Frustrated! Angry! The Curse of Africa!

[Aaron N]

Look after yourself first, and you’ll be in Africa feeling better than ever

 

[Rimbaud]

Just remembered that my Dad drinks something called Juven, which is a wound healing supplement. Ask your doctor about it. Helps my Dad a lot and could be good for you, too.

 

[steve white]

I was going to say, "Hey man, you're unlucky--stay away from me!" but that would cut me off from you giving me your latest paid for trip...
Just kidding! The very best of luck in getting healed. I would second the idea of hyperbaric oxygen treatment, and have seen it work wonders. Exercise all you are able, because circulation is key. I CANNOT RECOMMEND HIGHLY ENOUGH a vibration plate--it has done wonders for my circulation which as a diabetic I need all the help I can get. Mine is a Vibratrim model and cost $1500 used, but some of the best money I have spent--honestly. Might also take something to rule out a fungal component, though that is not widely recognized as a contribution to our ills. GOD BLESS YOU!

 

[Christot]

MRSA infections can be medicated with antibiotics of another group like Linezolid , Daptomycin, Tigecyciclin or Ceftarolin and Cefobiprol. Bacteriophages might also be an option. In most regions you'd get isolated until this is solved.

Hope you recover fast!

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[glblanchard]

Also look into red light therapy. Dermatologists have been using it for years.

 

[steve white]

Also look into red light therapy. Dermatologists have been using it for years.

The Red Rush 360 Pro is a super high quality, affordable unit for red light therapy. Totally concur with above post.

 

[JES Adventures]

Perseverance and Prayer, you'll get there one day!

 

[Surgeon1]

Keep after it! With 40+years as a Surgical Oncologist/General Surgeon and 36years of trauma call these are difficult problems but technical improvements in wound care, antibiotics, surgical techniques, biological grafts, etc there is still hope.
Going to a major center who specializes in wound care for a second opinion will be worth it!
Revascularization techniques get better all the time! I wish you the best in getting this leg healed then off to Africa! I lost my best friend in Africa in 1976 when I should have been with him, it took me 3 decades to accept that I needed Africa in my life and now not a day goes by without Africa being part of me!

 

[towserthemouser]

Well guys it seems as the Curse of Africa is strong when it comes to me! So you see I was booked, payed and ready to go to South Africa in 99 and I blew out my back out at work and had to have surgery so I gave away my hunt to a friend. In 02 I was booked and payed for Tanzania and several weeks before departure I was shot five times and ended up in the hospital for the next eight months and had to give that hunt away too…

Now fast forward to 24 I have a hunt booked and fully paid for in the Save Valley Conservancy this coming July and it’s happening again!!! I banged my ankle a year or so back and it was nothing more than a scuff but because of the gun shot wounds I have poor circulation in the leg and that scuff lingered…
Months later after traveling to Dallas for the DSC convention that scuff opened up to a small hole the size of an eraser head but still was not wanting to heal and then this summer happened, and there was no way I could foresee it, and the wound contracted MRSA and before we knew it the wound was the size of a tennis ball and growing! MRSA IS NO JOKE!
Almost $400,000 later and seeing wound specialist three times a week for the last five months ,who used Stem Cell Grafts and every thing else on it, it’s still open!
It’s much, much better and the infection is out but still open sadly…
I have for over 25 years dreamed and paid for Safari and it seem like I will be denied again! I have talked to the PH and he was really cool about it and said let’s just wait a bit before making a decision but it seem as the wound will not heal in time and I’ll have to postpone at the minimum.
I have pics of the wound but didn’t post as they are a little graphic and I did want to upset anyone but can if the site is ok?
I cannot believe this is happening once again! I cannot tell you the level of frustration!
My friends all say it’s the Curse of Africa and I should abandon the idea of going but I just dont think I can do that…

@CZDiesel I am sorry to hear about your situation.

Without knowing more details of your medical situation I could respectfully offer the following if this has not already been done:

Non-healing wounds at the ankle are actually a fairly common location, and this may or may not necessarily be related to the gunshot injury. Failure to heal a wound is almost always related at a root level to a circulatory issue. In people with diabetes, it can be poor circulation at the micro (capillary) level (almost impossible to treat). In some people, poor arterial blood supply can be the issue (common also in diabetics, but also seen in smokers and people with various arterial issues (can be treated but very difficult and complex). These people often have leg pain with walking that goes away with rest (claudication). This could have resulted from an arterial injury with the gun shot wound.

There is another potential cause that is unfortunately not well understood by many doctors.... non-healing wounds that occur right over the ball joint of the ankle can be associated with something called "superficial venous insufficiency" or sometimes called "chronic lower extremity venous hypertension."

Essentially this is the opposite of the arterial problem. In cases of poor arterial supply, there is not enough blood flowing to the wound area. But in cases of venous insufficiency, there is poor drainage of blood AWAY from the wound. This leads to increased local pressure, which causes the tissues to become swollen and can lead to poor wound healing in severe cases. Sometimes the wound healing center can spend months and months trying various lotions and potions and strategies, to no avail; and then the underlying venous issue is identified and corrected and the wound heals in a week or two.

This condition can be treated, but it must be accurately diagnosed first. You need to ask for a "Venous doppler to evaluate for venous insufficiency and reflux" which is NOT the same exam as the much more common venous doppler to rule out DVT. You will need to find a doctor who understands this and has a Sonographer who knows how to do the test. Try someone who has a good reputation in your area for treating varicose veins, which are associated with this condition.

Sorry for the long post but this is a complex subject and I'm hoping to be of some help and get you hunting in Africa!

 

[Nyati]

No, don´t give up !

Hope you get well soon