Home remedies for swelling?

[lady-MGS]

I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas to get rid of swelling. There is a possibility there is nothing can be done but my son is willing to try anything.

My son ended up w/ a staph infection in the fluid around his knee. He had it cut open (still is) and has to do wound care everyday. The bottom half of his leg and his ankle are extremely swollen and it's very uncomfortable for him. Dr nor PT will give us suggestions to get rid of it, they just keep saying it is OK because of the antibiotics he is on. He keeps it elevated as much as he can, Motrin, ice and heat and nothing works.

[jaspurr]

I was wondering if anyone had any good ideas to get rid of swelling. There is a possibility there is nothing can be done but my son is willing to try anything.

My son ended up w/ a staph infection in the fluid around his knee. He had it cut open (still is) and has to do wound care everyday. The bottom half of his leg and his ankle are extremely swollen and it's very uncomfortable for him. Dr nor PT will give us suggestions to get rid of it, they just keep saying it is OK because of the antibiotics he is on. He keeps it elevated as much as he can, Motrin, ice and heat and nothing works.

The only thing that I could add to what you are doing is regular physical therapy/ movement which I am sure you are doing. We tend to forget that our heart alone is not capable from pumping blood etc. from the lower extremeties and relies upon the contraction of muscles. It must be very difficult for you all but hopefully it will settle with antibiotic therapy. Is it a methycillin resistant stapgh aureus (MRSA)?

[lady-MGS]

Yes, it is that MRSA. About 5 years ago he was bit on the butt by a mosquito and it turned into MRSA (community). He had to do wound care then. Later on he developed a cyst there (he's in a wheelchair). We waited to see if it would go away but after a year or so, he decided he just couldn't deal with it and wanted it removed because it was so uncomfortable to sit. About 3 days after having it removed, he ended up in the ER and the wound was infected. They had to open it back up. That time the MRSA came from the hospital and we ended up having to do IV treatments 2x's a day and wound care everyday. We also had to go to an infectious disease Dr.

With that history is why the Dr wanted to be so aggressive. For a 10 days supply of the antibiotics, it was over $3,000. Our insurance paid for the majority but I would think since it is the most potent antibiotic and how expensive it was, there would be no infection what so ever.

[goldenfooler]

Yes, it is that MRSA. About 5 years ago he was bit on the butt by a mosquito and it turned into MRSA (community). He had to do wound care then. Later on he developed a cyst there (he's in a wheelchair). We waited to see if it would go away but after a year or so, he decided he just couldn't deal with it and wanted it removed because it was so uncomfortable to sit. About 3 days after having it removed, he ended up in the ER and the wound was infected. They had to open it back up. That time the MRSA came from the hospital and we ended up having to do IV treatments 2x's a day and wound care everyday. We also had to go to an infectious disease Dr.

With that history is why the Dr wanted to be so aggressive. For a 10 days supply of the antibiotics, it was over $3,000. Our insurance paid for the majority but I would think since it is the most potent antibiotic and how expensive it was, there would be no infection what so ever.

My cousin got MSRA in the hip or leg(I think leg). He was out for 3-4 months, had to do the IV drip as well.

[mapes]

I believe fish oil supplements help with swelling. Not sure if it would help with infection based swelling instead of truama induced swelling. What about epsom salt baths also?

[Apache Warrior]

As Mapes says, infection based swelling is a whole different ballgame than swelling from trauma.
I would just follow the Doctors instructions and not try to reduce the swelling unless he gives you a go ahead.
Apache