I have a sore of some kind on the lower part of my right leg on the outside above my ankle. At least I do not think its an ingrown hair, the problem is, its swollen up (the diameter of a quater, and about 3 mm high), and red. It is very painful. I don’t want to go to the doctor.
Do you think I should ‘lance it’ or just deal with it? Are there any other solutions?
I attempted to dislodge what i thought was the hair, but I don’t think that is what it is. There is no puss, and I do not think I was bitten. It isn’t an allergic reaction either.
Thanks!!
If it doesn’t have pus, there’s nothing to lance. If you can’t find an ingrown hair (size of a quarter?), then I would suspect a spider bite. You really want to get it looked at. If it was a brown recluse, you want to get a dose of steroids now before it rots enough to lose tissue.
I’m a poor college kid, and I’ve got midterms and lots of classes this week. I really don’t have time for it. (I know its a bad excuse) I don’t have the money at all.
Yeah its getting big, thats why I posted the question. I know that spiders are sneaky biter’s, but I can’t think of any time I would have gotten one. I haven’t seen a spider here at all. Not in months at least.
Whoa, a boil is NOT that small. A boil is a pus filled cyst about the size of your FIST.
A furnuncle is smaller, about the size of a quarter.
It’s probably neither, just take some advil for a couple days to get rid of the imflammtion. Being a student, though, you should be able to see the school nurse free.
A boil, which is a big fist full of pus, you’d know. Yes, they do lance them…
“‘How do you know I’m mad’ said Alice.
'You must be, ’ said the Cat, ‘or you wouldn’t have come here.’”
Urge, does your school have a campus nurse or anything like that? (Ours was called, oh, “Wellness Center” or something like that.) If they do, it’s likely to be a free or low-cost facility.
The problem is classes morning noon and night. I don’t get out until they’re closed. The classes I’m taking require attendance. This isn’t big enough to skip class for. I just want it to stop hurting.
I have 8 am classes, and I get out at 6. I have a 25 minute break, in three spots. That isn’t enough time to get in to see someone though. They use my parents insurance, which I don’t really think warrants this situation.
Sorry, but you seem to want this thing to disappear on its own, and it probably ain’t gonna happen if it is already that big. I would suggest some sort of ibuprofen to stop swelling and pain, and keep an eye on it. If it starts to look weird at all, or doesn’t go away or get better in a week or so (finals sound like they will be done then) I strongly urge you to go to a doctor if for no other reason then to make yourself more comfortable.
I have found that our health center is great at accomodating needs. And usually you have the option of just billing your student account instead of paying out of pocket. If it gets bad enough, I would suggest playing hooky and getting it checked out before you have a problem that forces you to miss class.
Rather, I was in the position of a spore which, having finally accepted its destiny as a fungus, still wonders if it might produce penicillin.
–Ayi Kwei Armah
I suppose that means you’ll be alright, if you’re still reading this in the morning that is. Hrm… maybe it’s not that bad in your case, but you’ve been warned. In my opinion, anything that’s swollen, painful, and has risen 3mm into the air definitely deserves medical attention. I mean, come on, do you think that piece of skin just wants to get itself a nice suntan? Can’t you just haul yourself over to the healthcare center during lunchtime?
Ummm, handy, a boil and furnucle are the same thing. They can start out as a small, red solid bump and then grow later into the baggy of pus that is generally called a boil.
I urge you to have someone look at it. Just to tell you whether it’s a boil or bite. Because boils get heat, while bites get cold (compresses, that is).
If it is a bite, you obviously have not had a systemic allergic reaction, and by this time, you probably won’t. However, if it is a bite, the lump is a sign of a local allergic reaction. An antihistimine (Benadryl, Chlor-Trimetan, e.g., {but find their chemically generic counterparts to save money}) will help. But, be warned that over the counter antihistimines can cause drowsiness. Take it before you go to bed (and set a second alarm clock).
An antihistimine couldn’t hurt if it’s a boil either – it helps keep down swelling.
If it does grow into a pus boil, I strongly urge you to check out the above link for the proper care of a boil.
Wow thanks for all the great advice guys. I’ll give you an update. I’m going to try to sneak into health services tomorrow. I really want it to go away
Any more info?
Wow that webmd site has alot of info. Lots of nasty pictures too it seems.
The Urge
I went to UCSD, which is a medical school. You could see the doc all you wanted for free. But they would often bring in interns. I don’t know if youve ever been with an intern, but if you do, run!
I went. She wouldn’t say if it was a bite or an infected folicle. Just that the whole lower part of my leg was infected. So I’m on crutches and two weeks of anti biotics. Thanks for the advice.
