Problem after cellulitis

[Suzyscenes]

I had cellulitis on my ankle about 5 months ago. I was prescribed antibiotics, which seemed to solve the problem. Since then, the spot where the cellulitis was has indented and is very flakey and a little sore to the touch. Should I be concerned about this?

[Lynora]

That part will have been damaged by the infection - the effects can last for months.

Keep your limb well moisturised, mainly at bedtime (not before donning garments) - when applying the emollient, use the opportunity to gently massage the skin in the affected area. Have you ever had MLD? A therapist or clinic nurse, should be able to demonstrate Self Lymphatic Drainage - there are also self help videos on YouTube.

[DeadfootMo]

I have only had cellulitis twice, the first time was approximately 4 or 5 years ago and this was crippling at the time and the second time was over Christmas just gone, On the first occasion I had the cellulitis I kept telling myself it will go away so left it a full week before getting any treatment by which stage the colour of my skin was very red and very bruised looking. My foot was also twice the size and looked totally deformed. I struggled to walk but such is life I had so much to do, I didn't get it treated for that first week. When it was treated I was informed that it was a severe infection of the skin but not bone although had it gone to the bone I would have been in real trouble. However, I was told that I needed high dose antibiotics on a drip and pain killers for approximately 10-12 days. The first week via outpatients at the Tropical Diseases unit and the remaining part of that week a visiting nurse to my home set up the rest. I was then prescribed a further week of antibiotics and reduced dose painkillers and a treatment for constipation as the high doses of the previous fortnight affected my bowels. During the treatment I was advised to never let the skin dry out and to ensure that I kept it well moisturised with Hydromol or Epaderm, because this would prevent cracks and further infection. I also had crutches for a fortnight as walking became a problem. The strangest thing is we could not find a place of entry for the infection in the beginning and as I had been to a park prior to the Cellulitis they thought it might have been caused by a horsefly bite or even a midgee. The skin discolouration however took about 6 months to fade and before it felt normal and soft again I would say that was a good year. The pain gradually eased over two months.

I would just like to add though that for approximately 2 years prior to this cellulitis I had also suffered from swollen feet which my GP said was severe water retention, that he said was self caused due to being overweight, so this was something I could do something about by a diet, exercise, joining a slimming group and a gym etc. So sometimes, I have heard that having swollen feet or Lymphoedema can be a cause of cellulitis.

This time round I only had the cellulitis for 2 or 3 days before getting an urgent GP appointment and was prescribed antibiotics for a week in the form of Flucloxacillin which seems to have done the job over Christmas and the New Year. However, this time I think it was caused by shaving in the bath using a disposable razor. So I have not shaved now for approximately 18 days and when I do it will be a dry shave with an electric razor. So I am hoping it won't repeat itself anytime soon.

I hope your pains ease soon.