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Post by allenuk on Mar 5, 2012 9:35:56 GMT -7
Not really prosthetics, but as it's caused by back of hard socket rubbing against bit of leg, I think I'll put it here.
I have a small lump, sitting 'on' a tendon on the back of my knee, precisely at the point where the hard part of my bka socket will rub it every time I move. Not to put too fine a point on it, it is sodding agony.
Prosthetist shrugs (Frenchman) and says there's nothing much that can be done about it, as he reckons it was caused by an in-grown hair which has turned a bit septic. He says that it often happens...
As it happens, new leg which I collected today is slightly differently aligned from the old one, so the lump doesn't get quite so much of a bashing, but it's still very sore.
So, remedies please! Preferably which don't involve me taking to my bed for a month, or going round on crutches. I might even go and see my GP, although he's not the most useful bloke as a rule.
Help!
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Mar 5, 2012 12:00:50 GMT -7
Hi Allen, I think I've just answered something like this somewhere else. I used to get these on the back and sides of my legs quite regularly many years ago when i had the old metal b/k legs. I used to go to the GP and depending on who I saw they always diagnosed something different, though don't think I was ever told they were ingrown hairs, though suppose they could have been, diagnosis of anything on my legs always seems to be hit and miss.
Some doctors would tell me to rest, some gave antibiotics and some used to burst it, one even told me once it was a DVT, but they used to re-occur on a regular basis for some years. I was eventually told they were bursa's, which are the bodys way of protecting boney or such like parts, where the body put outs fluid to protect the area when it is irriated.
However whether even this was an accurate diagnosis I will never know. Funnily enough I was talking to another b/k amp just recently who had something which seemed very similar and his GP was talking about surgery, which seemed a bit drastic to me.
What worked for me eventually was getting the prosthetist to alter, or cut down, the shape of the back of the prosthesis and I don't think I have been troubled in this area since.
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Post by allenuk on Mar 5, 2012 13:05:12 GMT -7
I've got a feeling that the cutting down of the socket is going to be my only solution, too, Ann. Surgery does sound somewhat drastic, as it'd mean you couldn't wear your leg for weeks+ while it healed. GPs, eh?
A.
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Post by kapteenkoukku on Mar 5, 2012 22:47:15 GMT -7
I have similar small lumps around tendon at the back of the knee, but they do not bother me. (Other than by their existence).
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Post by ann- on Mar 6, 2012 0:34:32 GMT -7
Maybe there are different types of lumps so probably important to get them correctly diagnosed. Jukka mentions he has similar lumps around the tendon at the back of the knee but they do not bother him, though the ones I had were quite large, painful and made it very difficult to walk.
So maybe important to get it checked out properly Allen, though I find getting a 'correct' diagnosis with anything on my legs if it is not obvious ... difficult and sometimes have long waits for appointments at the prosthetic centre .... so difficult for a speedy resolve!
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Post by cherylm on Mar 6, 2012 1:06:44 GMT -7
Allen, if it's possible for you, I'd suggest getting an opinion from a dermatologist. I went through several months of problems with a painful lump on my stump last year. I saw GPs, my CPO, a couple of surgeons (one general/one orthopedic)...and each and every one of them had their own theory on "what the lump was," along with contrasting ideas on how to treat it. Eventually, as everyone's theories bottomed out, someone suggested calling in dermatology. They didn't even see me in person...just saw a high-definition photo of the the lump, gave me a couple of topical creams to use, and told me to stay out of my leg until the lump had gone and the spot was no longer painful. Worked like a charm! After weeks and weeks of being in pain and in-and-out of my leg, the creams got the lump dissolved in just a few days.
Hope you get a solution soon!
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Post by ann- on Mar 6, 2012 6:24:31 GMT -7
Allen, if it's possible for you, I'd suggest getting an opinion from a dermatologist. I went through several months of problems with a painful lump on my stump last year. I saw GPs, my CPO, a couple of surgeons (one general/one orthopedic)...and each and every one of them had their own theory on "what the lump was," along with contrasting ideas on how to treat it. Eventually, as everyone's theories bottomed out, someone suggested calling in dermatology. They didn't even see me in person...just saw a high-definition photo of the the lump, gave me a couple of topical creams to use, and told me to stay out of my leg until the lump had gone and the spot was no longer painful. Worked like a charm! After weeks and weeks of being in pain and in-and-out of my leg, the creams got the lump dissolved in just a few days. Hope you get a solution soon! I think Chery's advice about a dermatologist is good, though know the difficulties of actually getting to see one here in the UK. In the 90's I acquired an infection in one of my stumps that put me off my legs for months, antibiotics from GP and resting didn't seem to touch it ... couldn't get answers from anyone and finally insisted that my GP take swabs, around the same time I managed to get referral to a dermatologist, the lab results of the swabs came back the day I was due to visit him and were addressed for me to take to him, but of course I opened them so knew what the infection was by the time I visited him, so he to me not to say what it was ... but he would take one look at the leg and tell me, he got it right just by looking. He gave me stronger antibiotics and steriod cream followed up by a moisturising cream, and do you know that infection was gone in less than two weeks! |
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Post by allenuk on Mar 6, 2012 7:22:31 GMT -7
Thanks for the ideas.
Ann: any idea what the topical cream was? I know you aren't supposed to use other people's prescriptions, but it might give my not-very-bright GP some pointers!
Ta.
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Mar 6, 2012 10:31:48 GMT -7
sorry can't remember it was that long ago now, I know it was definitely a steriod and think possibly combined antibiotic cream which went alongside oral antibiotics, which were much stronger than the GP had been previously giving me.
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Post by allenuk on Mar 8, 2012 13:31:44 GMT -7
I must be extremely lucky at the moment. My new leg, although of a broadly similar design to my old one, misses the lump by about 5mm - enough to be able to ignore it, and of course to carry on walking while it takes its tedious time clearing up.
Phew.
A
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Post by allenuk on Mar 22, 2012 2:13:03 GMT -7
I went to my doc and mentioned steroid creams etc., which he latched on to, and prescribed Fucidin, an ointment containing fucidic acid and hydrocortisone, plus some oral antibiotics.
The lump had burst (I knelt on my shower stool with my stump leg and the pressure must have caused it to pop). Anyway, not a lot of gunk came out, but it relieved the discomfort a bit. That was ten days ago. I've been using the Fucidin since then, and the lump has gone down to quite a small version of its largest size.
Which is just as well, as I'm back on the old leg since the new one's causing problems (so what's new?)
But thanks again, Ann, for the steroid tip, as it seems to have done the job in my case, too.
Allen.
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Post by ann- on Mar 22, 2012 6:14:59 GMT -7
Glad the treatment worked Allen, I used to get these re-occurring so, not to depress or anything but perhaps get them to address the shape of the leg.
Sorry the new one is playing up.
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