Your friend has a valid concern. It is not unusual for pockets of infection
to exist, walled off by the bodies defenses, long after such a chronic
infection. These pockets are unable to be penetrated effectively by either
the immune system or antibiotics, both for the same reason--there is no
blood supply to them. The danger is that during a future surgical procedure,
the latent infection can be reactivated. In the presence of an artificial
implant (also unable to be penetrated by the vascular system) this could be
disastrous, requiring the removal of the implant to once again control the
infection. Perioperative antibiotic therapy is used to provide some
protection against such spread, but is no guarantee against it.

I am not convinced that your concern about most of us having latent
infections is valid. Most of us have not had the misfortune of such a severe
chronic infection. That being said, probably the most common chronic
infection in many people is the presence of periodontitis (dental disease
and infection).

I hope your friend is able to find a suitable solution. I certainly would
obtain many qualified opinions.

Steve
----- Original Message -----
From: "ginny wilken" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, January 03, 2001 2:06 AM
Subject: Re: [P-F] Osteomyelitis (was: trichinosis)


> My best friend has osteomyelitis, induced by a careless surgeon. His knee
> is frozen- no joint at all. He has been in some sort of remission for a
few
> years now, no recurrence, and no need for the Cipro he used to find
> necessary from timew to time. The initial onset was over 16 years ago. He
> dreams of sometime being able to have an artificial joint installed but
> believes that no doctor would ever be willing to operate due to fear of
> arousing the supposedly endemic infection. My chiropractor and her
> nutritionist husband, the Dobbins', would like to consult with him,
> believing they might be able to help. He already eats Paleo, having
started
> after I did. He has a lifetime history of fairly good diet, no junk, lots
> of supplements, but with an unfortunate bias away from red meat and fat
> until recently. He is resistant to exploration, feeling that his situation
> is hopeless. I would appreciate any comments the list members might have,
> as my feeling is that "infection" is latent in most of us in one way or
> another, and that his immune system may well be able to prevent any
> disastrous recurrence....Thanks for any perspective.
>
> ginny and Tomo
>
> All stunts performed without a net!
>