Playa injury not healing

[Jackie]

I'm freaking out. I've got an injury that is getting worse as the days go by. I think it is the result of a Playa accident on Tuesday when the bike where I was riding crached into the ground. I don't remember having anything more than scratches perhaps. The largest injury I had was onmy left shoulder and it has been healing nicely, probably because I scratched the top layer of skin that same week while at the Playa.

HOWEVER, I didn't see the one on the knee until one day back home I felt itching, so I scratched and out came pus...eeww! The next day more came out. I thought everything had come out but everyday I wake up with more than the previous day. The area around it is red and swollen. The hole where it comes out of has grown considerably at an alarming rate. Today it was hurting me more than before and sure enough, the hole has become much much larger.

I'm calling the Dr. as soon as I finish posting this BUT does anyone have any comments or suggestions? I am afraid the Dr is not going to be nearly as knowledgeable as the Burners who've been there, endured that. What should be the most appropriate course of action?

Am having a hard time uploading the picture, pelase visit the folder where they are available: http://photos.yahoo.com/jmacsel under "Playa Injury"

Thank you!!!

Jackie

[dman]

Yeah, doctor time if you have not already been by the time you read this; no delays! I hope by the time you read this she/he has cleaned it out really well and probably given you a course of antibiotics. Puncture wounds can be insidious; lots of bad things get pushed past your first few layers of defense and get a nice place to grow. Best of luck to you!

[shitmouse]

looks like a spider bite. (can't recall what kind).
a friend of ours recently got one too. it got to be about 2 inches big and about a half inch indie deep. -- an amazing hole that managed to create a small divit in her hip/butt area.
(doc couldn't hurt...)

it'll go away, but welcome to your new scar.
-b

[Isotopia]

Go now.

An open, weeping wound like that is just trying to get infected further.

Go.

[theCryptofishist]

It seems possible that you could have got some playa dust under your skin and got a chemical burn there. Yuck. Go see your doctor. If you need some sort of medical expertise from burners, you can also try e-mailing [email protected] It probably wont be a doctor per se, but a nurse or EMT with playa expertise that answers. Be real clear about the nature of the dust--caustic. I don't know if there are a whole lot of bugs just waiting to get under some skin there, but there's probably some.

[markslut]

I haven't seen the pictures but the description sounds like the brown recluse. Do a google search and see the pictures. If it is the spider you probalby got the bite at hoem and need antibiotics immediately.

[BAS]

I'll add my voice to the people saying "Go see a doctor NOW!"

I haven't seen the picture, but then again I didn't see a similar wound which my grandfather had until after he had been in the hospital a while. The earlier you get this sort of injury/infection treated, the better.

Good luck!

Brian

[dana]

Jackie,
I feel like a junkie, as if I don't get enough of this stuff at work. I'm a burner and a physician. From what you're describing, it sounds like a nasty staph or strep infection. I work pretty close to that area and there aren't supposed to be any brown recluse spiders in the area - mostly out east, not to mention the general lack of critters of any sort on the playa.
The best antibiotic coverage would be something like Dicloxacillin. The usual set-up for these is stress, lack of sleep, too many drugs, in short everything that makes the playa home. Bactrobam is a really great topical agent to use also. Keep the wound cleaned out with a daily flush with peroxide and keep it covered. Get well soon!

[atossab]

Yup, I got this on my ankle from a brown recluse bite infected with Staph which is always on your skin. Usually your immune system takes care of it but if you are under a lot of stress from lack of sleep, etc. ouch! If not immediately taken care of, you may end up in the hospital for a couple of days on an IV and antibiotics. Then you will be at home with severe pain despite the pain killers, on your back all the time. You will need to keep your legs elevated at all possible times and someone to take care of you night and day... I hope you haven't waited too long.

[unjonharley]

Keep your hands washed. Don't scratch it if it iches. Find something to clean it with. Again"no"scratching. Wash your hand before and after cleaning a sore. You can spread staph from one person to another. Make sure family members wash there hands often. Try to teach the littlie one to not touch there face. If you scratch at night put socks on your hands. Wash all "common" surfaces. One ounce of bleach to one gallon of water. Don't over use the bleach it can hurt you. Good luck.

[atossab]

Yup, my boyfriend at the time got it too, a few days after taking care of me. Try small soft towels heated in the microwave or boiled in water as compresses on the area as well, I couldn't make it without those. Just be sure they are boiled or nuked (clean) before you put them on your wound. It will make you feel much better...

[calsur]

Jackie,

Sorry I did not see you after Wednesday night as I would have run you down to the Med Tent right away. The wound is on the inside of your leg right? When you met the Playa in front of me I am betting a bolt, a piece wire or part of the surf board punched into you and got some debris deep under the skin. Get to the Doctor tomorrow at the latest, I would really prefer a Emergency room tonight. You do not need an abscess forming. Any questions call me, 949-735-6824.

[_tears_]

After I saw the picture, it came to my mind that beautiful playa dust might be involved some how? I could be way off of course, but maybe it some how got into the sctatch or scrape?

I hope everything is good. I will end Healing energy your way

Many Blessings

--Tears--