Re: post-op pain

In Reply to: post-op pain posted by bloomer on March 07, 2004 at 04:47:27:

: 2weeks after left hand CTS surgery,my hand hurts worse than it ever did before the surgery. I can't even make a fist, when I try the pain in the wrist is unbearable,Also have stiches out but it is pussing non stop.The hand is swollen and hot to the touch, he did a culture test of the pus, get results back Mon.(3-8-04).He want's do do surgery on right hand this friday...I'm going to tell him to wait till my left hand heals, Any body experience this??

I've experienced an infected suture site before (internal stitch didn't dissolve) but not my CTS sites & like you had pus oozing out the wound. I was more than a little surprised to see that your doctor was hanging around doing swabs & stuff. Generally the drug of choice for this kind of infection is Flucloxacillin (Trade name Floxapen in UK) - unless of course you have an allergy to penicillin drugs. Most of these infections are caused by staphyloccoci/streptococci which are sensitive to flucloxacillin.

The only other reason I could think of why they did a swab is if they think you may have a 'hospital acquired infection' e.g. MRSA (Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus) which is rife throughout UK hospitals & no doubt in the USA too. They try to keep it quiet as it's bad for business but sooner or later makes it to the press.) The public aren't told nearly enough by our governments about these kind of dangers to us.

Anyhow, hope you get some antibiotics soon & that your hand heals up.
Evelyn