PING: FOFC PM Doctors and Holiday Inn Stayers

[DeToxRox]

So two weeks ago I got an infection playing softball (yes, hardy har har). I dove, made the stop, but cut my leg up on a rock. I cleaned up my leg, bandaged it, but still had an infection. My left shin was swollen twice the size of the right. Week went by, went to the doctor, they gave me penicillin and told me to get a scan for blood clots. The clots were a negatory and as of today, the bruising is pretty much gone.

The problem is the swelling is still there, and my knee is tight, almost to the point of feeling like something may pop at any second. I've suffered from tendonitis in the past but this goes beyond that.

I can't get to the doctor until Wednesday so until then I'll just man up but I am curious if anyone has had anything similiar to this, or may have something to pin point?

[Groundhog]

Get me a saw, some bandage, and a bottle of whisky.

Trust me.

[Eaglesfan27]

Get me a saw, some bandage, and a bottle of whisky.

Trust me.


Sounds like good advice.


I got nothing. Orthopedics was/is one of my weaker areas. Obviously, if you develop a fever, call and let your doc know so that s/he can move the appointment up. Is the area hot to the touch?

[Crim]

http://www.operationsports.com/fofc/showthread.php?t=44282&highlight=toothpick+nail+green

Do what Airhog did, then get back to us. FOFC can't make a proper diagnosis without a toothpick, you fool!

[terpkristin]

Is the area where it's swollen warm to the touch? Painful to touch? Are you running a fever?

If the answer to the above questions is "no" then I imagine you have residual swelling that will go away, but may need some help doing so. From your description, it sounds like most of the swelling was over your shin, an area that "doesn't move much" in normal day-to-day walking, etc. In my experience, I've found that areas that don't have as much exposure to motion take longer to decrease in sweling but scar less.

For example, on my 3rd ankle surgery, they made an incision into my lower shin. The scar there is FAR better healed (less visible) than any of my other ankle scars because it's an area that doesn't move around much/didn't get stretched out and stressed as I tried to walk again. The scars on the inside of my foot and outside of my ankle are much more visible, because as I moved my foot/ankle in the healing process, the fresh tissue got used and abused. [ankle scars (http://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin/37506561/in/set-827968/)]

Conversely, my right ankle is still a bit puffy, and always will be so, because I can't move it the right way anymore to help move around the fluid that builds up there. Compare this to my left ankle which moves normally and thusly easily helps break down and remove the fluid that goes there if I twist it (not that I really can twist my right ankle any more but I think you get the point).

Your doc may suggest PT to help get that to go down, if that's the only vestige of the injury. The PT would use massage and ultrasound, along with heat and ice, most likely. Or the doc may recommend you use heat, then massage the area, then ice it down on your own. Or maybe I'm completely off base. But that's my guess, anyway, if everything else is normal...

/tk

[Pumpy Tudors]

The PT would use massage and ultrasound, along with heat and ice, most likely.Yes. Yes, I would. :cool:

[Crim]

[ankle scars (http://www.flickr.com/photos/terpkristin/37506561/in/set-827968/)]


Damn. I thought this was going to be hot. Umm, how bout, retake the shots, but paint your nails, and, maybe curl your toes down a bit seductively. Thanks.

[kenparker23]

Where did you cut your leg? Is it in or around the knee? How long ago did this occur? Does it hurt to move your knee? Most likely a localized cellulitis in and around the wound. Antibiotics should take care of it. Would want to make sure that the infection or wound did not contaminate your knee joint. A septic joint is not a good thing to have.

[terpkristin]

Damn. I thought this was going to be hot. Umm, how bout, retake the shots, but paint your nails, and, maybe curl your toes down a bit seductively. Thanks.

Yeah, there is nothing hot about those scars or shots. I took those while I was sort of chronicling how things changed as I recovered from the fusion. I'll see what I can do for ya. Maybe this weekend. ;)

Let us know what the doc says, DeTox. :)

/tk

[DeToxRox]

Have to go a week from today (quickest they can see me) to an Orthopedic Doctor to have some tests done for a spetic knee joint. Probably looking at having my knee drained.

Thanks for the advice.

[kenparker23]

If your knee is swollen and you have a wound that could have contaminated your joint you do not need to wait a week. An ER guy or primary care physician can aspirate your knee. You do not want to let the sun set on a suspected septic joint. If the wound communicates with you knee joint, the joint needs to be washed out.

[wbatl1]

Don't worry about having your knee drained, it's not a big deal. You don't want to have a septic joint, though!