Abscess that won't go away

[AZgolfer777]

Over a month ago, an abscess formed on the back of my thigh (midway between bottom of buttock and top of knee).  I was on vacation and delayed medical care.  Finally it became huge and I went to ER where it was lanced and packed and I was given Bactrim and Cipro for 5 days.  I used compresses on it.  The culture came back (days later) as strep.  After another 10 days, it reddened again and seemed a bit bumpy.  I was put on 10 days of Clindmycin.  Just completed that course.  Yesterday, after having a scab on the incision site for a week or so, the scab fell off and it weeped a bit.  I compressed it yesterday and very little stuff came out (just a tad of fresh blood from where scab was).  

What should I do....revisit doctor?  Just let it scab over again....it seems to 'want' to do that.  Or should I keep compressing???

[jemma116]

Great news that the abcess is now healing.

Thanks for letting us know the good news.

Best wishes.

[LivingInHope]

I hope it heals up quickly.  Is it possible you might place too much pressure on the healing wound during your extended trip, inhibiting circulation to the area?  I hope you will be able to make frequent stops to get up and take a load off the site.  I wonder if you could use an eggcrate cushion under you?

[AZgolfer777]

Oh...she told me leave it unbandaged unless I want to protect my slacks.  It's warm here in AZ, so I'm mostly wearing skirts.  She said no need for more compresses at this point.  

[AZgolfer777]

Went to my family doctor.  She prodded, poked and pushed...no sign of infection, no sac of pus, no pain during exam.  No pain in muscle when she pressed really hard.  I brought her 2 used gauze pads to show the minor weeping.

Basically, it's a matter of location, location, location.  It's in the middle of the back of my upper thigh...right where you put most of your weight when you sit down.  The incision is no more than one-eighth of an inch long.  No weeping since Monday.  She wants to see me in a week as I am heading off on another extended cross country trip in two weeks.  She does not expect any problems.  My husband (who can see this better than I can, given its location) will watch for redness, soreness, etc.  

[caregiver222]

You need to back to a physician who is an infectious disease specialist. As of yesterday. This is nothing to fool around with. The wound should have completely healed. Another course of oral antibiotics in unlikely to help.  It is very likely you have an antibiotic resistant strain of bacteria and require hospitalization and intravenous administration of an antibiotic.

[jemma116]

That's a good sign.

You'll know if it is cellulite by comparing it to other cellulite parts.

Wishing you a spedy recovery.

[LivingInHope]

I'm not sure about the bumps, but it sounds like a number of positive signs, with no pus, no inflammation or pain and scabbing.  Cellulite can look pretty lumpy... hopefully the doctor will be able to provide further guidance.  The (serous) clear watery drainage might have been a bit of plasma (see private message).

[AZgolfer777]

Not hot, not inflamed nor painful,  The nickel-sized  'wet' mark wasn't thick like pus....it was watery.  It seems a bit bumpy to me: or is that just cellulite on my 60 year old thighs?! or maybe it's scar tissue from the original incision (I delayed having it looked at originally as we were on vacation and it was literally the size of a golf ball at the time of the incision and drainage.

I have a call into my doctor and awaiting her response.  Today it has remained dry, nothing coming out; scab reforming,

[LivingInHope]

If it looks inflamed, feels hot to the touch, is giving you pain, or was weeping pus, I recommend you go back to the doctor.  Please, call and ask your doctor if you should keep using compresses or not at this stage of healing.

[jemma116]

Sorry to hear it has not been healing quickly.

As the scab fell off and some pus came out with the blood, I would suggest you see your doctor again as the infection may not have cleared up completely.  Also if you notice it is getting lumpy that it feels like filling up with rubbish it may still have an infection inside.

Because it is in a place where you cannot examine it properly yourself the best thing for you to do is to visit your doctor so that he can examine it properly.  He will be able to tell you if it is healing OK, or whether you need another course of antibiotics.  

If the wound is not open, you can apply a drawing paste to draw the rubbish to the surface.  Magnesium sulphate paste is a good drawing paste, but you can only apply it on to closed skin, NOT on open wounds.

Bathing in salty water may also help.

Best wishes