Daria Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I have two patches right above the ankle bone on both legs that have been in various degrees of redness, pain, swelling (hard, not puffy) and itchiness since Tuesday night. They hurt on the surface, but also deep inside my ankles like the swelling is pressing on the bone or something. Standing on them, or walking has been painful for the past few days. They got gradually worse until Friday a.m. so I went to the school nurse where I teach who said they were spider bites, and a spider must have gotten trapped between my feet while I slept on my side. She said to use cortisone cream and take benadryl at night. Last night, I went straight from work to the hospital because my son had a sleep study, so I didn't have benadryl, but this morning, I came home, took a double dose, and went back to bed for a few hours and now they seem a little less swollen, and definitely less painful when I walk, but still really red, and incredibly itchy around the edges where the swelling is going down. They also have little boils or blisters that are hard and fluid field rising up on them. I googled spider bites and treatment, and everything I read says that if you didn't see a spider and feel a bite, it's probably not that, and more likely it's MRSA. So, now I'm a little worried. Here are my questions. 1) I'm supposed to go tutor in a few hours. Might I be contagious? That would be the only reason to cancel, in my mind. 2) Do I need a medical professional? If so, would Minute Clinic (NP located in the pharmacy) suffice, or do I need an ER or something? 3) If it was MRSA, would it seem to get a little better with rest, elevation and benadryl, because it's definitely better today than yesterday, but yesterday I worked all day, up and down stairs, walking a lot, and today I am doing less of that. 4) If it is MRSA, can I still just let it run it's course? 5) Any other thoughts? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 I would go to the ER and get it checked out, just to be safe. It's probably nothing serious, but you might need some kind of medication. I wouldn't trust the minute clinic people, but that's just me. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Do you have an urgent care you can go to? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saddlemomma Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 You need to go to the dr. You could have a staph infection from the bites. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daria Posted October 3, 2015 Author Share Posted October 3, 2015 If it's staph, could it be contagious? That's my biggest worry right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Unless you are rubbing your legs up against your students, then no, not contagious. The treatment for MRSA is anti-biotics because MRSA is a bacteria. But it is a bacteria that is resistant to certain drugs (the R in MRSA is "Resistant"). You would need to be actually evaluated by a doctor and tested for them to know if it is actually MRSA. I think you are fine tutoring but I would go to the doctor or urgent care afterward. I don't think an ER is necessary unless you have red streaks running up your leg or it starts to rapidly swell even more. An urgent care place can evaluate it and give you antibiotics if that is what you need. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4ofus Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 My 2 cents (where is the cents sign on my keyboard??)-- There is so much staph out there...it is impossible to keep it all at home. Since it is (possibly) a localized skin infection I would suggest that before, during, & after whatever treatment is deemed appropriate, keeping it covered (like sealed covered--bandage/bandaid that seals on all sides) & keeping your hands washed would allow you to go about your normal daily routine. You are around staph, very contagious & hard to treat staph, literally all of the time anymore. It's important not only for folks with staph to keep their infections covered in public to reduce transmission, but for anyone with an open wound, even just a scraped knee, to keep it covered in public to prevent the entry of staph & other infections. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Keep it covered, and go to the doc as soon as you can. Our local urgent care clinics are actually very good, but I realize that isn't so everywhere. If they are good in your area, then go to one. If you develop a fever, intense pain in the area, and/or streaks, then go to the er. You are fine to tutor this afternoon. I hope you feel better very soon! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kroe1 Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Well, staph doesn't usually itch or get better on its own, and spider bites hardly ever come in twos. So, do you have a picture? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dmmetler Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 It could be both. This past summer, DH had a really, really bad staph infection in his knee that started with a bug bite. It wasn't MRSA, but ended up being a different antibiotic resistant strain. It went from slightly achy to requiring IV antibiotics and a hospital stay in a couple of days. Fortunately, the joint didn't go septic, but it was a near thing. 2 months later and his knee still isn't 100%. My vote is to get it checked out. And if antibiotic one doesn't start bringing it down pretty darned fast, push for a culture to see what it's susceptible to. There are some NASTY strains out there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted October 3, 2015 Share Posted October 3, 2015 Cellulitis can start from a bug bite and does itch like crazy. And it is treated with antibiotics. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Momling Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 My first thought of red itchy blistering patches on ankles is poison oak or poison ivy. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Word Nerd Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Could it be oak leaf itch mites? They're bad in the Midwest right now and can be mistaken for spider bites. It may have started as that and become infected. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Sounds like when my dd had cellulitis from a mosquito bite (which could easily explain your 2 patches close together). Whether it's MRSA or cellulitis or something else, you definitely want to get it checked out, especially with it being close to a joint.We were almost in the hospital due to the location and the severity of the cellulitis. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Catwoman Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Any updates, Daria? I hope you're okay! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blondeviolin Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 It could be both. This past summer, DH had a really, really bad staph infection in his knee that started with a bug bite. It wasn't MRSA, but ended up being a different antibiotic resistant strain. It went from slightly achy to requiring IV antibiotics and a hospital stay in a couple of days. Fortunately, the joint didn't go septic, but it was a near thing. 2 months later and his knee still isn't 100%. My vote is to get it checked out. And if antibiotic one doesn't start bringing it down pretty darned fast, push for a culture to see what it's susceptible to. There are some NASTY strains out there. My husband experienced something very similar two summers ago. I still have video of packing his wound. Definitely get it checked out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southern Ivy Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Bumping for an update Any news? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mamiof5 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Could be a spider? Years ago I had a weird thing on my leg...I assumed it was a spider bite. Hope you are doing better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Seasider Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I hope no news means you are feeling well enough to be too busy to hop on the boards. I just wanted to say that I agree with the others who say cellulitis (perhaps originating with a spider bite). Also, I disagree with the article you read stating that you usually feel a spider bite. Some yes, but I get spider-bit fairly often and I rarely feel the initial bite. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
trulycrabby Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 I hope you are feeling better today! :grouphug: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ausmumof3 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I hope you are feeling ok and yes I know someone who got staph from a spider bite so get it checked out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FloridaLisa Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 I just went through something like this with my dd8. She came out of ballet with a strange mark on her cheek (another girl had one also). I thought spider bite and gave her benedryl. I actually think it was a yellow fly -- as they have terrible bites but you only feel the itch, not the initial bite. Anyway, she scratched it and because it was near her eye, I really had to watch it. She never needed antibiotics, but we used some topical anitmicrobial wound care silvasorb from a pharma friend which really helped. It's taken a week but it's finally gone. I wouldn't go to the ER . . . if it's not truly life threatening, I'd choose a reputable urgent care or your family physician. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kristi26 Posted October 6, 2015 Share Posted October 6, 2015 Any word on what it was? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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