Community discussion
I'm on my 3rd round of antibiotics. Surgery was July 24. My primary doctor thinks my body is reacting to the hardware my podiatrist says it's my RA.
Archived from Bunion Surgery / Foot Surgery Support. View the original discussion on Facebook (sign-in may be required).
The visible discussion was fully captured at the time of collection.
Oh dear. That looks sore! Do you know if you have internal stitches? I had internal stitches and 5 months after surgery, I developed a staphylococcal infection and had to go back into surgery to have the wound reopened & internal stitches removed as the internal stitches did not dissolve like they were supposed to.
I developed a post-op infection and am being treated by an infectious disease Dr. I am on 6 weeks treatment with IV antibiotic at home. She follows with lab results every week and ordered home health nurse. I am still not able to step on my foot 8 weeks post-op bunionectomy and 5 weeks post-op for surgery to explore infection.
Do you have infectious disease following you? I would want specific blood work and bone cultures taken to be sure it isn't a bone infection. If it is in the bone, then it would require a long course of IV antibiotics and hardware removed. Speaking from experience don't let them brush it off
Lisa , please follow up, maybe an infectious disease consultation. Best wishes
That looks like a bone infection
Go to the ER. I had a SSI and spent 6 days in the hospital during the height of Covid. Just go.
you need a infectious disease work up
I have RA and had a staph infection where they operated, they eventually removed the hardware … good luck x
Looks like a gout infection on top of the work that was done
I have not been referred to an infectious disease doctor as when the took the culture on Aug 30 they said nothing grew.
only thing I see listed on surgery notes was a staple and Synthes 2.5 mm cannulated screws.
I would definitely insist that your doctor further investigates what is causing this, please don’t delay as your don’t want this leading to something more serious. After 3 rounds of antibiotics, there should have at least been some kind of improvement.
did they have to take out the hardware or just clean the infection?
didn't have to remove hardware. ID Dr said she was going to treat aggressively with the 6 weeks of IV antibiotics.
that's what I think as well. Been there and I know how they like to down play things and under treat. I hope she gets adequate evaluation and treatment
The day I got admitted, I had been to my podiatrist and he ordered the same antibiotic. Clearly it's not working. Same as you. If you click on my head, you may see some of my older photos.
it can be “hiding” in the hardware. Or whatever. Please speak out for yourself. This looks like infection. I’m not a medical pro BUT I had a couple hospital stays after foot surgery due to recurrent infection and … it was a lot and took about 6-7 months , loads of antibiotics orally and IV and non weight bearing and a hardware removal. I hope it’s ok and wish you a good recovery from your surgery
speaking from experience cultures are not always positive. Did they take bone cultures or wound cultures?
also did you have an MRI? That can also show infection in the bone better then x-rays. But it still doesn't always show.
the other thing is that antibiotics can make false negative cultures even they are not fully working.
I had 3 lots of antibiotics It’s just about cleared up now - had my op 2nd August Feels like forever but will clear up I did poultice and draw my foot twice a day when it was bad That helped loads
At what weak did the infection start? Im worried about my hardware
wound culture.
only x-rays no MRI.
I have gone through bone infection last year. It really is not something to mess around with. It can very easily and quickly get out of hand become worse then anyone things it is. Bone infections really like to hide and need aggressive treatment. I would specifically ask for bone cultures to be done with a debridement surgery to visually inspect the bone. Depending on those results push for an infectious disease referral
after week 3 when they took the stitches out.
I'm sorry you are going through this. My stitches came out tomorrow and I'm just nervous
is that when you showered?
I am allergic to nickel and had a reaction that looked exactly like that 10+ years ago. They used OSSIO for my surgery three weeks ago due to the allergy Have your Dr do a nickel skin test (scratch you with a pinpoint) and rule it out. I’m so sorry. Antibiotics cannot address it if you are allergic to nickel. They will need to replace the hardware.
Your podiatrist says it’s RA 😂 That made me laugh. Send the pic to your rheumy so they can laugh too.
thank you for the information. I looked at my surgical report but it does not say what type of metal the screws are. I see my doctor again Tuesday.
many times they are called titanium or other names, but they are alloys. Ask your surgeon and good luck! I ran many races and marathons after my 1st foot surgery. Hopefully will do it again next year!
So sorry you are dealing with this.
I would push for surgical debridement and bone cultures
Community replies
34 in this archive