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Cellulitis of foot

Posted: Mar 10, 2015

Early Friday morning (day after a blizzard) I swept off the cement steps outside my apartment. They did not appear icy. It turns out they were. I fell down all 4 steps and since Friday have had bad swelling of the foot and ankle. There is also an abrasion on the top of my foot where the cement steps tore away skin.

Sunday my friend talked me into going for x-rays. There is no break, but the doctor diagnosed cellulitis. Since Sunday evening I have been on Keflex 500 mg 3 times a day for 10 days. The abrasion appears to be getting better, but I can't seem to get the swelling down in my foot. It gets better for a period of time, but returns. There is perhaps a slight improvement. There is no redness of the skin other than the actual abrasion.

I am thinking with the severe fall and the trauma to the foot and leg that the swelling is due to that, and not the cellulitis. However, I am getting concerned. The skin does not appear to be hot.

Does anyone have any experience with this? Your comments would be appreciated.

;

Oh, Christine, you poor thing! - Been there, done that.

[ In Reply To ..]

I'm quite experienced with cellulitis, unfortunately. The good thing is, you started Keflex early on. Keflex is the go-to antibiotic for cellulitis, which is a skin infection that can spread to the blood system if not treated and resolved. You do NOT want to get a blood infection.

I'm prone to cellulitis in my left shin, right on top of the shin bone. It started with a horrible case 8 years ago after I had scratched a mosquito bite. Mine was so bad that the convenient care doctor thought it was a blood clot and sent me to the E.R. The E.R. doc wanted to hospitalize me and put me on IV vancomycin. I didn't have insurance at that time and said I wanted to try to treat it with oral vanco at home. I promised to keep my legs elevated as much as possible. Kind of hard to do when you're an MT! He did a Doppler on both legs that very day and didn't find a blood clot, thank goodness.

To this day, Christine, if anything touches my left shin, even my cats brushing against my leg, the pain becomes excruciating. I've had small bouts of cellulitis in that spot a few times since the initial huge one. I know the signs: Heat, red streaks, and soreness to touch.

I think your swelling is from the trauma of the fall, not the cellulitis. If the foot isn't as hot as it was initially, that's good because it means the cellulitis is on its way out. Keep taking your medicine as prescribed. And keep that leg elevated as much as you can. You'll be fine. I'm sorry this happened to you!

Thank you! - Christine

[ In Reply To ..]
Thank you for your concern. I am so sorry you had such an experience, and that this area is so sensitive for you. It really is a frightening thing. The top of the foot is still really tender when I press on it. However, with the foot being traumatized on the cement steps I guess this is to be expected. I live alone, and staying off my foot is impossible. I do, however, try to keep it elevated and apply ice, take meds, etc. The swelling improves some, but then after bearing weight returns. I have been resting it as much as possible. Thank you again. Wish me luck. Best to you as well!

Ice - Fall

[ In Reply To ..]
Me too, I have had two falls on ice in the past month, damaging my knee. I think you need to ELEVATE that limb you damaged. You should also call your orthopod for instruction/advice. These ice fall injuries can take up to six weeks to heal.

Would this help - sickly

[ In Reply To ..]
Would wrapping it or using a compression hose help at all. I don't know anything about cellulitis, but do know about swelling.

Maybe it will take six weeks to heal, but could you ask the doctor about wrapping it or the compression hose?

To All - Christine

[ In Reply To ..]
I called the doctor who examined me on Sunday today. I actually spoke to his nurse, who told me from what I describe I am beginning to heal. Today the extremity definitely felt warmer than the other, which concerned me. She said the warmth now is the body's natural response to try to heal the injury.

I have been elevating the extremity and also wrapping it with a compression bandage. The bandage, however, seems to make the swelling worse at times and makes it hurt so much to walk because of the abrasion and swelling, especially on the top of my foot. The abrasion today looks better and is beginning to dry.

Thanks to you all for your help. It is a scary thing, but it seems the antibiotic is working. I agree that this will take several weeks. I have fibromyalgia and osteoarthritis as well. I am so sore all over and black and blue on my right leg and foot. SO glad this winter is over. Thanks again!

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