Injuries and RehabTell us where it hurts! Do a quick search before asking about your shoulder injury to make sure your question hasn't already been answered (about 50 times), and read the sticky post first.
This probably doesn't fit in here but I'll ask it anyway just to see if anyone knows.
Neosporin is for use of minor cuts to PREVENT infection, but it is okay to apply it to a wound that is already infected?
I have a deep cut on my leg all the way to the bone (tibial tuberosity for the geeks in here), and after I got it, it seemed to be healing along swimmingly. Three weeks later I guess I got cocky thinking it was healed and did all kinds of activities that no doubt introduced something to the wound that caused it to get infected.
Being the typical guy I am, I did not even try to treat it until my leg was SO painful and swollen so much that I could hardly walk. Even still I did not go to a doctor (no health insurance) so I called a doc friend of mine and told him I had an old antibiotic prescription. He said it would do the trick.
I am two days into my antibiotics, but my leg has gotten ridiculous. It shoots pain up my leg, I cannot plantar-flex and dorsiflexion hurts as well but it's doable. My skin is all discolored a deep shade of red on the lower leg.
I just soaked in an extremely hot bath with two cups of Epsom's Salt (all I needed was some sliced onions, pepper, and a little barley), and I have completely cleaned the wound with sterile bandages and hydrogen peroxide.
Would Neosporin help? Would it have negative effects?
Before anyone says it, I know that I should go to a doctor. That ain't happening, unless it progressively gets worse over the next few days.
I call the Pharmacist for everything. I just call the ones that I use down at Walgreens and they are always very helpful and full of information. I call all the time and ask for specifics about OTC medications. I am sure they could tell you and it would be information you could trust.
Having said that, I have put Neosporin on some similar sounding injuries and it did really well.
side tidbit: back home (in Kentucky) it was really common for the old farmers to pour kerosene over bad cuts. I dont' really understand that (except perhaps the alcohol?) but it was something you seen (and smelled) all the time. Always thought it was odd, but they healed up fine, and swore by it?
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If you weren't born drop dead gorgeous, be thankful for the opportunity to develop character first.
I have lurked here for quite some time now without ever posting but your post brought out the nurse in me so here goes. It is hard to say if Neosporin would be effective against the infection in your leg without a culture. It shouldnt hurt anything, just don't goop it on so thick that it impedes any drainage. Drainage is a good thing in this case. There is also a product called Manuka honey that is good on wounds like the one you describe. One of the trade names is Medi-Honey. It's over the counter and usually found at health food stores. Good luck!!
O.k, so I'm a rule breaker. I should have read the announcement post at the top before I posted. For the record I am in no way connected with Manuka honey or Medi-Honey. I am not trying to advertise for it and only thought it might be helpful to the OP with his injury. I would delete the post if I could figure out how. Sorry!
I am two days into my antibiotics, but my leg has gotten ridiculous. It shoots pain up my leg, I cannot plantar-flex and dorsiflexion hurts as well but it's doable. My skin is all discolored a deep shade of red on the lower leg.
Just don't be a dumb-ass. Ask Greg about getting along with a missing lower leg.
having gone thru a leg wound that became infected, i'm thinking you're at the point of needed to go to a doctor's and rapidly approaching the point of needing to be hospitalized for iv antibiotics. So, um... don't be dumbass. Seriously, go to your doctor or the nearest urgent care.
I'd suggest looking for clinics that offer sliding fees or have plans for treating people without insurance. The United Way usually keeps a good list, or there are some free or sliding scale medical care options for the Little Rock area listed at https://www.stvincentfoundation.org/..._outreach.html (There may be others. That's just what I pulled up in Google without knowing the area.)
And if the whole "accepting charity" thing bothers you just remember that you can always give down the road and probably have given in the past. (Heck you might even be able to donate some rehab or post-rehab type work to a clinic.)
Hope you get better soon.
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"Time and patience are the 2 elements that most people don't include in their plans."
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This may be a case of penny wise and pound foolish. You need to get to a doctor ASAP. It's not unusual to see patients hospitalized with infections like you're describing.
Thanks for all the wonderful advice, folks. I put a little neosporin on it last night and put a band-aid over it. I think maybe the antibiotics are finally kicking in as it is a lot less painful this morning. The swelling is down a bit and it isn't quite as hot as it was yesterday.
Of all the horrible things to happen to watch last night, my girlfriend and I were watching "Pan's Labyrinth"... There is a scene in there where a doctor has to remove a mans leg with a saw to save him because of an infection. It was a little graphic as he plunged it directly under the knee where my injury is.
I am not opposed to going to the doctor. I am not going to an ER because of my current financial situation, but I knew that if I could hold out till Monday I'd be fine. I have two doctor friends who I can go visit in their clinic that won't charge me, so I will go see one of them today. Although it may not be necessary now... I'll have to monitor it throughout the day.
JP, please report back that you went to the doctor. My neighbor almost lost his leg due to an infection that went horribly wrong. He was put into a medically-induced coma for several weeks, during which time he underwent numerous surgeries to remove the infection again and again and then several plastic surgeries to try and graft skin over the huge open wound that had been created. They saved his leg, but it looks a mess, and he will never walk perfectly again. GO TO THE DOCTOR.
Oops.. that last entry of Lost Dog totally had me LOL.
It sounds like you've got yourself covered with having 2 good doc friends that will help you out.. go see that one (as you said to do).
As someone for whom an inflammation gone wrong ended in hospitalization as well , just repeating again what the others said. Do yourself a favour and have it treated now rather than later.
I went to the doc and he put me on a much better antibiotic and gave me some antibiotic cream. He said it was definitely not good... Was worried that because the cut went to the bone that I might develop a bone infection. We'll see in 10 days if it has cleared up.
I went to the doc and he put me on a much better antibiotic and gave me some antibiotic cream. He said it was definitely not good... Was worried that because the cut went to the bone that I might develop a bone infection. We'll see in 10 days if it has cleared up.
If it is small enough for a bandage, but goes to the bone . . it sounds like a stab wound.
Been a part of any good muggings lately??
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If you weren't born drop dead gorgeous, be thankful for the opportunity to develop character first.
i'm sooooo glad you went to the doctor, i was laying in bed worrying about you last nite.
Katydid - LOL, I was thinking the same thing! Or maybe he was attacked by some facemask-wearing undead dood with a icepick. Y'know, bein' Halloween season and all.
If it is small enough for a bandage, but goes to the bone . . it sounds like a stab wound.
Been a part of any good muggings lately??
Smashed my chin on a concrete edge (missed a jump). Went to the bone. Probably could have used a stitch, but I'm really not all that worried about a scar on my shin. The cut at the time it happened was only about 3/4 of an inch. Now it's more like half and inch.
Didn't you bust up your ankle at the '08 Summit trying to jump off the boat? Perhaps you really do need some stability ball squatting. Are you into the Parkour now? Hope it gets better.
Neosporin question
You're safe.
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