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Original poster

I have an abscess on my leg - antibiotics not working - what to do?

90 replies

skinissue · 08/06/2025 22:40

I am at my wits end and would be very grateful for any help or advice.

I have a skin abscess at the top of my inner thigh measuring about 2.5 inches and it is very red, hot, angry, and most of all - painful.

Had this about 8 days and I am on a 7 day course of Flucloxaxillin - 1,000mg (4 tablets per day) so strong dose.

In short, it has not cleared up at all and is still pretty much the same size, redness, and swelling. It is perhaps around 10% less painful, but there is no 'head' or any part of it that looks as though pus will emerge, but a small part of the top of it looks as though it might be starting to yellow slightly and perhaps scab over.

It is so so painful as every time I walk it rubs against my other leg and sitting / standing / turning over in bed / bending / using the loo are all agony.

Questions:

  • Do I need an incision and drainage?
  • Are these procedures typically successful and what is the approximate recovery period?
  • Should I go to my local A&E to get this done? Want to avoid my GP for personal reasons that I don't have the post length to get into right now.

Thank you in advance!

OP posts:
AdoraBell · 08/06/2025 23:44

I would contact the GP and tell them it’s not calming.

Offcom · 08/06/2025 23:43

I had a course of flucloxaxillin this year, first antibiotics for at least a decade. It didn’t seem to be doing much for ages, by day five I thought I’d have to get another course, and then suddenly it really was really working, and seemed to keep improving after the seven days was up. Wasn’t an abscess though.

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:41

chickenlettuceunderbacon · 08/06/2025 23:37

It might just be you need another course of antibiotics. I was in a similar situation. Can't recall what I was prescribed but the first course did very little. GP prescribed a second course and said that if this had no effect, I would need it drained. I think it was on the second day of the second course - day 9 in total - that the swelling started to abate, as did the pain.

Don't despair just OP. Go back to the GP tomorrow.

Okay, that is worth noting, thank you. If possible I would like to avoid an endless stream of different antibiotics because of the potential health implications, and because I may then just need to have I&D in any event, but I release that I may have little choice in the matter.

OP posts:
Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:39

AltitudeCheck · 08/06/2025 23:32

Your initial post said 4 tablets a day... flucloxacillin is usually 250mg or 500mg per capsule.

It's not clear if you mean you are taking 1000mg four times a day (a total dose of 4000mg in 24 hours which is high dose) or 4 x 250mg a day (a total dose of just 1000mg a day) which is a very low dose.

Edited
Show quote history

Yes, sorry, I realise that I have not written that quite as clearly as I could have done.

I am on a total dose of 4,000mg per day but in the form of 8 tablets as the pharmacy did not have 1,000mg tablets so I take 2 x 500mg tablets four times per day.

OP posts:
chickenlettuceunderbacon · 08/06/2025 23:37

It might just be you need another course of antibiotics. I was in a similar situation. Can't recall what I was prescribed but the first course did very little. GP prescribed a second course and said that if this had no effect, I would need it drained. I think it was on the second day of the second course - day 9 in total - that the swelling started to abate, as did the pain.

Don't despair just OP. Go back to the GP tomorrow.

AltitudeCheck · 08/06/2025 23:32

skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:19

If standard dose is 500mg and I am on DOUBLE that at 1,000mg 4 x per day then how am I on a low dose?

Show quote history

Your initial post said 4 tablets a day... flucloxacillin is usually 250mg or 500mg per capsule.

It's not clear if you mean you are taking 1000mg four times a day (a total dose of 4000mg in 24 hours which is high dose) or 4 x 250mg a day (a total dose of just 1000mg a day) which is a very low dose.

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:32

theoriginalpinkpowerranger · 08/06/2025 23:28

As someone who does this, i can tell you he’s likely an a&e job. Some GPs don’t do this now as the funding for minor surgery has been greatly reduced so they’d sent to a&e for draining and potential packing.
There’s many indications of fluclox but essentially 1g a day is not the max dose so there are options, including alternatives like doxy

Thank you for this - it is helpful. I think I will take myself off to A&E tomorrow

OP posts:
theoriginalpinkpowerranger · 08/06/2025 23:28

As someone who does this, i can tell you he’s likely an a&e job. Some GPs don’t do this now as the funding for minor surgery has been greatly reduced so they’d sent to a&e for draining and potential packing.
There’s many indications of fluclox but essentially 1g a day is not the max dose so there are options, including alternatives like doxy

MintChocCat · 08/06/2025 23:21

Yeah, you might need a longer course of antibiotics, or a totally different type. I would call NHS111 or go to your nearest minor injuries unit if I were you.

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:19

Wildro · 08/06/2025 23:16

Yes this is a low dose - standard dose would be 500mg 4 times a day but for more serious infection or if you weigh more then a dose of 1g 4x a day may be required. You also need to be taking it on an empty stomach - 30 mins before eating and 2 hours after food

If standard dose is 500mg and I am on DOUBLE that at 1,000mg 4 x per day then how am I on a low dose?

OP posts:
IndigoBluey · 08/06/2025 23:16

As someone who has had similar recently I suggest going to A&E. normally a GP will ask you to tell them if there is no improvement in taking the antibiotics after a few days and they definitely like to know if it is getting worse. You could well have an underlying infection. I’d go to A&E based on my experience where the consultant diagnosed me very quickly when no one else could figure out what it was. If I hadn’t gone, the infection would have rapidly spread and was at risk of sepsis. Sounds like you need it lanced and then an IV antibiotic

PumpkinSparkleFairy · 08/06/2025 23:16

Ouch sounds so painful!!

Just chiming in as I had an I&D done under GA on a large lactational abscess - antibiotics didn’t help, and aspiration under local didn’t sort it, the bugger. It started leaking pus and it was gonna be messy and horrible if left to its own devices, plus risk of infection spreading.

It wasn’t a nice recovery tbh - wound was left open and needed packing changed every other day for a while, so it healed from the bottom up before the incision closed. However I don’t know how it would have healed so well without the procedure and the wound care - the area is completely flat, no dent, though there is a small scar of course.

Hope you can get it sorted soon!

Wildro · 08/06/2025 23:16

Yes this is a low dose - standard dose would be 500mg 4 times a day but for more serious infection or if you weigh more then a dose of 1g 4x a day may be required. You also need to be taking it on an empty stomach - 30 mins before eating and 2 hours after food

mynameiscalypso · 08/06/2025 23:15

@skinissueIt is my first one, is it yours? I have a lot of issues with my immune system and so I’m quite surprised this hasn’t happened before. I would prefer to avoid I&D if I can help it but my doctor is quite risk averse given my immune system and the fact that I’ve been ill a lot this year so I’ll see what they say. I painkillers to take the edge off as well so it’s manageable. Hopefully we’ll both start feeling better soon though!

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:12

nomas · 08/06/2025 23:10

Eh? I’ve had incision and drainage with local anaesthetic on my lower half. It healed fine.

Show quote history

I have been told by a couple of doctors already that it can be difficult and sometimes not possible to sufficiently numb the area with local anaesthetic and so general anaesthetic can be needed. That part of the post I can therefore corroborate.

OP posts:
Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:11

mynameiscalypso · 08/06/2025 23:05

Hello abscess buddy (if that is not too flippant). I currently have one that sounds very similar under my arm although it’s been there for two weeks now. I’m on day 4 of fluclox (4 x 500mg) and not sure they’re doing much but I’ll keep taking them - a little bit of gunk came out this evening but it’s still like having a golf ball under my arm and very sore. My GP said that it might need draining if it wasn’t better after a week on the antibiotics and that would mean a trip to the the local minor injuries unit.

Oh no :( that sounds very uncomfortable indeed. Is it your first one? How do you feel about the prospect of I&D?

OP posts:
nomas · 08/06/2025 23:10

spikefaithbuffyangel · 08/06/2025 23:07

They really don’t like doing i&d
I have a condition which causes abscesses and I’ve had hundreds but there was only 1 where they did i&d on it, and it had to be GA as they can’t numb infected areas
plus then you’ve got the healing of that with packing, dressings in an awkward spot etc, mine didn’t heal so I ended up having a skin flap

basically I would head to the GP and avoid i&d

Eh? I’ve had incision and drainage with local anaesthetic on my lower half. It healed fine.

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:09

spikefaithbuffyangel · 08/06/2025 23:07

They really don’t like doing i&d
I have a condition which causes abscesses and I’ve had hundreds but there was only 1 where they did i&d on it, and it had to be GA as they can’t numb infected areas
plus then you’ve got the healing of that with packing, dressings in an awkward spot etc, mine didn’t heal so I ended up having a skin flap

basically I would head to the GP and avoid i&d

Why do they not like doing I&D?

And what tends to be the alternative to that if it has not healed with antibiotics?

I am sorry to hear that you have had so many - that sounds a bit miserable :(

Not sure what a skin flap is and too scared to google as I am squeamish! ha

OP posts:
spikefaithbuffyangel · 08/06/2025 23:09

This is the one they did i&d on (the redness was down to my boobs( and what I ended up with after the skin flap (I waited 8 months with an open wound that wouldn’t heal)

Sensitive content
I have an abscess on my leg - antibiotics not working - what to do?
Sensitive content
I have an abscess on my leg - antibiotics not working - what to do?
spikefaithbuffyangel · 08/06/2025 23:07

They really don’t like doing i&d
I have a condition which causes abscesses and I’ve had hundreds but there was only 1 where they did i&d on it, and it had to be GA as they can’t numb infected areas
plus then you’ve got the healing of that with packing, dressings in an awkward spot etc, mine didn’t heal so I ended up having a skin flap

basically I would head to the GP and avoid i&d

mynameiscalypso · 08/06/2025 23:05

Hello abscess buddy (if that is not too flippant). I currently have one that sounds very similar under my arm although it’s been there for two weeks now. I’m on day 4 of fluclox (4 x 500mg) and not sure they’re doing much but I’ll keep taking them - a little bit of gunk came out this evening but it’s still like having a golf ball under my arm and very sore. My GP said that it might need draining if it wasn’t better after a week on the antibiotics and that would mean a trip to the the local minor injuries unit.

Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:02

NotMe1981 · 08/06/2025 22:49

Definitely go back and see the doctor, I don’t want to alarm you but I know of a lady who died due to an abscess on her leg which didn’t heal and she got sepsis. She was in her 80s though. But regardless, it can be serious so don’t just leave it.

Well yes, this is what I am scared of

OP posts:
Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 23:02

FixTheBone · 08/06/2025 22:52

It sounds like it needs draining.

Annoyingly they probably wont do it in ED, and there'll inevitably be an 8 hour argument about whether it needs an orthopaedic surgeon, vascular surgeon or general surgeon depending on what edge of the femoral triangle it lies on.

Then probably 24-48 hours waiting for a slot on an emergency theatre list....

That's if it's anything like the last 5 hospitals i worked in....

This doesn't fill me with hope! But thank you for your response, I just want it drained now so will try to make that happen, just not sure where

OP posts:
Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 22:59

dollymixedup · 08/06/2025 22:53

You need a swab doing, so they can identify the infection and prescribe specific antibiotics.

The GP is the most appropriate place to go. I know that's not you want to hear

But can they swab it if there is no open wound or pus that has come out of it yet? Everything is currently 'contained' within the abscess.

OP posts:
Original poster
skinissue · 08/06/2025 22:58

ninjahamster · 08/06/2025 22:54

Who prescribed the antibiotics? I would contact them in the first instance…

A private walk in clinic in my city, but I cannot really afford to return there. I did call two days ago to say that it was not showing any signs of improvement at all and they said to see the course through but that I could have a bloodiest in the interim to determine my infection markers if I wished.

OP posts:
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