How to get rid of my boils

[rrooffener]

About a year ago i broke my leg and had to have surgery, I had steel plates put in and they infected, they checked me for staph infection and but was never told if I had it. Then they operated and removed the metal from my leg, but was never put on any medications. Shortly after that surgery I began getting boils, and now I am worried what to do. The doctor will no longer see me that did the surgery in the first place. Or give me the records to see if i had staph infection in my leg.

[caregiver222]

As Drnee stated, skin conditions are often a result of poor blood sugar control. Generally speaking a single blood or urine sugar "test" is insufficient, because even a diabetic can have a normal blood sugar level at some time of the day. You need either a glucose fasting test or an insulin clamp procedure, depending on the preference of your physician.

The skin infections with boils are common in many hospitals. I was just visiting a friend who developed these boils in the acute care ward of one of the best hospitals. They are a variety of staph that is often anti-biotic resistant.

The basic drill is to insist that the infection be cultured, to provide a positive identification of the organism. Many physicians and hospitals don't culture today, but merely rely on so-called broad-spectrum antibiotics.

As to your physician "refusing" to provide medical records, I am fairly certain this is a result of a misunderstanding, or simply an over-worked physician. In fairness to this surgeon, even in the best hospitals contamination with staph and a resultant infection can take place. It does not necessarily mean he/she was negligent.

You can get these medical records through legal process, of course. The document to do so is called a "subpoena duces tecum", or a mandate by a court to produce documents.

A simple official written request, in accordance with the policies of the hospital, will often produce any documentation regarding your care.

As to the "point" of doing so, I'm not sure there is one, except as fodder for a malpractice tort, which I am not convinced the surgeon deserves.

The important thing is to determine exactly what kind of infection you have, and to take steps to eliminate it. It may be a surface infection, or it may in fact reside deep within the wound opened by the surgeon.

This may involve a stay in a hospital and intravenous anti-biotics.

If you have insurance problems, and such a stay is prohibitive, and you feel there is strong evidence that this infection was caused by the surgeon, hospitals will sometimes negotiate, and provide free medical treatment to resolve a medical issue (eating the bill) in exchange for a so-called "quitclaim".

The important thing is for you to get well, and not have dreams of sugarplums involving litigation and a tort claim.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi
Thanks for writing to the forum!
Yes, it can be staphylococcal infection. You can go to your physician. Generally staph infections can be diagnosed by clinical examination. Since the metal plate also got infected and some infection is persisting, it will be wise to get your blood sugar tested for diabetes.
Hope this helps. Do discuss this with your doctor and get yourself examined. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted. Take care!