General Health

[robin1216]

I have a wound on my right ring finger and my left leg of which neither one will heal. I have had them for 2 1/2 months. I have been on 2 different antibiotics and 2 different prescription salves and they have not yet cleared up. They both drain a lot and the skin is very dry looking and cracked. The wounds are very red and both hurt. Tho the finger hurts more than the leg usually. I am currently waiting on some blood work return. Any clues?

[robin1216]

Thank you so much for your advise. I am suppose to call my dr tomorrow and let him know if this antibiotic worked and if not, (which it hasn't) he will get me in to a dermatologist for further review. Should I wait til tomorrow or since it isn't working call him today and tell him there is not change so I can get into a dermatologist sooner?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Welcome to the MedHelp forum!
Caregiver has explained several things to you. I’ll come straight to the point. Generally such wounds that do not heal are called non-healing ulcers in medical term. They could be non healing due to underlying infection, low supply of oxygen to the wound that is reducing the healing process, underlying diabetes, or due to underlying dermatitis. Wounds heal slower in smokers or alcoholics who have been drinking for a long time. So these have to be ruled out.
Also diabetes leads peripheral neuropathy, atherosclerosis etc which make wound healing troublesome.You need a culture sensitivity of wound scraping to know what antibiotics will suit the infection. If there is underlying dermatitis, then this needs to be taken care of. If there is severe atherosclerosis preventing blood supply to wound, then this needs to be diagnosed by angiograms. It is better to get this treated at a wound clinic. Wound debridement (cleaning of wound, removing slough, etc) would be required proper dressing at a wound clinic. Hope this helps. Take care!

[caregiver222]

I am very reluctant to scare someone, but let me provide a "worse-case" scenario.

If the infection develops in the bloodstream it may settle on the heart valves, which, because of the turbulance, cannot be treated with antibiotics. If left alone they will throw filimentacious debri which may cause a stroke. If removed you will require a pig-valve replacement and be on Coumadin the rest of your life.

That is why I am suggesting an emergency room.

[caregiver222]

You have a serious situation that for reasons that are unclear is not being addressed. I am not a happy camper when hearing this presentation.  It is clear the infections are antibiotic resistant. The wounds should be cultured. That is not the same thing as "bloodwork".

I would suggest you seek a so-called wound-care center or wound-care specialist. You can find one by contacting a specialist in diabetes. As soon as possible. Do not get "put off".

There is a likelihood that you may require hospitalization and intravenous medications. You are a candidate for an emergency room in a teaching hospital.