Lump from interigo in my armpit

[krwiley7]

I had arthroscopic rotator cuff surgery on 2/15/12 and took Keflex 4 per day for 5 days. I was put in this velcro sling that binds your arm to your side tightly. I was told not to bathe or get my left shoulder or arm wet until day 3 post-op. I was not thinking about how badly I was sweating down my left arm. When I went to bathe on day 3... we unwrapped the sling and my underarm odor was unreal foul. My wife is an OR-RN and she told me I had developed skin breakdown under my arm and down my lat. We tried to wash my armpit but I had a lump about quarter size and super sore. I went to the doctor b/c I felt achy, but no fever. He put me on Clindimyacin 300mg TID on 2/23/12 along with Clotrimazole topical oint. to treat a secondary bacterial infection stemming from the initial fungal infection on my skin. The lump is down to a nickel size and barely tender. He felt great about it and told me to finish the clindimyacin and keep using the oint. I go home yesterday, 2/27/12, and went to sleep. Then I got up to shower and felt under my arm and the initial lump was smaller but I had developed a new one about pea-sized. It is slightly sore as well. What is going on? Is this part of the healing process? I have no other lumps or any signs of anything else. Both lumps are flesh-colored. My stitches healed great. That profuse sweating started this whole mess. Thanks.

[Tyman1]

Hey man, I just had an arthroscopic shoulder surgery as well for a labrum tear (slap type 2). Anyways I've got the same issue, and have for like over a week. I'm no doctor but I am a paramedic and I've been researching the issue. It's most likely swollen lymp nodes Aka lymphadema. As your wife should know, you lymphatic system is the roadways and police hubs for your immunity. The system sucks up extra fluid (lymph vessels) and dump it into police hubs (nodes). There are large collections of these in your armpit along with neck, groin, and other places. Anyways, it would make sense that these would be swollen after an invasive surgery. Your skin is first line of defensive and it makes sense that in that area the lymph nodes are swollen and on top of that, your movement in that area is restricted which would reduce blood flow and lymph flow even more making the situation even worse. Swollen lymph nodes are a normal response of the immunity. That being said, with proper immunity healthy and circulation it should go away on its own. If you get prescribed an antibiotic make sure you finish it, so it doesn't turn into MRSA. But if it doesn't get better, that could be an issue and I'd ask your doctor about it. Hopefully that one knows what he or she is talking about.