 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
Medical Forum / Diseases and Disorders / Arthritis / April 2006Elbow bursitis and the ER
Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my elbow aspirated and cultured. Apparently it was VERY infected. Not the joint but the bursa. The ER doc was very impressed with the amount of junk he got out of it. He kept saying here -- look at this. I said more than once no thanks I'll get sick. So its still numbed up and I'm not looking forward to the Novocain wearing off. He said he packed it with about 7 inches of gauze tape (1/4 inch wide) So we should know by Wed what it was infected with. He said the only way to get rid of infection like that is to drain it because the bursa is a closed unit type area and that abx would not have made any difference.I was wondering about that cause I'd been on two abx for cellultis in my leg for the past two weeks. I had called my rheumy this am first thing because I wasn't liking how it developed over the weekend. It's been swollen for a month now but with my feeling so awful and a low grade fever and then the scabby patchy looking area on the very hot and red swollen joint -- I just thought maybe she'd like to look at it and of course she did. She got my ID doc on the phone while I was there and together they decided to send me to the ER because the culture results would come back sooner. I got there at 5:00 and left at 1am. The doctor was very gentle and explained everything as he went along He looked sooooo young! I asked him if he was a newby! LOL He said no, he'd been a full fledge ER doc for quite a while. So he actually cut about a 1/2 in incision in the elbow and drained it out. Lots of blood of course being on coumadin and all that. So I hope I don't have trouble with it healing. He put me on Keflex just to be on the safe side and I will wait to hear on the results of the culture. So -- That infection could explain a lot about why I felt so crappy all weekend and hurt so bad. My temp was almost 101 when I got to the ER. I'm just glad they didn't admit me. Gonna head off to bed now. Hopefully I won't bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW Diane, enough already! You don't even finish with one thing before you get two or three more. Pray that the elbow will heal quickly without any problems, and everything else will go away and leave you in peace for at least a while. I know you are looking forward to feeling decent once again. Gwen > Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. > I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > won't > bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW ((((((((((((((((dianew))))))))))))))))) hope you feel better quickly, sweetie! kate Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my elbow aspirated and cultured. Apparently it was VERY infected. Not the joint but the bursa. The ER doc was very impressed with the amount of junk he got out of it. He kept saying here -- look at this. I said more than once no thanks I'll get sick. So its still numbed up and I'm not looking forward to the Novocain wearing off. He said he packed it with about 7 inches of gauze tape (1/4 inch wide) So we should know by Wed what it was infected with. He said the only way to get rid of infection like that is to drain it because the bursa is a closed unit type area and that abx would not have made any difference.I was wondering about that cause I'd been on two abx for cellultis in my leg for the past two weeks. I had called my rheumy this am first thing because I wasn't liking how it developed over the weekend. It's been swollen for a month now but with my feeling so awful and a low grade fever and then the scabby patchy looking area on the very hot and red swollen joint -- I just thought maybe she'd like to look at it and of course she did. She got my ID doc on the phone while I was there and together they decided to send me to the ER because the culture results would come back sooner. I got there at 5:00 and left at 1am. The doctor was very gentle and explained everything as he went along He looked sooooo young! I asked him if he was a newby! LOL He said no, he'd been a full fledge ER doc for quite a while. So he actually cut about a 1/2 in incision in the elbow and drained it out. Lots of blood of course being on coumadin and all that. So I hope I don't have trouble with it healing. He put me on Keflex just to be on the safe side and I will wait to hear on the results of the culture. So -- That infection could explain a lot about why I felt so crappy all weekend and hurt so bad. My temp was almost 101 when I got to the ER. I'm just glad they didn't admit me. Gonna head off to bed now. Hopefully I won't bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW >((((((((((((((((dianew))))))))))))))))) hope you feel better quickly, >sweetie! [quoted text clipped - 52 lines] >won't >bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW I had a staph infection in my bursa a few months ago but antibiotics took care of it. My elbow was swollen to the size of a softball but didn't hurt. They tried draining it but could get very little out. I was off Humira long enough that it took a couple of months to become effective again. Thumper Thumper - Was it MERSA or just plain staph? Did you take oral or IV abx? The culture results should be back tomorrow or Thursday. The doc didn't tell me it was still going to be leaking infection -- but it was. Had to change the bandage as it leaked thru and I can't believe how much is still in there. When they drained it, did they just use a needle or did they cut a small incistion? Sorry to ask so many questions but I've never had anything like this before. The er doc said it usually comes from a bug bite but I can't remember getting one. Did they tell you how you got it? DiW >Thumper - Was it MERSA or just plain staph? I don't know >Did you take oral or IV >abx? Oral >The culture results should be back tomorrow or Thursday. The doc >didn't tell me it was still going to be leaking infection -- but it >was. Had to change the bandage as it leaked thru and I can't believe >how much is still in there. When they drained it, did they just use a >needle or did they cut a small incistion? Needle. He wanted to try the abx for a day or two and if it didn't start to respond he probably would have made an incision. Keep in mind I didn't go to the emergency room. I went to my RD. Thumper >Sorry to ask so many >questions but I've never had anything like this before. The er doc said >it usually comes from a bug bite but I can't remember getting one. Did >they tell you how you got it? DiW No but I did have an open sore on the tip of my elbow that appeared as a pimple.I didn't notice it at first as I've had skin problems, rashes and stuff since I got diagnosed with RA. Had a lot of biopsies but so far 3 dermatologists are still clueless. > Thumper - Was it MERSA or just plain staph? Did you take oral or IV > abx? The culture results should be back tomorrow or Thursday. The doc [quoted text clipped - 5 lines] > it usually comes from a bug bite but I can't remember getting one. Did > they tell you how you got it? DiW (((((((((((((DianeW))))))))))) years ago I had a nasty cellulitis that started in the elbow bursa, but wasn't contained in it. Weird thing is that nothing, NOTHING, grew out on the gram stain or the culture. But I had this very swollen, hot, red elbow with red streaks running down almost to my wrist by the time the antibiotics kicked in. It was nasty all around. I was on oral antibiotics for mine, though he was ready to slap me in the hospital for IV or even surgical cleaning out in a second if necessary. At the time I had an RD who also did primary care and he was treating it all. (sharp fella but he finally embarked on a well-deserved retirement) Anyway, he started me on Keflex, switched me to Cipro after the cultures came back negative, just to get the broadest sspectrum coverage possible. It cleared up nicely, but this was in the days that my PA was fairly quiet. Oh, and I was mystified as to how I got this until he noticed an almost healed, slight scrape on my elbow. Then I remembered doing it on a Friday when we spent the weekend camping at Wekiwa Springs. Some outdoor bacteria must have gotten in through that scrape. heal and quickly, ok?  SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare >> Thumper - Was it MERSA or just plain staph? Did you take oral or IV >> abx? The culture results should be back tomorrow or Thursday. The doc [quoted text clipped - 28 lines] > >heal and quickly, ok? Sounds a lot like my experience. Thumper Sometimes I wonder what it would feel like to feel well. {{{{{DianeW}}}}} I had to reschedule both of my appointments this week (tooth extraction and upper GI) due to a sinus infection. For crying out loud! Does this stuff ever let up? Get well soon, honey! DeeTee > Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. > I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > won't > bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW That's what I'm wondering. I'm going on a year and a half now of straight infections -- except the sinus stopped after the IVIG. Hope you get that tooth taken care of soon because I learned the hard way how badly a bad tooth can effect your overall health. DiW (((((diane))))) Love and prayrers, Vickie B. well I can't spell diane w, you poor thing! i wish you could get a break. (of the time out kind). i hope this clears up quickly. diane Diane, I just returned from my visit to a surgeon who aspirated my right elbow bursitis with a needle, and covered the area with a Band-Aid and Ace bandage. The whole procedure took at the most 10 minutes. He wants me to monitor the area, and if there is no further inflammation, I don't have to see him. Last time I had this procedure was approx. 15 years ago when my left elbow had a bursitis. Lyman > diane w, you poor thing! i wish you could get a break. (of the time out > kind). i hope this clears up quickly. > > diane This was beyond a needle said the er doc. Too much infection. It drained a lot yesterday and last night and today it's been dry. Plus my fever is gone and the all over body pain is greatly improved. Still didn't get the results from the culture yet but see the ID tomorrow aftenooon when they expect to have some idea of what we are dealing with. At least it looks like the Keflex is working. DiW >This was beyond a needle said the er doc. Too much infection. It >drained a lot yesterday and last night and today it's been dry. Plus my >fever is gone and the all over body pain is greatly improved. Still >didn't get the results from the culture yet but see the ID tomorrow >aftenooon when they expect to have some idea of what we are dealing >with. At least it looks like the Keflex is working. DiW Yes it works pretty good. How do you like the smell? Thumper The smell of what? DiW >The smell of what? DiW The abx. Thumper Don't notice one -- DiW >Don't notice one -- DiW Maybe I have you mixed up with someone else. Were you taking Keflex (cephalexin)? You don't want to pass gas near anyone while taking it and it doesn't smell much better going down either. Thumper Not having that problem either! LOL I've taken Keflex before without any uh....oderous problems. Maybe it was interacting with something else in your system. DiW >Not having that problem either! LOL I've taken Keflex before without >any uh....oderous problems. Maybe it was interacting with something >else in your system. DiW Are you telling me that you can open a bottle of keflex and NOT smell that odor? Thumper No odor -- I get generic maybe that's the difference. And I'm generally very sensitive to smells. DiW >No odor -- I get generic maybe that's the difference. And I'm generally >very sensitive to smells. DiW Are they red capsules? Thumper Yep. Red caps......DiW >Yep. Red caps......DiW Maybe you nose isn't what it used to be. Thumper OK Thumper - I got my new RX, the other one was from the ER. These are two tone green caps and have a funky smell. Not intolorable and haven't burped it up or anything to notice it lingering........But they do smell. Don't know why the others didn't. These are generic also but different color. DiW >OK Thumper - I got my new RX, the other one was from the ER. These are >two tone green caps and have a funky smell. Not intolorable and haven't >burped it up or anything to notice it lingering........But they do >smell. Don't know why the others didn't. These are generic also but >different color. DiW Mine are red generics. I've had them 3 times and everyone has an awful smell. Thumper Why did you have to say that Thumper? Of course I had to check mine since it's right next to the bed here. Wow, does that stink. Cooly > Are you telling me that you can open a bottle of keflex and NOT smell > that odor? > Thumper >Why did you have to say that Thumper? Of course I had to check mine >since it's right next to the bed here. >Wow, does that stink. >Cooly LOL, Is this the first time you noticed it? Don't pass gas around others. Thumper >> Are you telling me that you can open a bottle of keflex and NOT smell >> that odor? >> Thumper I hadn't noticed it, my wife is the one with the sensitive nose. I'll have to make sure I leave the cap on or she'll throw them out before I've finished them. Cooly > LOL, Is this the first time you noticed it? Don't pass gas around > others. > Thumper Dee Tee, Wishing you well. I am sorry you had to cancel your appts. I hope you get that tooth taken care of. Thinking of you. SignatureHugs, prayers, good thoughts, Warm fuzzies, TLC, and Love Squirrely Jo > This was beyond a needle said the er doc. Too much infection. It > drained a lot yesterday and last night and today it's been dry. Plus my > fever is gone and the all over body pain is greatly improved. Still > didn't get the results from the culture yet but see the ID tomorrow > aftenooon when they expect to have some idea of what we are dealing > with. At least it looks like the Keflex is working. DiW Let's hear it for Keflex! Hip, hip, hooray! SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare ((((((((((((((((((((DianeW))))))))))))))))) Loujean >Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. >I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] >won't >bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW Gentle hugs Diane. Duckie > Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. > I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > won't > bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW I hope all goes well for you Diane W, and that you heal quickly. SignatureHugs, prayers, good thoughts, Warm fuzzies, TLC, and Love Squirrely Jo > Hi all. I've been having a rough couple weeks and think now I know why. > I just returned from 12 hours combined rheumy and ER to have my [quoted text clipped - 47 lines] > won't > bleed thru my favorite PJ's during the nite! Cyberhugs....DianeW Saw the ID today who said the final report on the culture still wasn't back yet and the only think that grew was yeast which wasn't a surprise because I have yeast under my breasts from the last round of abx I took. He said it was most likely on the skin when they too =k the culture rather than a true yeast infection in the bursa. He put me on 200 mg of diflucan for 10 days in addition to finishing the Keflex.Yikes. I'll just be getting more and more yeast by the time I finish the Keflex! Anyway, he said it's probably staph and repeated the culture. And also said that if it doesn't go way or comes back again we should take the bursa out cause we really don't need it anyway. Easy for him to say.....DiW >Saw the ID today who said the final report on the culture still wasn't >back yet and the only think that grew was yeast which wasn't a surprise [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] >should take the bursa out cause we really don't need it anyway. Easy >for him to say.....DiW It will go away. I needed 20 days to get rid of mine. Thumper The wierd thing was that I was on two other abx for cellulitis in my leg the two weeks prior to this showing signs of infection. Cipro and Cleocin. Stopped them on Thurs and on Friday this started showing signs of being infected. Strange. Maybe they were the wrong abx. And when I was in the hospital for cellulitis in December the bursa blew up and got really big then too but didn't look infected. Strange body this one of mine....DiW > Saw the ID today who said the final report on the culture still wasn't > back yet and the only think that grew was yeast which wasn't a surprise [quoted text clipped - 7 lines] > should take the bursa out cause we really don't need it anyway. Easy > for him to say.....DiW sounds like me - nothing grew out on the culture. Just as an FYI, I ended up on antibiotics for 20 days for my elbow bursa cellulitis and that was in my PA fairly calm, no DMARDs days. Might take longer now. Oh, and the elbow still felt strange after I finished the abx - I told the doc it felt like there was something there that shouldn't be. He said the bursa was still swollen from the irritation and it would take a couple more weeks for that to ease. And not to put any pressure on the elbow until it felt normal. (once it felt normakl, I went back to bike-riding and wiped out within a month, reconfiguring my wrist in the process!) SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Did he ever suggest removing the bursa? I thought that was strange. At least the swelling is gone and most of the drainage is gone. Now I just have to have it finish healing and hope it doesn't come back, And figure what to do next cause I don't think Enbrel is going to be an option any more. DianeW > Did he ever suggest removing the bursa? I thought that was strange. At > least the swelling is gone and most of the drainage is gone. Now I just > have to have it finish healing and hope it doesn't come back, And > figure what to do next cause I don't think Enbrel is going to be an > option any more. DianeW No, but my experience was an isolated case, not a recurring problem as you seem to have. It does sound a bit strange to me, but I'm not an elbow expert! If it comes to that, you might want to get a second opinion before you have it done - see if there's agreement about the need for the elbow bursa. SignatureNann remove the Gator cheer to email me Simply the thing I am shall make me live --- William Shakespeare Sheesh, Diane, scary stuff you are dealing with!!! Sure hope things heal up completely and there is no need for surgery or any other type of further intervention! You have been through enough already. Praying for a very looooooong period of peace and calm for you! Donna G |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.