Cellulitis and heeling process

[Naomibling]

Hi,

I recently had a very bad bout of cellulitis in my foot and leg, this spread quick due to waiting 5 hours to see a doctor in our A&E department, I was in hospital for 2 weeks and was discharged on antibiotics, once finished those I went to my doctors and have been given another course of different antibiotics which I’ve had before to treat this problem plus another course of antibiotics to kill any bacteria.

My leg and foot is peeling and the doctor has given me savlon to apply daily to also kill any bacteria. My foot area is still tight due to fluid and keeping my leg elevated higher than heart.

Today is the first day I’ve hardly had any pain when I put my foot to the floor but I still can’t fully weightbare or walk on left foot due to tightness, it’s been 3 weeks since this started, have people had this where they feel it’s taken forever to heel/ walk again??

My foot still has areas that look yellow

[Lynora]

H there - do you have lymphoedema? Do you attend a clinic?

Cellulitis is serious stuff - I’m disappointed you had such a long wait in A&E - they usually see people very quickly.

It will take a while to heal - weeks or months, in some cases.

[Naomibling in reply to Lynora]

Hi,

I reckon I have Lymphoedema somewhere due to my mum having it and the fact I’ve had cellulitis a few times but never as severe as this time round, I put it down to now being seen by a doctor quick enough in A&E as it was spreading.

I don’t attend any clinics.

My leg and foot is now peeling a lot and today is the first day I’ve not had hardly any pain once I stand up with my crutches and put my foot to the floor but still can’t walk on it yet.

I just noticed today that certain areas of my foot looked a purple colour once I got up and put my foot towards the floor but I’m elevating it higher than my hip all day, not sure if that’s a sign of anything in particular?

[Lynora in reply to Naomibling]

If it worries you, go and see your GP to get checked - especially as your foot is changing colour - it may require a Doppler test to check the blood supply.

Also, tell him/her that you would like to be referred to the nearest Lymphoedema Clinic, as there is a family history of the condition (and cellulitis can cause it!).

[Naomibling in reply to Lynora]

Hi Lynora

I had a scan and X-ray before I left the hospital and all came back fine so they sent me home the following day.

I just don’t understand why I cannot walk on my foot yet as still feels tight, I’ve never experienced it takes this long before, my antibiotics finish this weekend and I have a follow up with my doctor on Monday.

One positive is I have no pain now when my foot sits on the floor

[Lynora in reply to Naomibling]

The tightness is the result of the infection. The bacteria causes havoc in the lymph and blood vessels. You might benefit from manual lymphatic drainage (mlduk.org.uk/therapists) which could help speed the removal of any residual oedema, gently reducing the tightness.

[Naomibling in reply to Lynora]

I appreciate your responses, I’m just impatient as I have an 8 month old and my husband is having to do everything, when I have my leg elevated I wiggle my toes and keep doing circular motions with my ankle which is slowly becoming looser but I can put only abit of weight on my foot at this current time, it still has tight areas in my ankle which is preventing me from walking, I have a doctors appointment tomorrow and I reakon I will need at least one more course of antibiotics

[Lynora in reply to Naomibling]

Naomi - were you checked for blood clots/DVT??

Ask for an urgent referral to a lymphoedema clinic. You could also contact your midwife and let her know what is going on. Postpartum oedema is common, but rare after 8 months - worth being checked to eliminate anything going on elsewhere.

[DeadfootMo]

I've had this condition twice the healing process is long but what surprises me is being prescribed Savlon. I can only assume that why your skin is yellow is due to the Savlon. I was told on both occasions after the antibiotics etc to never allow the skin to become totally dry as my skin needed moisturising with Hydromol and I had to ensure that this also reached into the cracks in my skin. If my skin dried out and bled the battle to prevent infection would be increased, hence using Hydromol at least three times a day was recommended during the periods I had with the cellulitis infection. Even today with no infection I still use a little twice daily as I suffer from Lymphoedema and this has an awful habit of making my skin taut and tight.

[alfie19 in reply to DeadfootMo]

Eperderm ointment or cream is good the ointment can be a it greasy but you only need a small amount then rub well into the skin.

[Naomibling in reply to alfie19]

Hi,

I’ve been using dermal cream in my bath and also to moisturise but it’s quite weird moisturing hard flakey skin, I don’t bath everyday as it’s not good for natural skin oils so every second day, it’s been a long process I never want repeated again