful treatment should be discounted or ignored. If you can handle this therapy, it may save your foot and may even save your life.
Copyright (c) 2008 Mountain West Foot & Ankle Institute
Some say the Newfoundland breed is said to be descended from a mix of the native Indian dogs of the Beothuk tribe living in Newfoundland many centuries ago, others say that the Newfoundland Dog is descended from the Pyrenean Mastiff and the Mastiff type dogs brought by the Vikings, who were believed to have been the earliest European visitors to the Eastern coast of the North American continent. However the Newfoundland came to be, he is well known historically as a working dog of the country of Newfoundland, having been used for centuries as a fisherman's helper, bringing in the nets full of fish from the sea and pulling the carts full of fish to the local villages.
The Newfoundland is considered to be one of the most highly instinctive life-saving breeds and water rescue breeds of all the dogs. The Newfoundland's strong instinctive desire to swim into the water, coupled with his desire to keep humans from harm, have led to numerous accounts of the dog's life saving abilities from bringing in floundering boats to carrying ropes out to floundering swimmers.
The Newfoundland is among the Giant breeds. He should stand 26-29 inches at the shoulder and weigh from 140 to 150 pounds, with females being of smaller stature for the most part. The coat is exceedingly thick and double and can be black, black and white (also termed Landseer, after the famous painter Sir Edwin Landseer, who often painted the black and white Newfoundlands,) and brown, brown and white, gray and very rarely black and tan or cream. The coat requires regular brushing. The coat is weather resistant and should not be shaved as it provides insulation in both the summer and the winter. The Newfoundland's body should be heavy boned and massive and appear nearly square, being as long as he is tall. The ears are lop and , like the face, are covered with short hair, elsewhere all the fur is two inches or more in length. The feet are webbed between the toes. The dog should have great strength for pulling carts and power for swimming.
As a general rule Newfs are a messy dog, some drool and most puppies like to dig water out of the water bucket. Being large as puppies, they can be very destructive. Newfs are noted for their sweet disposition and gentleness towards humans and even towards other creatures. Most Newfoundlands do not exhibit aggression in any manner. The standard of the Newfoundland Club remarks: "sweetness of temperament is the hallmark of the breed". The Newfoundland does not make a good kennel dog. Without human companionship they can become quite unruly and they are a big enough dog to do a good deal of damage when they jump up enthusiastically on an unsuspecting visitor. The Newfoundland is an "easy trainer" and is motivated to want to please his owner. They are generally not a "one person" dog but will extend affection to all whom they meet. They have made their mark as excellent therapy dogs, search and rescue dogs and draft dogs. Almost all those who have had the pleasure of living with a Newfoundland will tell you that they will never consider another breed.
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Brandt R Gibson Dpm has sinced written about articles on various topics from Fitness, Diabetes Treatment and Pneumonia Causes. Brandt R. Gibson, DPM, MS is a foot and ankle specialist with special interest in diabetes. He is located in American Fork, Utah. His goal is to educate people and help them "optimize what they were born with." For further educational materials and recomm. Brandt R Gibson Dpm's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.
Michael Russell has sinced written about articles on various topics from Celebrities, Dieting and Diabetes Treatment. Michael RussellYour Independent guide to . Michael Russell's top article generates over 2240000 views. to your Favourites.