who do i need to see about recurring disease (celluitis)?

Question

i've had celluitis in my left leg for over a year now. went to 2 hospitals,an now at home. my left foot keeps blowing up to large proportions after sitting for a spell. the stocking i wear cuts off my circulation. had a pik line in for 2 weeks. who can i see about taking care of me. my doctor just sends me to someone else and they send me elsewhere. i have no insurance(i do but i have a spend down limit) what or who do i need to see ???

Answer 1

Reoccuring cellulitis can occur in people who have chronic edema (swelling)...specifically if it's lymphedema. What happens in lymphedema is that there is an insufficiency of the lymphatic system. The person is either born with it or it can also be a result of lymph node removal in the leg.

When the lymphatic system is inefficient, a build up of proteins occurs in the legs (because it is the responsibility of the lymphatics system to return these proteins back to normal circulation). Bacteria thrive on these proteins and it is a prime environment for infection. Your pattern of infections and swelling is very typical of lymphedema.

The final goal of lymphedema management, besides keeping you out of the hospital, is to get you into a stocking. It SHOULD NOT cut off your circulation. Garment fitting in people who have lymphedema is a very precise practice. I suspect you either A: had an over the counter stocking that really isn't "meant" for you. or B: someone put you into a stocking without going through MLD first...see below.

The problem with putting someone on a lymphedema pump or into a compression garment without first having MLD (see below)is that is helps with the swelling initially, but then the leg goes down and then the stocking doesn't fit anymore and they fall down...that or it's a bad fit and it creates more problems. Also, this helps to get the FLUID out of the leg, but not the PROTEINS. Remember that it's the proteins that the bacteria thrive off of. Therefore, you are still subject to infection. To get the proteins out of the leg, it requires manual lymph drainage, or MLD. This is a very precise type of massage that should only be done by someone who has been trained in this (usually a physical therapist who has gone through extra training). These techniques have been shown on lymphscintigraphy studies that they do, in fact, flush the proteins out of the affected extremity. Once the leg has gone through several sessions of MLD and bandaging and the size of the leg is DOWN, THAT's when the person needs to be fitted for a garment. I anticipate that you need a custom fit garment. If it doesn't fit right, it needs to be re-done. This ensures a proper fit and should prevent further problems in the future.

The cost of this type of treatment is very expensive...about $800 a session and most people need to go through about 20 session and the garments can cost $300 and upwards. If you are about to reach your spend down limit, however, you may qualify for public aid which is taken by some clinics.

My facility (in the Chicago area) does take public aid, and we also have an assistance program for those who do not yet qualify for public aid. E-mail me if you are in this area and I will give you my info.

In order to determine if you are appropriate for this therapy, you may need to be evaluated by a physician to determine if you have lymphedema. However, most physicians are not familiar with it, so you may have to search for someone that is. They may refer you for the lymphscintigraphy study which is test where they inject a radioacitive labeled protein into the superficial layers of the foot and then observe the results on a scan. Also, your current infeciton needs to be controlled before treatment can begin (or else it could spread the infection).

Here is a website of qualified lymphedema therapists:
http://www.lymphedemamanagement.com/members.asp?stateorprovince=&B1=Search

Best wishes.

Answer 2

My Mom, who is 87, has had chronic cellulitis since she had a knee replacement 3 years ago. She has been to her regular PC, a foot doctor and two dermatologists. She has been on antibiotics for 2 weeks and does not look any better. Can I just take her to the hospital or does a doctor need to admit her? She has had this about 6 times in 3 years, been in the hospital once. She says the pain and burning is horrid and seems to be all the way into her bone. I want so much to help her but these doctors seem like they are not concerned!

Answer 3

sounds like you might have a form of gullian barre. i would see a nuerologist as this would be the correct person to see. now days doctors are seeing a more wide spread occurance, but many doctors dont know. gullian barre is when the mylen sheath of the nerve endings are being eaten away...some say it is a virus reactivated but affecting the nerve endings. the symptom of this is exactly what you are experiencing. If you elevate it, it goes away, if you don't it swells. The blood flow cannot return. Does it get red and/or "feverish"?

The other question is if you have any metal in your body from reconstructive surgery (including the dentist).

of course there could be something wrong with the liver or the kidneys too.



best wishes and prayers your way...if ya ever need an ear, holler!

Answer 4

my disk ruptured in my back. Does this ever heal?

Answer 5

An infectious disease doctor should be able to help you. Try to stick with one doctor rather than going to several, so that you get to know him, and he gets to know you. That way, he knows what has already been tried and didn't work.

Answer 6

go to a doctor that has a sliding fee its based on income and could be alot less thatn a co-pay

Answer 7

Once you have it it can come back at any time have you asked a chemist to recommend anything.

Answer 8

5 Keys To Kill Cellulite : http://Cellulite.HealthandLivings.com

Answer 9

isnt cellulitios in you skin if so see a dermatologist

Answer 10

Please see the webpages for more details on Cellulitis.