The Antibiotics - Keflex (Cephalexin is the
generic) and Cipro (also has a generic) are the
usual first choices among doctors to knock back an infection. Don't
make the mistake of thinking that you can cure Pilonidal Disease
with antibiotics. The antibiotics will kill the immediate infection
but it will most likely be back since the abscess cavity and pit are still there and
prone to infection. Surgeons never like to operate when an infection
is present since it greatly increases the risks of infection in the
surgical wound. Whenever possible, they will try a course of
antibiotics to eliminate the infection before they start cutting.
Sometimes, an infection is so bad that even antibiotics won't touch
it, the only relief is from a lancing. This is because the
inflammation is so bad that it is preventing blood flow to the
infected area - so the drugs can't get to it. It may also be that
your infection has developed an resistance to the antibiotic and you
need a stronger one.
The Painkillers - What you get will depend on the preferences
of your doctor. The usual suspects: Vicadin, Percoset, Roxicet or
Darvocet. Darvocet is the weakest of the bunch. Try to take your
pain meds about 30 minutes before you think you will need them so
they have time to kick in, especially the first few days when you
are changing dressings after surgery. Eat a little bit of food about
15 minutes before taking them and don't take them with anything
acidic like fruit juice, cola or coffee, since it can make you
nauseous.
Silver Nitrate - Is something that many people going through
open healing will have an experience with. Silver Nitrate is a
caustic chemical that the doctor will use it to burn off excess scar
tissue (aka "proud flesh") that develops during the last stages of
healing. It is a liquid that will be dabbed onto the wound using a
long Q-Tip and may burn for a few minutes. Some surgeons will use it
to "jump start" healing in a wound that isn't responding.
No Bump Rx - A product that helps prevent ingrown hairs.
Available at Sally Beauty Supply and other retail beauty stores in
the wax and hair removal section. Average cost is $8 for a 4 oz
bottle. You can also find it at various web sites for more money -
just do a Google search.
Cushions - One of the best things you can do for yourself!
Don't get a "donut" made for hemorrhoid sufferers. Donuts don't
relieve the pressure on your tailbone. What you want is a "coccyx
cushion" - they have cut outs in the back of the cushion to take the
pressure off the spine. These can be found online or in any medical
supply store. The cheapest ones start at about $20.
www.tushcush.com
makes some that are customized for cars as well.
Horseback Riding - (Courtesy of message poster Mary) "Also,
for those who cannot find relief with the cushions on the market, I
found out that there is something called seat mapping system that
some rehabilitation centers are using to help determine the best
type of cushion to use for pressure relief for people with various
disabilities. The centers have various samples of cushion materials
(air, gel, closed cell, open cell) that could be tried over your
chair, car seat or other place and the computer reads out how much
pressure is present and exactly where it is over the buttock region.
From the readouts they make alterations in the cushion, try another
material, or/and change your position to relieve the pressure over
the painful or delicate area. These professionals suggest and can
customize cushions if necessary to relieve pressure. A prescription
is needed for the evaluation . We used it to determine which seat
cushion was best for my daughter to use on her saddle while resuming
her horse back riding."
Packings - There are a huge range of high-tech wound care
products on the market. Most of them should be covered by insurance
if the doctor writes a prescription. We list some of the products
that our readers have experienced on the
Products page. Most people
in the USA will get the standard gauze packing, while Europeans are
leaning more towards the alginate dressings such as Aquacel. The
aftercare section of the website is more detailed, but these couple
of points are so important we'll hit them again:
- Do NOT use Hydrogen Peroxide in an
open Pilonidal excision wound. If your doctor told you to do it,
find another doctor who knows something about wound care. HP
destroys new tissue and will impede wound healing.
- Any wound deeper than about 1 inch needs to be packed.
Multidex Powder - many of our readers have had success with
this product in getting a stubborn wound to heal.
http://www.deroyal.com/woundcare/wcdefault.asp
For much, much more detailed info, read the
Aftercare section.....
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