Suggest Treatment For Swelling On Sole And Pain

Posted on Tue, 1 Jul 2014

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Tue, 1 Jul 2014 Answered on

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 Last reviewed on

Question : I stepped on a galvanized nail 6 days ago. I had tennis shoes on. I did not clean it immediatly. Everything was fine the first night. The next morning it started swelling. By the third day it was so swollen I couldnt walk. I started taking Amoxicillian, 500mg 6 times a day for 2 days. It kinda got worse. By the 4th day I changed to Kflex 3 times a day. This is now the 6th day and its still swollen and tender. I looked in the hole. There is a tiny piece of something in there but I dont feel it would be causing this. Could it be something off the galvenized nail?

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (2 hours later)

Brief answer...given below
Detailed answer...
Hello,
Thanks for the query.
You developed infection due to the piercing by nail.
Treatment involves continuous intake of antibiotics for 7-10 days along with anti inflamnatory drug,as you are taking.If you feel that your swelling and pain is much lesser than before,then There is nothing to worry and continue your antibiotics.
If you feel that it is still quite swollen and painful even after 6 days of injury and antibiotics,then you must consult a doctor for the inspection of the site.
Any foreign material stuck in there has to be removed and pus cleaned.
I hope it helps,however you may revert to me for any further query.
Best of luck
Thanks

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (1 hour later)

Hello doc and thank u for ur answer. Thats the thing....there is no puss and the puncture wound is so small that it is barely visible. I have been soaking it 2-3 times every day. At least one time in epsom salt. Theres nothing to come to a head because there seems to be nothing in it.
Maybe the bacteria from my tennis shoe for the first hour after it happened. And me walking around like nothing happened until the next day when it actually started hurting. Im thinking I started getting an infection and then used the amoxicillian. That curbed it but not much else. Then started the kflex which seems to be working much better. Should I stay completely off of it??

Answered by Dr. Pavan Kumar Gupta (12 hours later)

Hello,
You must complete the course of keflex.
There is no point stopping the antibiotic midway.
Thanks

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar