Conditions
Pilonidal Sinus
This condition is more common than some might think, and is caused when a small tunnel or cleft develops under the skin at the base of the spine. This cleft fills with hair, bacteria and dead skin, eventually forming an abscess that can be sore and painful. The pain generally subsides when the pus is released from the abscess, but re-infection will occur as the hole continues to fill up with detritus. Symptoms can be alleviated by extensive washing of the infected area, but if it continue to reoccur, or occurs quickly and severely, surgery has to be considered. This normally involves the removal of the sinus, but reoccurrence is a possibility. In these cases laser hair removal can be considered if it is a hair follicle that is causing the problem.
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what can be done to reduce a philonidal sinus returing?
hi, i had 1 just after i had my 1st baby at the age of 20. i had an operation 2 remove it and it was stitched, was in alot of pain 4 a while. I then developed another 1 in the same place, months later, and again went under the kinfe, they left the wound open and like ureself, packed eveyday by a nurse. Then i was pregnant with my second child, but couldnt have the op until after the birth, but it burst and slightly eased the pain, there is 22months between my 2 children, so i had 3 in the space of about 20mnths. unfortunate 4 me, my 1st 2 ops didnt get all the philonidal sinus away and thats why it kept comin back. my 3rd 1 was the size of a golf ball, thats the best way it got explained to me, i got it all cut out, plus alittle bit extra to prevent it from ever returnin, it also took longer 2 heel, due to the depth of it, i was stitched inside out, and then got some extra padding ontop of that, which was held on with stitches, and they went into my bumchecks, i couldnt stand straight or sit, nor even hold my baby who was only 6days old when got that op done, and was like that 4 8wks. I can say its been 10yrs since my last op an never has returned, i've got scars. I hope this has helped u, and i wish you all the best, i know what you are going through. hope you dont need another op.
Hi, I'm a 23 year old female and am wondering if anybody can help me. I had surgery in 2007 and 2008 for 'excision and drainage' of a pilonidal sinus. The wound was left to heal from the bottom (ha!) up and I had it packed every day by a nurse. I thought after 2 operations my ordeal would finally be over. HOWEVER it seems like it has come back. I have a constant dull ache in my lower back/legs/bum. The scar from my other operations is raised into a huge lump and is sore and itchy. The area around it is red and sore. I went to my doctors today - she gave me antibiotics and told me to come back in a few days if it gets worse, for emergency surgery. She said there is no abcess there but she can see a small hole (which is the sinus). What if I DON'T get an abcess but this HORRIFIC pain does not go away after taking antibiotics? Surely I need surgery anyway? I can't go to work or drive my car. If anyone has experienced the same thing or has any advice, PLEASE reply to this comment. Thank you
Last Christmas at 19 yrs, I felt a pain in my my lower back, at first I thought it was my back, and so left it. A week later the pain had become so great that I couldn't sit down or barely walk. I saw 4 different doctors over the course of the week starting on the Monday, each one saying to leave it, try antibiotics, and see how it goes. I was not happy because it meant I was still in so much pain and could do nothing but cry as it made me feel ill. By Thursday I had been given a note to take to the hospital to get the abcess lanced. However,t hey told me they couldn't do it until the following day. That evening when my mum came up to visit, She took me to A+E as I was in unbearable pain. Over the night, the abcess burst and it was such a relief. I still had to have to abcess cleaned and packed. When I came homem I had a nurse visit every day to clean and re-pack the wound it left. This continued for 4 weeks. Eventually my family and friends took over with the cleaning. It is over a year since this happened, and I still get slight pain in the scar and itching which can't be satisfied. However, I wish I had gone to the doctor sooner as the operation left me unable to sit down for weeks on. I spent Christmas day lying on the floor!
i have just gone threw a similar op myself i had a perianul abscess that attached itself to the sinus and had to get them both removed the pain is unbelievable and i wouldn't wish it on anyone but i recentley got told that girls dont really get this so i must be special sure dont feel it lol
I hope that this balances out the experiences. I suffered with this when I was 15 and having experienced the pain I can understand how you are all feeling. I am proof that these operations can work. Having had several occurances at the age of 17 I had to have an emergency operation I had a wound that was left open and allowed to heal from the bottom upwards. I was in hospital for a month and off work for 3 months with daily dressing and if there was any sign of infection then it was cleaned to ensure that it was not trapped in to start all over again. I am 49 now and yes I sometimes get a twitch that makes me reach for germolene cream. The pain I was sufferring before the operation was so extreme i could only lie flat on my stomach and spent a week like this before being operated on. The day after the operation I was up and walking about and even sitting in a chair. There was still there but 100 times better Don't rule the operation out it was the best thing for me I have never looked back
Hi, Im 22..have had this since I was nearly 18years old. Basically, as far as I am aware, there isn't a real solution to this...some surgery works for people and the sinus never returns, antibiotics works for some..it depends on the person. Mine keeps coming back. 3 operations...2 open surgery and one where the surgeon cut out a large square of skin and sewed it up-to which I've never healed and am still having problems. I'm worried as I've been advised to have another operation which is more complex and leaves me 'open' and being dressed for about 7 odd months. The main things I'd advise; ask as many questions as you can to nurses/surgeons, don't be afraid to go back for check-ups, and mainly, be reassured that there's fantastic health care out there and a very surprising amount of people that have this problem.
Hi I am turning 22 next week i got my first pilonidal sinus when i was 15 since then i have had 10 operations all under anasthetic with the wound left open for packing. when the sinus starts up i have tried different ways to get things done i have been to my gp, to A & E, private and out of hours doctors which all say the same and fob me off with antibiotics which has never helped me as i have returned to them with the same problem but alot worse a week later and still they use the same method as leaving the wound open for packing. I know nothing is 100% affective but you would of thought they would of tried something different with me getting these often.i have had pain again for the last few days and this morning there was alot of pus i was going to wait till monday to see my GP but thought iw ould call out of hours doctors thinking if i catch it early the recovery rate wont be as long, they said they wanted to see me and to go to A & E reception which i did and waited 30mins to see the doctor to be told to take antibiotics and wait till monday to see my GP so they can refer me back to the hospital, well i was not happy i advised that antibiotics wont help and why do i ahve to wait for it to get worse before something will be done but got no answer so now i have to spend the rest of the weekend in pain to call my doctors monday morning to find no appointments. i am only 22 and i carnt handle this again does anyone have any more ideas of what i can do to get this sorted??
Ive had flare up in November and felt two small lumps. I went to my GP and on the day the lump had gone he advised to come back if another lump came back. In January I was in so much pain i couldn't sit down or get comfortable. I went to the Local A&E department where they put a needle into the sinus ans drained the abcess. They put me on antibiotics however these didn't work!! I ended up going back to A&E 5 days later where they kept me in and operated that evening. After the operation I had to go to the nurse everyday to get it packed I was off work for a couple of weeks. Then about two weeks ago the abcess started to bleed again and more puss coming out!!! I ended up back in A&E due to this and other complications with my stomach. Whilst in hospital the consultant that was lookinh after me for my stomach put me on antibiotics for the abcess and it's cleared up again. I have also had 3 perianal abcesses and a anal fistular over the past two years and it's been nothing but hell! I hope this will be the last of it all and can get on with my life!!! If anyone has any tips to keep these away PLEASE let me know because my GP/Consultant hasn't given me any advise!!!
i am a 30 year old woman who has just had a pilonodial sinus removed 4 wks ago i am going 2 the doctors treatment room everyday to get it dressed i have not been told what i should and shouldn't be doing after the op by my consultant. At the start after i had the operation it was not sore more like a stinging sensation. The consultant went in deep so that the sinus does not remove i have been having this dressed every day from the 4th feb can anyone tell me how long the healing process is? every one is pleased with the results and the wound is nice and clean i see the consultant next week it is very unconfortable and i find it diffcult 2 drive some times hope some 1 can help me thanks
i am a 33 year old woman and i have had a few pilonidal sinus ive only ever had 1 removed with surgery and i was going to the doctors every day for it packing and a nurse came at weekends for about 4 weeks but i suppose it just depends how quick an healer you are the doctor prescribed hibi scub to put in bath or get a wash with in the shower but i still get them im going back to the doctors to see if they will refer me to hospital to have them removed or have laser hair removal
hi ive just found out i have one of these and have been booked in for surgery straight away im slightly worried because ive heard mxed reviews as to whether it will heal if it will come back i know its for the best i have it done but i am really worried.i had it flare up once and it lasted a few days but was only small then dissapeared for quite a few months, then 3 weeks ago i i noticed it was getting bigger so i went to A&E they gave me antibiotics and i went to see my doctor who told me to squeeze out as much puss as i could as it was infected and to put warm salt water onto the infected area after a week it cleared up it was still there but so tiny i went to the drs last night an he was happy for me to just use antibiotic cream and said i was lucky unfortunalty in the night i swole again so i had to go to the drs tonight and thats when they landed the bombshell that ive got to have surgery
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