The 34-year-old has not kicked a ball in anger since a summer move from Portsmouth because of an infection picked up after the first of three Achilles tendon operations.
Stone told BBC Sport: "The infection eats away at my leg. My target is to play again but I am in pain getting in and out of bed at the moment so I need to get my leg right first so I can live a proper life."
He added: "That is the priority. Football is secondary at the moment. If it doesn't come right then I will be in the hands of plastic surgeons and I don't want to go down that route if I can help it."
He explained: "They have opened me up a few times, they say the tendon looks good, it looks fine and healthy and if I can just get rid of this infection that is in there, which is happening now, then it should be no problem.
"But it doesn't always work like that, age is against me now and things heal a little bit slower. The longer I go without playing at my age, people start to question it.
After three years at Pompey Stone signed a two-year deal when he moved to Leeds and he says that is a major factor in his decision to continue the battle to save his career.
"If I didn't have next year here I would probably retire," he said.
"I haven't played a game for Leeds yet so I want to repay them with something for the faith that they have shown in me. They have looked after me really well so hopefully I'll do that.
"Hopefully Leeds can get up, that is the big thing we are trying to do, get promoted. But if next year the injuries are starting to crop up and are a problem then I'm just going to have to call it a day.
"It happens to everyone I am afraid. I am still positive about it but you have got to be realistic as well."