A Lingering Pain: My Ongoing Battle with Cellulitis

I didn't think much of it when my son ran into the back of my leg with a shopping cart. As any mother can probably attest to, it's a common occurrence when you have children. The Home Depot garden cart caught me in the back of the lower leg and left about an inch long cut but it wasn't deep. I applied pressure for a couple of minutes and the bleeding stopped right away.

Little did I know, that tiny cut would land me in the hospital.

The Morning Burn

I've had problems with swelling in my legs for many years now. Doctors first thought it was an allergic reaction to the Darvocet they'd put me on for my back, then they blamed my back troubles for causing the swelling. Other doctors blamed it on my liver or just brushed it under the carpet - when you don't have medical insurance, a lot tends to be overlooked or you avoid doctors altogether, unless it's an emergency. Such was the case this morning.

I awoke to a very painful sensation in my left leg. At first, I blamed it on the swelling, thinking that perhaps I'd done something to it as I slept. As the day wore on, however, the pain intensified to a burning agony that hurt even when the cool air of a fan blew on it. By this time, not only did I have the usual swelling, but my leg had taken on a shade that was best described as hot pink. Alarmed, I put a cool cloth over the inflamed area in an attempt to take some of the redness and heat out of it.

Fever Sets In

By late afternoon, I was running a 103.4 degree fever and despite the Florida heat climbing well into the 90's, I couldn't stop shivering. Tylenol was proving no help for the fever or for the pain, and I now had a nasty headache coming on. Mind you, I'm normally pretty tough and have a high pain tolerance, but I finally agreed with my daughter and decided it was best to go in to the hospital. Even though I felt silly for going into the E.R. for something that seemed so insignificant, this would prove to be a very wise decision.

I was shocked when they said they were admitting me.

A Costly Hospital Stay

I was diagnosed with Cellulitis in my lower leg and had to spend three days in the hospital. During my stay, I had numerous tests including ultrasounds, an x-ray and an EKG. I had enough blood drawn that I was beginning to think they were stocking some kind of underground vampire bar and I had two different IV lines put in me (the one in my arm went bad after the second day, so they placed one in the side of my wrist). In addition to 2 different IV antibiotics and medications to bring down my fever, I was also given injections to help prevent blood clots since I was bedridden. Needless to say, it was no picnic.

After I was released from the hospital, I was put on oral antibiotics and a diuretic to help control fluid build up in my leg. Mind you - all of this is from a tiny, 1-inch cut, thanks to a shopping cart.

So What Exactly Is Cellulitis?

The Diseases Database defines Cellulitis as "An acute, diffuse, and suppurative inflammation of loose connective tissue, particularly the deep subcutaneous tissues, and sometimes muscle, which is most commonly seen as a result of infection of a wound, ulcer, or other skin lesions." In most cases, Cellulitis is caused by either a Strep or Staph infection and is more commonly seen in the elderly, those suffering from Diabetes or those whose immune system is compromised. But don't think you're safe - anyone can get this infection.

Cellulitis can start with an itchy rash or may be accompanied by blisters, but it is usually characterized by swelling, the skin feeling very warm to the touch, extreme pain and sensitivity, and either a bright pink or red coloration of the affected area. From personal experience, I can say that mine was bright pink, swollen, hot to the touch and that even air brushing over my skin caused extreme pain. Having to move my leg or even the brush of the bedsheet over my skin brought tears to my eyes.

So what can cause this infection? Well, some different causes of Cellulitis may include the following:

- Animal Bite
- Insect Bite
- Diabetes
- Blisters
- Athlete's Foot
- Ingrown Toenails
- Fungal Infections
- Eczema
- HIV
- Bacterial Infections

Suffice it to say, that anything that comprimises the protective barrier of your skin can lead to an infection. Once your skin is damaged, whether through a wound or infection, bacteria can get in there and cause mayhem.

What To Do If You Suspect You Have Cellulitis

Cellulitis is a very serious condition. If you believe that you may have it, seek the assistance of a medical professional immediately. Failure to treat Cellulitis can result in the infection spreading to your lymph nodes and causing infection to spread throughout your body. In some cases, untreated Cellulitis has been known to lead to Toxic Shock Syndrome - a very dangerous condition that can be fatal.

My Continuing Battle

Surprisingly, more than a month after being released from the hospital, I am still suffering pain and swelling in my leg and am now being tried on yet another antibiotic in an attempt to cure this lingering infection. The doctors tell me that Cellulitis can not only be a very painful and serious condition, but it can also be very difficult to treat, as I am learning firsthand. Hopefully you can learn by my mistake. Be sure to always care for and treat even the smallest and insignificant of wounds - even the smallest cut can let harmful bacteria into your body. As they say, it's far better to be safe than sorry!

Sources:

Personal experience

Diseases Database - Scientific definition of Cellulitis and common causes