Cryosurgery aftermath

[jusserfinn]

I had 2 warts cryosurgically(?) removed at the end of July, 2007, It's now September 16, 2007, and the site on my hand is nearly healed, but the site on my leg (between ankle and knee, in the front) is not looking so good.  (I have been back to my doctor several times) He insists there is no infection, and told me (about 4 weeks ago) to use a wet to dry bandage on it twice a day to remove the "gunk" in the middle so that it can heal properly (from outside to in).  I tried this for about a week, but nothing happened.  Finally, a bit "peeled" up, and i pulled it out with tweezers.  I have been back to see him twice since then, but both times he just repeated the wet-to-dry stuff.  I love my doctor, he has always been personable, and thorough, so I am not complaining about him, but I AM worried about this wound.  The area around it has been itching so much, I have scratched more sores around the wound.  Its approximately 3/4 inch circular.  I also want to mention that I have had warts removed in the past in the same way, but never has a doctor done so much freezing that it blistered, and removed the dermis as well as the epidermis.  He did mention when I first asked that healing would take too long in that area on my leg, and I said that every time I shaved, I cut it off, and it bled.  He agreed to do it, but since then, of course, we decided to not ever freeze a wart off again!  Anyone know what I should do?  This is a link to the picture of the wound:  http://home.comcast.net/~ninjatrickster/wound.jpg

[chellybeans]

your itching is either a natural part of the healing process and quite common or you have developed a reaction to the adhesive bandages you're using. it is very common for cryotherapy to cause bliistering and peeling and your healing sounds typical. it's probably taking so long because it has not been exposed to air to dry out. if it were my own wound i would apply polysporin twice a day after washing with mild antibacterial soap and allow to air dry. no scratching and no wet bandages.

it worked with the numerous cryotherapy patients i saw come through the group i worked in. of course run anything by your doctor first, they really do have your best interest in mind.

best wishes on a fast recovery

[jusserfinn]

thanks for your response, chellybeans, but I have gone the last two weeks without any bandage on during the day, and doing a regular (stopped the wet-dry) bandage with neosporin at night, so it's not the bandage that's making me itch, nor has it done ANY healing at all since the blister broke and the epidermis and dermis sloughed off.

[chellybeans]

there is a high incidence of allergy with neosporin, that's why i said polysporin. have you been using it for the duration?

[jusserfinn]

yes, but I don't have an allergic reaction, there is no indication of rash or itching on the wound itself.

[defladamouse]

Deep wounds of that nature tend to take a long time to heal and dry, i had a graze on my knee that was less than half as deep which took a week to dry.

Try using TCP (TetraChloroPhenol) on the bandage, it might sting a bit but it works aces for killing bacteria.