Any doctors in the house?

[TripleDigitRide]

This is a relative of mine. He's going in tomorrow for a third surgery in as many years, and the doctors still can't figure out the cause.

* Not for the faint of heart, or those who have eaten within the last 30 days. There is some foul language.

http://youtu.be/OJ-4aunHiRQ Edited December 2, 2014 by TripleDigitRide

[Dustbuster]

Go see dr Arthur, Vanderbilt orthopedic in Franklin , no one else.

[TripleDigitRide]

He lives near Chicago. His doctors finally gave up and sent him to the University of Chicago. They haven't figured it out, either.

[TrickyNicky]

I've noticed there are two types of people in the world. Those who can watch videos like this in absolute fascination, and those who can't stomach more than a pimple popping.

I'm in the first camp for what it's worth and while I'm not a doctor, nor did I stay in a holiday Inn express last night, an even 4-5/10 videos like this on YouTube where the Dr's have no idea it turns out to be some kind of insect or parasite.

It's never fun trying to make suggestions to a stumped MD, but he might make that suggestion. :shrug:

[Oh Shoot]

Go see dr Arthur, Vanderbilt orthopedic in Franklin , no one else.

 

Just sayin, I don't see how it's an orthopedic issue at all.

 

That is one nasty infection of some sort for sure. No idea of its history, but wondering if it may have started as a common sebaceous cyst and went septic?

 

- OS

[bersaguy]

I have seen a couple programs on Animal Planet where people have different kind of parasites in their bodies that cause just those kind of sores and it seems to baffle a lot of doctors before they actually figure out what it is and how to treat it. My beat would be Mayo Clinic would be the place to go if he lives in Chicago. They treat all types of really weird things there and normally can make folks better....................jmho

[Lumber_Jack]

Wow, whatever it is, it's infected.

Did it just develop or was it a wound that then grew into this. It's hard to just look at that and give a diagnosis. Obviously I'm not a Dr, but I'm married to one I'll show it to her at dinner.

MRSA maybe?

[Dustbuster]

Just sayin, I don't see how it's an orthopedic issue at all.

That is one nasty infection of some sort for sure. No idea of its history, but wondering if it may have started as a common sebaceous cyst and went septic?

- OS

Dr Arthur is a genius in his field. If anyone knows arms and legs he does. If it's outside of his norm,he knows the best doc for the job. Plus,he really cares about his patients.

That is some nasty stuff for sure. Only thing I saw close was a calf that was bitten by a bear where "milk" just ran out of the wound when lanced. Edited December 2, 2014 by Dustbuster

[RED333]

I do not feel it is infected, if it was the man would have lost his leg by now.

I have no idea what it is, but not infected.

[Jonnin]

does it smell bad?

brown recluse or other necropsy type but as you said maybe he would have lost it by now... but maybe not those things can behave very oddly.  

[peejman]

It's been like that for 3 years?!?!?

I agree it looks like a spider or other such critter bite that's gone septic, but for 3 years? That's just bizarre. I think I would've gone to the mayo clinic or cdc more than 2 years ago.

[hipower]

I'm with trickynicky...I just about lost supper. I am not one who can look at things like that.

 

But yes, that needs immediate care by some knowledgeable specialist. My wifey/nurse echoed the idea of the Mayo Clinic.

[Troutburger]

Ebola definitely ebola

[Oh Shoot]

I do not feel it is infected, if it was the man would have lost his leg by now.

I have no idea what it is, but not infected.

 

Of course it's infected, but whatever the cause it has just has so far remained localized and not gone systemic.

 

Various strains of Strep and Staph are examples of common infections that can remain local, either chronic or resolve without treatment -- but some can easily go systemic and kill you too.

 

- OS

[TripleDigitRide]

Yes, this has been going on for a few years. The doctors manage to clear it up with surgery and medications, but it eventually comes back.

According to him, the doctor/professor he's currently dealing with at the University of Chicago is some super duper specialist. He is part of the team who will be performing the surgery tomorrow. Honestly, I'm not so sure they've figured out the root cause of this problem. It sounds like they are going to "wing it", once they get him opened up. He says they've tested for everything from insect bites to cancer. 

Hopefully I'll know more by this time tomorrow. 

 

[mav]

That is gross.  I agree with an earlier comment.  That looks like a sebaceous cyst that has gotten seriously infected.

[Lumber_Jack]

Yes, this has been going on for a few years. The doctors manage to clear it up with surgery and medications, but it eventually comes back.

According to him, the doctor/professor he's currently dealing with at the University of Chicago is some super duper specialist. He is part of the team who will be performing the surgery tomorrow. Honestly, I'm not so sure they've figured out the root cause of this problem. It sounds like they are going to "wing it", once they get him opened up. He says they've tested for everything from insect bites to cancer.

Hopefully I'll know more by this time tomorrow.

Dr Laura (wife not radio) says it sounds like he has a MRSA infection. It can come and go for his whole life and be otherwise healthy, but any competent dr would culture it and figure that out.

[RED333]

Of course it's infected, but whatever the cause it has just has so far remained localized and not gone systemic.

 

Various strains of Strep and Staph are examples of common infections that can remain local, either chronic or resolve without treatment -- but some can easily go systemic and kill you too.

 

- OS

I have been wrong before and will be wrong again.

 

That is gross.  I agree with an earlier comment.  That looks like a sebaceous cyst that has gotten seriously infected.

I have then, at least 8 or 10.

Had one go bad years ago, it went bad FAST, in 24 hours it doubled in size and hurt like hell.

I had a Doc cut it out for me.

[KKing]

I'm not an MD, but I'll play. MRSA can almost certainly be ruled out. Hell, I can clear that up and I'm only a nurse. Surely they have done cultures on the drainage before, no? I mean...that's the way to tell what the actual bacteria is in the drainage. But again, any nurse could tell you that, so I'm sure his doctors have done this.

Cysts, or abscesses like that are usually at least as big under the skin as on top. So knowing that, and going from what I can see on the terrible screen resolution on my phone, that drainage looked too serous to truly be infected right now. Does his knee hurt in the joint? It's possible that abscess has developed a tract into the joint space and what you're seeing be squeezed out is synovial fluid. Unlikely, but still. I feel like I'm on an episode of House.

By chance does he have a cat?
Yes, serious question. Edited December 3, 2014 by KKing

[JohnC]

Wow... Just wow.....


I have no clue what that is. Hope he finds out and gets it fixed, though.

[Dolomite_supafly]

What is odd is what is coming out is clear, an infection usually is milky and definitely not clear. My wife mentioned perhaps it is some sort of plasma that is collecting and congealing. If it were me I would definitely warm the affected area to make what comes out a bit thinner. I have no suggestion on what it might be but it definitely is something that needs to be addressed.

[NoBanStan]

If I know me.... I'd be after that with a scalpel and as much peroxide and alcohol as I could stuff in it....

 

Can the doctors not lance it or something?

[Dolomite`s Breezy]

Yuck.. :(

[E4 No More]

If I know me.... I'd be after that with a scalpel and as much peroxide and alcohol as I could stuff in it....

 

Can the doctors not lance it or something?

He's draining it so it's "lanced" already.

[hipower]

Yuck.. :(

Well said, Mrs. D.