A Fall, a Scratch, and an MS Lesson Learned

Ed Tobias avatar

by Ed Tobias |

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infection, immune system

In mid-July, the woman who writes the Multiple ExperienceS blog had a little fall. As Jamie explains, her rollator went forward, but her feet didn’t. The fall left a small cut on her knee.

Over the next few days, Jamie’s knee swelled, and a trip to her doctor, who prescribed an oral antibiotic, didn’t help. A couple of days later, Jamie took herself to the emergency room and ended up admitted to the hospital. Here’s what she blogged about how that tiny scratch turned into a few days hooked up to IVs (reprinted with permission):

“Iā€™m happy to report I was discharged from the hospital last night. … So what did I learn from this? First of all this happened from a simple fall. The fall gave me a little cut. When I say little I mean like minuet. I didnā€™t clean the cut.

“How the cut got infected, that I canā€™t answer but I can say my weakened immune system was the problem. I am always concerned with Ocrevus with colds and flu season that it never even dawned on me for something so simple as a cut that a weakened immune system can cause a problem. With me not cleaning the cut and an infection getting in, it caused cellulitis in my leg. Cellulitis is a common but potentially serious bacteria infection. It is an infection under the skin causing an area to become red, swollen and warm to the touch.

“I am fortunate that my regular doctor sent me to the ER the first time. They gave me the oral antibiotics that didnā€™t work BUT because they didnā€™t work, they knew I needed to be in the hospital for IV antibiotics. The first IV antibiotics I was given wasnā€™t even working and I was finally changed to two different ones simultaneously. That was the cocktail I needed.

“I am home now … on an oral medication. I still have to see a surgeon on Wednesday to see if the wound will need to be lanced open. All this from a simple fall and a tiny cut. It is no joke that extra care needs to be taken with a weakened immune system in all aspects not just with colds. I now learned this lesson the hard way.”

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Don’t mess with those new MS DMTs

Two of the newest of the disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) for MS take a sledgehammer to our immune systems. Ocrevus (ocrelizumab) knocks out certain “rogue” B-cells, and Lemtrada (alemtuzumab) knocks out rogue B- and T-cells, which are thought to attack the myelin that covers nerves in our central nervous system. But doing that leaves patients with a reduced ability to fight infections, and people using each medication are cautioned to be careful about general hygiene and exposure to germs.

As someone whose immune system is currently compromised by Lemtrada, I should be more careful than I’ve been about things like hand-washing. Fortunately, my illnesses have been short and light over the year and a half since my first infusions. So, thanks to Jamie and her post for the reminder. It’s a good lesson for us all.

You’re invited to follow my personal blog at www.themswire.com.

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Note: Multiple Sclerosis News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Multiple Sclerosis News Today or its parent company, BioNews Services, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to multiple sclerosis.

Comments

Stephen Mackay avatar

Stephen Mackay

I needed surgery for cellulitis while using beta seton back in the 90ā€™s. Two hospital stays. Not fun.

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Becky avatar

Becky

I also had to be hospitalized for a nasty cellulitis on my right leg for IV Antibiotics.

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Jay avatar

Jay

Get HSCT.

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Ted Stephens avatar

Ted Stephens

I took a fall this spring that was nothing out of the ordinary,just a small cut on the elbow. The same thing has happened many times. Only this time it got infected and I was admitted to the hospital with cellulitis. Three weeks later I was back home after a lot of iv antibiotics and physical therapy. Be careful out there.

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Don avatar

Don

Anyone experience more sickness in air travel when on Aubagio? That is my main concern about taking it.

Reply
Ed Tobias avatar

Ed Tobias

It's been a few years since I was using Aubagio but I don't remember any problems with air travel while using it, or any other DMT that I've used.

Ed

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Lori Deyoe avatar

Lori Deyoe

Iā€™m currently dealing with ā€œcellulitisā€ in my left leg. Iā€™ve had multiple trips back into Urgent Care for a slite cut on my leg. Iā€™ve even gone into ER and was told to make an appt. with the wound clinic. But they did give me oral antibiotics. Now I have an appt for surgery to open it up and get it cleaned out?

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Ed Tobias avatar

Ed Tobias

Thanks for sharing, Lori.

I hope everything is cleaned and healed quickly.

Ed

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