Nurse needs medical input

Specialties Med-Surg

Published

I know that we can't give medical advice here, so if this post falls under that, please close it down.

I had a bad car wreck a few years back and suffered a broken leg and arm, and I've had three surgeries. I lost a lot of tissue near my ankle.

I'm now having recurring trouble with cellulitis in this leg. I've "suggested" to my NP that this may be related to the injury to my leg, as in a vascular insuffiency problem. I'll go back in ten days to see if this second round of antibiotics clears this up (2 occurences in 6 weeks) and I'd really like to know if I'm thinking clearly before I bring it up to the NP again.

I'm not asking for medical advice like treatment, but I would like to know if any of you have seen recurring or chronic cellulitis and what may contribute to it. I know that immune deficiency can (high ANA titer for 5 years).

I'm open to suggestions.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

I've not only seen recurring cellulitis, I have it myself.

I've had three bouts with it over the past year, all in the right lower leg. Why? I would imagine it has a lot to do with my chronic edema, which is more pronounced in the right than the left leg. I'm not diabetic, and as far as I know I've never had a specific injury other than a weak ankle on that side; all I know is, I've been through three courses of Clindamycin (which gives me the WORST esophagitis) and my leg is STILL sore after the last round, which was back in June.:rolleyes:

I wish you luck; and if you find anything out, please share!

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Wow. I'm amazed. It's a pain, isn't it? The itching drives me nuts.

I've been surfing the net. I think the injury to my leg may be the cause. I, too, have chronic edema due to the loss of tissue in my lower right leg. My GP isn't very aggressive and they don't always like it when nurses "recommend" things, but I'm thinking a vascular study might not be a bad idea. As a home health nurse, I treated a lot of vascular ulcers. No thanks!

I wish you luck. Keep me posted, please.

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Specializes in LTC, assisted living, med-surg, psych.

Ooooooooh, I hate that itching.........and of course it burns like crazy, and if you scratch that makes everything worse! After the most recent episode, my leg never has been the same---if I bump it even gently, I almost scream because it hurts so much. The rest of the time I don't really notice the discomfort, but it's still sore to the touch, and this is now going on four months since my last "attack".:rolleyes: I suppose vascular studies might not be a bad idea........

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This is what I hate: I'm sleeping fairly soundly, and the sheet slides over my leg, setting off the most incredible fit of itching. No more sleep.

I have not had a problem with my leg being sore. The area is warm, red, raised, scaly and ugly but not really painful. I hope this isn't something I have to look forward to.

I'm more concerned about the why; what the heck is going on in my body that I can't kick this bacterial infection? I'm determined to get to the bottom of it.

Thanks for sharing. For what it's worth, you've made me feel better!

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