I had surgery on my lower leg in April '06, following which I developed a "simple suture abscess." Once the sutures were removed my doctor said everything should heal up and I'd have a good leg. Well, come June it still wasn't healed so he decided he was gonna go take a look around and see if there was anything that needed to be cleaned. He came out of that surgery and said a bad abscess had formed but he drained that and sutured the wound back up and it should heal. I had 2 more cleanings of the absess in July, August, and Septemver, combined with oral and IV antibiotics, but the incision still refused to heal. I was hospitilized in early October due to a high fever and major lymph node swelling, during that stay I was diagnosed with chronic osteomyelitis. In late October my ortho. surgeon got a plastic surgeon to go in and clean out everything, and that doctor came out of surgery and said there was absolutely nothing wrong, and he yet again sutured up the area and said it should heal. Less than a week later the incision reopened, pulling the sutures out of place. I was left with a large hole in my leg that still refused to heal.
Following that surgery I began more IV antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen therapy, and oral Zyvox. I finished up all of that treatment in January, with a hole still in my leg. My ortho. decided to go back into the leg to check again to see if they were missing something. He came out from that surgery and said there was nothing he could see, but he biopsied the bone just in case. He then proceeded to accuse me of getting it wet or doing something to it to keep it from healing. They are now wanting me to go through hyperbarics and more IV and oral antibiotics all over again.
The doctor told me he has no clue what is going on with it and said I could just have this hole in my leg for the rest of my life.
I am only 18, not diabetic, no other health issues. Does anyone know what could possibly be going on or suggestions I could make to my doc to get something going on with this. I should have the biopsy results back by Thursday, and I am actually praying that they show something so this can be treated and I can get on with my life.
Thank you all for "listening" to this very long rant.
Lorie
Boy what a nightmare...Sorry I have no idea what could be possibly going on..But I must say i would find a differerent doctor!! Possibly some kind of bacteria has gotten in there...Maybe you need to stay on the antibiotics loner..
Have they done wound cultures to try to isolate bacteria? If not, they need to swab deep in the wound and send the swab to the lab STAT for anaerobic culture (preferably they would plate the swab on anaerobic plates immediately and send those to the lab STAT to be incubated). It would take a few days to see if any harmful bacteria grow and if so, which antibiotics will work best.
There are a lot of problems with this, like the doctor not getting a good sample, the bacteria dying before they can get plated, etc. but in theory, it should work.
Have you had a CBC (Complete blood count) with differential done lately? That could also show if there is a bacterial infection (your white cell count would be high, etc.)
I'm going through the same thing but my hole is in my breast. I have had four operation & they cann't find out why the infection keeps coming back. They went in to close the hole, ( double switching it) but when the infection gets bad it popes open with blood & then I have only a yellow oily substance than comes out. I have had all the tests I could get to find out what this yellow oil is pouring out of my hole in my breast. One month ago it stops coming out of the hole & started another spot on my breast. I stopped going to my Doctor because he wanted to put the blame on me too. I just got operated on by a General Surgon three weeks ago & it's back. Oh well if I find out what I really have & it gets healed, I will let you know. I will continue to pray for you & fight this until I too can have my life back. By the way is your infection a yellow oil substance ? I will be checking back with you in this message board to see if you or me can find a answer. Take care & God be with you.
These recurring infections sound a lot like MRSA. I would get to an Infectious Disease Specialist. And definitely find a better hospital and different doctor. Good Luck. Hope you all clear up!!!!
I agree with Wendy any type of infection like that could be MRSA, and if there is any way I would suggest you all to go see an Infectious disease specialist. They study these types of cases and can assist more on the fact why it's not healing and what are the causes for it not healing (bacteria, body immune system, etc).
