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osteomyelitis

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Q: Osteomyelitis?
I’m 17 and have what we believe to be osteomyelitis. Since I’m not really a kid and not really an adult could it explain both the pain in my tibia and clavicle (as in kids)-started about a year ago and the pain in my hips and spine (as in adults)-started a few months ago? Or is from two seperate diseases? But I guess my main question is when does the pattern of blood flow changes? Because that is a factor of where the disease effects the body.

A: Osteomyelitis is an infection of the bone. It can arise either from direct spread (like an abscess or infected wound) or it can spread through the bloodstream.

You can potentially get an infection of any bone in your body. While some places are more likely than others, the location of the pain can’t really prove or disprove osteomyelitis. While there are some differences in the most common sites of infection between children and adults, you can’t assume that because a particular place hurts that it must be osteomyelitis.

Depending on the situation, an MRI or a bone biopsy with culture can be used to make the diagnosis. In some circumstances plain films can be helpful as well. Generally speaking, it’s also important to identify the species and antibiotic susceptibilities prior to beginning treatment.

If you aren’t sure about osteomyelitis, you need to see another physician and get a second opinion. If it’s something you are particularly concerned about, you should consider seeing an infectious disease specialist.

Q: osteomyelitis?
How easy is it for a 9 year old boy to get this and would it be from a previous injury? He has had to have surgery to fix this and I am worried.

A: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection. It is caused by an infection that happened in another part of the body but then traveled through the blood stream to infect a distant bone. So, your son’s bone got it from an infection from somewhere else in the body…not close to that particular bone…but that bone was already weak due to a prior injury.

Osteomyelitis in children, usually affects the long bones but, in adults, it affects the spine and pelvis. Risk factors are recent trauma, diabetes, hemodialysis, intravenous drug abuse and people who have had their spleen removed.

To prevent any future ocurrences, be sure your son sees a doctor anytime he develops an infection. Treating the infection early will prevent it from worsening, entering the blood stream and possibly infecting a traumatized bone.

Q: Is there a way to determine if Osteomyelitis is gone without bone biopsy?
I recently went throught treatment for Osteomyelitis, during a surgery they ended up doing a bone biopsy and found out I had staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection in the bone. I had around 10 weeks of IV meds. I want to know if this infection is gone, I’ve been told by the doctor they only way to truely find out is another bone biopsy, which means more surgery..

A: The definitive way to either rule in, or rule out, osteomyelitis is a bone infection.
If you can live with a little less accuracy, ask for a technetium bone scan.

Q: How can you be absolutely certain you never had osteomyelitis?
A few years ago I had a major infection and saw an infectious disease doctor who placed me on a pic catheter with a dosage of antibiotic. I had many surgeries to have bone scraped, a bone graft, multiple erosions, etc. but yet no one would tell me if I definitely had the condition known as osteomyelitis. Some paperwork even had the word crossed off after it was written in and I don’t know by whom. It leaves me very concerned and upset that no one is willing to tell me the truth about my condition. Has anyone else out there had this type of experience?

A: Why would you assume that no one is willing to tell you the truth about your condition? Ask your physician directly.

Occassionally there are certain clinical critieria for which a patient’s condition does not quite meet. Medicare/Medicaid cam be particular about making diagnoses. If you start assigning diagnoses that are too high level than what was proved, Medicare can actually charge your physician with fraud. So there are legal issues involved with making a diagnosis too. I have no basis to judge whether this was the case in your situation.

Bottom line, you are a few years out from having what sounds like a really tough go of it and you did well. What possible difference would it make now if you had the criteria for a specific diagnosis or not back then?

Q: If i has Osteomyelitis would i be in pain? Posting also under disease?
My step dad’s doctors has a suspicion he has Osteomyelitis, but iwith my knowledge on this bone infection i would imagine him to be in pain. It is apparently behind the popliteal. Which considering that that is near a joint i would have though he would been aware of it.
He had a lump on the back of this ares for ages and then it rutured and the doctors pulled a foreign body out of which was diagnosed as being human bone. Thus indicative of Osteomyelitis.
He is obviously worried and is getting a bone scan on Friday and a cat scan
Can anyone give me a heads up?

A: Osteo is NOT often painful. Of course, there are exceptions.

For bone to get infected, there has to have been penetration from the outside to an area close to the bone at some time.
Depending on the patient, it may take a long time to progress.

Best of luck.

Q: Has anyone suffered from Refractory Osteomyelitis of the Mandible?
I had a debridment done of my mandible 4 yrs ago after contracting osteomyelitis. It all healed up well but now it is back and I am on antibiotics for it although the doctors are considering other treatments.

A: I had osteomyelitis as well, though mine was in my foot. I went to an infectious diseases specialist, who put me through a series of antibiotic treatments. Heavy antibiotics can take care of the infection, but it took a lot of time. The doctor informed me that it can reoccur at any point in life. Caught early enough, and treated well, antibiotics can take care of it, but the other options would involve removal of the infected bone in order to prevent the spread of dead tissue. The dead bone has to be removed, as it can cause further problems. There are forms of replacement bone, and depending on location of the infection, bone can be replaced. Mine, unfortunately, involves my foot, and the toe bones are irreplaceable. I hope that the antibiotics work for you, and am very sorry to hear that you are going through it.

Q: What are the effects of chronic Osteomyelitis on contributing to other diseases?
I am looking for reference material to support that chronic Osteomyelitis can make someone more susceptable to other diseases, such as an enlarged heart. My father suffered from Osteomyelitis for over 15 years before developing an enlarged heart, which ultimately lead to his death at the age of 47. When he died the VA denied my mom widow’s benefits because they said the Osteomyelitis did not contribute to his death. I am looking for information to counter the VA’s stand. I have always felt that the Osteomyelitis contributed to his death even though it wasn’t a direct cause. I need something to back me up so my mom can get benefits.

A: The question arises is that what’s the autopsy report. However if has died of septicemia i.e. high grade fever due to chronic osteomyelitis, and the causative organism were the same as those found in the bony lesion, she is entitled to widow’s benefits.
Rember that Chronic osteomylitis, is mixture of several bacteria. You can easily sue the company for multiple damages, but your lawyer should be a doctor too.
Convey my profound regards to your mother,
Dr.Qutub

Q: Can you still ahve osteomyelitis or sepsisand have normal blood work?
i heard you could and you couldnt so please help anyone know what the real answer is state your SOURCE
if you took antibiotcs like a week before you got your blood drawn?can that make it look normal???or no that has nothing to do with it?

A: In medicine, never say never. If you are in the very early stages of an infection or the effects on your blood, such as an elevated white cell count, are depressed by a short course of antibiotics, you may get test results that fail to support a diagnosis.

Osteomyelitis — see Diagnosis: http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec05/ch065/ch065b.html

Sepsis can be very difficult to diagnose, but you may expect elevated CRP and PCT, and an abnormal white cell count.

Q: What is the worst outcome of Osteomyelitis when it is in the spinal cord?
My mom’s doctor just said she had it and i’m scared and i dont know

A: Now that they have diagnosed it, the antibiotics should take care of it and the worst should be behind you. Don’t worry unless the doctor tell you to.

Q: can you still ahve osteomyelitis or sepsisand have normal blood work?
if you took antibiotcs like a week before you got your blood drawn?can that make it look normal???or no that has nothing to do with it?

A: I can tell you in my documented case that all my initial blood work came back negative, CBC, kem12 panel etc. It was not till 3 days after my blood culture was grown that I was positively diagnosed with sepsis. But I did have all the physical symptoms. My osteomyelitis was not discovered until I had a ct guided aspiration for a fluid collection on my spine and had osteomyelitis in my lilac crest. So for me it was suspected but the blood did not show it. I ended up at Cleveland Clinic to have the top part of my lilac crest removed and L5-S1 dibrided and a pic line with vanco. Now I had a recent spinal fusion and was fighting a MRSA infection at the time as well.

Q: If i had Osteomyelitis would i be in pain?
My step dad’s doctors has a suspicion he has Osteomyelitis, but iwith my knowledge on this bone infection i would imagine him to be in pain. It is apparently behind the popliteal. Which considering that that is near a joint i would have though he would been aware of it.
He had a lump on the back of this ares for ages and then it rutured and the doctors pulled a foreign body out of which was diagnosed as being human bone. Thus indicative of Osteomyelitis.
He is obviously worried and is getting a bone scan on Friday and a cat scan
Can anyone give me a heads up?

A: I had this in my foot,i had an ulser and a germ got in, to the bone, it is very diffucult to cure, yoy are in a lot of pain, i had to go on a drip with mega does of antibotics going through for a week,but before this the doctor has to take swabs and get cultures done to see what germ caused infection. as strong antibotics are need to cure it. so good luck hope your step dad is ok

Q: my 6 yr old son had osteomyelitis 7 weeks ago and is now coming down with a fever. Is it recurring?
He was in hospital for 8 days, then was taking a strong penicillin 4 times a day for 4 weeks. His final dose was about 2 weeks ago. He has now got a very sore throat and a fever. Could this be because his immune system is down due to a very large amount of antibiotics? Or could the osteomylitis be returning?

A: www.google.com has a great deal of information that you could use to find your answers , while yahoo answer is more likely to be better for people’s opinions.. thanks.

Q: HOW DO YOU KNOW WHEN OSTEOMYELITIS HAS GONE?
My hubby has had 5 ops in one year, for repeated infections that keep coming back. He has bad inside burning in his leg says he feels it is still there and can feel it. Consultant says just a matter of waiting – surely with technology today something can be done?

A: An extremely difficult disease to cure. Even If there’s no drainage, long term (2-3 years) antibiotic therapy is usually mandatory, at least until the sed rate returns to normal levels.

Q: Can you get vertebral osteomyelitis from a donor bone?
I’ve had two cervical fusions and they haven’t fused so I’m suppose to have a third. The first one I had donor bone and the second they used my bone with the same outcome. I’m being tested for a bunch of different things and the next series of tests they are testing me for is multiple myeloma. I’m just curious to know if the donor bone could of had something to do with my symptoms and maybe the doctors should be looking into that. Anyone with an opinion please give it because I’m starting to feel like a pin cushion.

A: it’s possible if the donor was infected

Q: why is mandible more susceptible to osteomyelitis?
than the maxilla? pls answer in regards to the vascularity and bone morphology. thank you.

A: Osteomyelitis is a bone infection. It most commonly occurs in the mandible due to the greater density of bone in the mandible, relative to the maxilla. When the bone cells are more dense, effectively they can become avascular, and more susceptible to infection. Of course, blood supply is vital for fighting infection, so the more dense the bone, the lower the vascularity, and the greater the risk of osteomyelitis.

The mandible also has a greater relative volume of cortical bone then the maxilla, which has more trabecular bone.

I hope this has clearly answered your question. Let me know if you need any further detail, the answer above is fairly basic.

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