Infected Knee - Does This Sound Okay?

[Kneekneeknee]

Hi, posting for traffic and name change as well.

I fell and badly scraped my knee in mid-June. I realised two weeks later that it was healing really slowly and clocked that it was infected.

I started treated it with salt water and tea tree oil compresses, and also took antibiotics for a few days (I didn't finish the course, there were reasons).

It seemed fine anyway, and start to heal nicely. Scab dropped off etc.

However, the other night I kneeled down and realised that my knee still felt bruised and sore. I hadn't taken much notice, but the skin is still pink and some dry bits of skin on it, but not a wound as such.

A bit of the area feels numb, and bruised when I press it. Is this still within the realms of normal? Should I see a GP? My surgery is really, really busy and I won't get an appointment forever and I hate wasting NHS resources if it's unnecessary.

It doesn't hurt, but over two months on, should I worry? Is it just a slow healing wound? I've had other wounds that have healed normally.

Thanks all.

Why were your reasons for getting antibiotics for an infection but not following through on the course?

I've been on MN for 16 years and KNEW that would be the first response. It's literally irrelevant to my question and request for advice, but cheers anyway 🙄

It’s not irrelevant they got didn’t take your medication properly and as a result probably have a lingering infection.
If you hate wasting nhs resources maybe take antibiotics as prescribed next time.

What does it look like now? Can you post a photo?

Could just be scar tissue. If it was a deep scrape and badly infected, you may have damaged some nerve endings.

Not taking a full course of antibiotics is definitely stupid though. If they were making you unwell for example, you should have gone back to the GP.

Not wanting to waste NHS resources seems to result in lots of people needing much more indepth / intrusive and expensive care...

Perfectly normal. It’s most likely the soft tissue is still healing. You could have a very low level rumbling infection as suggested by the other poster. But it’s much less likely than the alternative.

Tea tree is an irritant. Not a good idea to treat an open wound with it! Tea tree in ointment is massively dilute.

Right. The fact that I didn't take the antibiotics IS relevant - that's why I mentioned it.

WHY I didn't complete the course is not relevant - that's what you asked so you could judge my 'reasons.' THAT part is irrelevant.

Literally, why bother to post to just be an arse?

My reply was obv to Hufflepods

Your reason is relevant if you want advice on what to do. Eg, there's no point anyone suggesting you go to your GP to get treatment for your infection if you are fundamentally opposed to antibiotics, but there is a point if the reason you didn't complete them is that you were kidnapped by aliens mid-course - that's hardly likely to happen again!

Your reason is relevant if you want advice on what to do. Eg, there's no point anyone suggesting you go to your GP to get treatment for your infection if you are fundamentally opposed to antibiotics, but there is a point if the reason you didn't complete them is that you were kidnapped by aliens mid-course - that's hardly likely to happen again

I don't have any issue with antibiotics, which is why I was taking them. I got very ill as a result, and my GP could only offer a telephone appointment in 3 weeks time - I didn't really have a choice. My surgery is crap.

Thanks for the info. In future if that happens it would be best to go to urgent care/call 111 - as you know, stopping a course of antibiotics midway through a course is a really bad plan. They could probably have given you different ones. As to now, no one over the internet can say if your knee is fine of if it's majorly infected. You should seek medical advice. A pharmacist would be one place to start if you can't get a GP appointment quickly. Note - I am not in any way medically qualified.

There was no need to be so rude to PP - their question was very relevant.

Were the AB’s prescribed for this infection? Or were they ones you had in from a previous problem and thought might help?

do you have diabetes or any indication you might be diabetic?

if it’s still sore 3 months later it is slightly concerning. Especially as the AB’s weren’t finished so possibly a lingering infection.

I’m not sure what I’d do apart from watch and wait as slight soreness may be unconnected. It’s not red or hot, and you’re feeling well, so doesn’t sound too alarming.

maybe phone 111 and see what they say?

It wasn't relevant. I'd already said that. I was hoping for some helpful advice - I didn't need opinions on whether my reasons for not completing the course of antibiotics was acceptable.

The only relevant part to my question was that I hadn't been able to complete the course.

I know how MN works, there was always the chance that I'd get the arsey 'but WHY didn't you take the antibiotics OP. eeehh??' replies, rather than the helpful ones.

I had given all relevant info in my OP, but obv was a bit optimistic about people actually taking it at face value. There's no gotcha here. There is no mileage in slagging me off over not taking antibiotics - I genuinely wanted some intelligent, maybe experienced POV.

It's all in the timing I guess.

Thanks Thisismyusername - yes, they were prescribed for this. I'm not diabetic. The wound site isn't hot or red, and I feel fine. It was just when I tried to kneel on a hard floor, then I experimented with pressing it. It feels bruised, but not 'angry' iyswim.

I will watch and wait, but I might have a word with a friend who works in A&E, see if they can offer anything else in the way of advice.

It is relevant because it affects the advice people will give you

You say they made you sick - is there a reason you didn't call 111 or OOH about the side effects instead of stopping mid-way through a prescribed treatment?

Watch and wait sounds about right Op. I had something similar years ago (elbow) and I swear it still feels tender when I lean on it sometimes.

You'll probably get better replies a bit later on. It is relevant that you didn't finish the anti bio course, but it was all there in your opening post. Your reasons for not completing them render the nit-picking irrelevant, but there's always a few posters looking for a bit of back and forth.

Hope it hurries up and heals fully soon.

It is relevant because it affects the advice people will give you

What is your advice about how the ops knee is right now, and how are her reasons for not completing course affecting your advice?

The op isn't looking for judgements on whether she was sufficiently sick enough not to take them - she's asking about her knee, and how it is now.

The op was completely upfront about the antibiotics. It's not really helping to bang on about it.

God forbid anyone should try to get a fuller picture so they can try to give the best possible advice. Some of us were actually asking in good faith, not to nitpick or blame.

Not withstanding the antibiotics question (were they prescribed for the wound?) - is it normal to have some pain or numbness after a wound has healed? Yes. The skin is pink because it's newly healed. The pain is likely deep bruising still in the healing process. When I fell and badly cut and bruised my shin, it was slightly painful on pressure for months.

Fwiw I've not finished antibiotics courses in the past because of the diarrhoea it gave me. But then I went back to my GP and was given a different antibiotic.

For anyone getting diarrhoea with ABs, in my experience a banana a day does wonders :)