:eek: I have been suffering with a hurting, very red and swollen toe for two months. I just got an x-ray and my doctor told me that the radiologist called him right after he read the x-ray and said that my toe needs immediate attention. I have to go in and get blood work and see a specialist.
My toe bone is disintegrating.
Has anyone had this experience and might know what it could possibly be?

I have only heard of bone disintegration in leprosy patients.

Tick

An infection of the bone, osteomyelitis, may cause this.

Gout may cause toe pain, though I'm not sure of bony destruction.

Trauma is an obvious possible cause, but you would have mentioned it.

Rheumatoid arthritis can destroy bone and joints over time, as can other autoimmune conditions.

See your doctor, good luck.



G&P

inthebox, you must not have read the whole post. He has seen a doctor and is referred to a specialist. Osteomyelitis is a bone marrow disease and wouldn't damage bone to that extent.

Gout is extreme toe pain but doesn't disintegrate bone and is caused by too much uric acid in the blood.

Tick

Tickle:

Osteomyelitis is infection of the bone itself and may effect the bone marrow eventually.

Osteomyelitis: eMedicine Emergency Medicine

Quote:

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The infection associated with osteomyelitis may be localized or it may spread through the periosteum, cortex, marrow, and cancellous tissue. The bacterial pathogen varies on the basis of the patient's age and the mechanism of infection

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A bone marrow infection cannot be definitively defined on x-ray. A bone marrow biopsy is needed.

In addition, on x-rays bone is light or white because of calcium content. You cannot "see" bone marrow because it is dark. Therefore, you cannot tell bone marrow disease by plain x-rays.


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Other potential cause

osteoporosis - though no pain without fracture
vitamin d deficiency
pagets


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Leprosy is a disease of the skin and nerves. Bone is only effected due to the neuropathy caused by the m. leprae.


Leprosy: eMedicine Infectious Diseases

Quote:

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Leprosy is a chronic infection caused by the acid-fast, rod-shaped bacillus Mycobacterium leprae. Leprosy can be considered 2 connected diseases that primarily affect superficial tissues, especially the skin and peripheral nerves...


Although both lepromatous leprosy and tuberculoid leprosy involve the skin and peripheral nerves, tuberculoid leprosy has more severe manifestations. Nerve involvement results in loss of sensory and motor function, which may lead to frequent trauma and amputation

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G&P