Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Crater-like wound on my leg turning black - what the hell is this (see pic)

368 replies

Bitworriedtbh · 14/06/2023 23:13

Just as the title suggests! I got bitten last week, have no idea by what but it was itchy and the first day my leg was swollen and quite hard. Well now it’s turned into a small crater-like wound that feels really deep. It looks like a dark brown/black scab on it but I’ve tried lifting it a little and it’s like stuck in my leg, it looks hard but I’m sure it’s not actually a scab. When I tried to lift it (unsuccessfully) the skin around the wound peeled off. I have never had a bite end up like this! Any thoughts on what this is and whether it’s something that’ll heal on its own? Don’t want to bother the GP if it’s nothing!

Excuse the hairy legs and tattoo :D

OP posts:
TisforTucan · 15/06/2023 01:15

Holy shit I thought you had sepsis in that first picture 🤣 The bite is really nasty, you need to get to a and e asap

LemonSwan · 15/06/2023 01:24

Lol I am usually the first one screaming a and e. But as a gardener these types of things happen. Not all the time but maybe twice a year. It’s certainly not and a and e let alone a gp situation - unless you have sepsis symptoms.

If it was me I would be digging out as much as I could to get back to good flesh. Gnarly but as I said am used to this kind of thing and random debris dirty isn’t good! Then antiseptic spray, fill it with Savlon and stick a blister plaster on it. Job done ✅

LemonSwan · 15/06/2023 01:27

Err but pooing bloody clots - that I would go to a and e for!

lemonchiffonpie · 15/06/2023 01:31

LemonSwan · 15/06/2023 01:24

Lol I am usually the first one screaming a and e. But as a gardener these types of things happen. Not all the time but maybe twice a year. It’s certainly not and a and e let alone a gp situation - unless you have sepsis symptoms.

If it was me I would be digging out as much as I could to get back to good flesh. Gnarly but as I said am used to this kind of thing and random debris dirty isn’t good! Then antiseptic spray, fill it with Savlon and stick a blister plaster on it. Job done ✅

This is exceptionally bad advice.

kissthegirlshesnotbehindthedoor · 15/06/2023 01:33

IT'S A TATTOOOOO!

It's not black, dying flesh!

Willmafrockfit · 15/06/2023 01:34

it looks like it is scabbing over

LemonSwan · 15/06/2023 01:40

lemonchiffonpie · 15/06/2023 01:31

This is exceptionally bad advice.

Show quote history

Works every time for me so 🤷‍♀️

lemonchiffonpie · 15/06/2023 02:12

LemonSwan · 15/06/2023 01:40

Works every time for me so 🤷‍♀️

Show quote history

You don't know what it is, what has caused it, and yet suggest digging about in it. Hope you never contract Sporotrichosis and use your 'Just dig it out' trick.

Thethuthinang · 15/06/2023 02:52

That looks like the spider bite my husband got last year. Certain types of venom make the flesh turn gangrenous. It took months of treatment to get rid of it.

3luckystars · 15/06/2023 02:58

My friend got a spider bite and the fang was left inside in it Confused it got very serious. Go as soon as you possibly can to get this seen to by a doctor.

SixOClock · 15/06/2023 03:11

lemonchiffonpie · 15/06/2023 02:12

You don't know what it is, what has caused it, and yet suggest digging about in it. Hope you never contract Sporotrichosis and use your 'Just dig it out' trick.

Show quote history

Made the mistake of googling that and looking at images 🤢

Teder · 15/06/2023 03:15

Given the time now and your appt time for your little one, I suggest your partner drops you at A&E or a walk in clinic or urgent care straight after the assessment.

@Bitworriedtbh Are you on any immune suppression for your IBD? This increases your infection risk and the chances of complications. So, you really must not leave it.

Labradoria · 15/06/2023 04:58

I actually don't think it looks that bad now I know that black area is a tattoo. If its not hot or spreading or obviously newly infected I'd probably just cover it with antibacterial cream for a couple of days
.
I would definitely go to the gp about pooing clots though!

TodayInahurry · 15/06/2023 05:24

My husband had something similar and ended up in hospital. Go to A&E you may need antibiotics

Ageingweightlifter · 15/06/2023 05:31

Get help immediately. Don't wait. I'm not a Dr, but it looks plain wrong to me. x

jamontoast2 · 15/06/2023 05:36

OP look up something called pyoderma gangrenosum. It’s rare but I wonder if it could be that?

jamontoast2 · 15/06/2023 05:38

(Pyoderma is associated with IBD)

User16387640 · 15/06/2023 05:46

Aren't we just supposed to be looking at the wound not the surrounding black area which is the tattoo, wound looks a bit nasty, I would go to the GP today in case it is infected or a tick, especially if you feel a bit off, you probably need antibiotics

User16387640 · 15/06/2023 05:48

Isn't the doctors strike on and you shouldn't go to A&E unless real emergency.

PumpkinsAndCoconuts · 15/06/2023 05:51

You need to get this seen. today

yes, I know that the black bits are a tattoo. But combining this with flu like symptoms etc... That could be very serious.

Tockomtele · 15/06/2023 05:57

One thing I've learnt from this thread: not to get a tattoo. Someone might chop off my leg thinking it's necrotic despite me telling them about my tattoo.
ffs...

oatmilk4breakfast · 15/06/2023 06:02

Was just coming to say could it be a false widow spider bite. There are more of them now due to warmer weather. They are one of the few spiders with a venomous bite here that can make you feel ill. Is it also a bit numb?

DaveRocks · 15/06/2023 06:09

Looks nasty, but it doesn’t look like an A&E job atm (plus there is a doctors strike atm and it will be rammed). Call your GP at 8 in the morning and get an urgent appt.

Alstoybarn · 15/06/2023 06:11

Looks like a bot fly lavea. Pull it out and go to docs

Whywere · 15/06/2023 06:11

That’s a tic. That’s its bum hanging out. Legs are a little further in to the wound. They love a little burrow if you leave them long enough. Evil
little shits.