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What Causes Abscess On Upper Left Buttock?
Question: Dear Dr. Rynne,
In the past, (13 years ago) I have had Progesterone shots given by my husband. I also had a sledding accident where I hit a tree really hard with my upper left buttock. My son and I were going straight down the hill and then we turned. Tried to stop before hitting into a tree. I didn't think I was going to be able to get up. I have what appears to be an abscess on my upper left buttock. It surfaced about 3 1/2 years ago after ( I'm in Tae Kwon Do) practicing take downs on a very soft mat but it seemed to re-surface a few weeks or so after that. Went to the doctor and he lanced it. All was well until early last year in Tae Kwon Do we were doing side break falls, well once again 2 more surfaced near the last one. Went to the Dr. and he did nothing. This time I let it drain and took care of it as best I could. Now I have another bump (Been very careful in Tae Kwon Do so no falling on it) and have been seeing an acupuncturist. Just really wondering exactly what this is BUT the biggest wonder is how the heck did I get it? What can I do to get rid of it?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
In the past, (13 years ago) I have had Progesterone shots given by my husband. I also had a sledding accident where I hit a tree really hard with my upper left buttock. My son and I were going straight down the hill and then we turned. Tried to stop before hitting into a tree. I didn't think I was going to be able to get up. I have what appears to be an abscess on my upper left buttock. It surfaced about 3 1/2 years ago after ( I'm in Tae Kwon Do) practicing take downs on a very soft mat but it seemed to re-surface a few weeks or so after that. Went to the doctor and he lanced it. All was well until early last year in Tae Kwon Do we were doing side break falls, well once again 2 more surfaced near the last one. Went to the Dr. and he did nothing. This time I let it drain and took care of it as best I could. Now I have another bump (Been very careful in Tae Kwon Do so no falling on it) and have been seeing an acupuncturist. Just really wondering exactly what this is BUT the biggest wonder is how the heck did I get it? What can I do to get rid of it?
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Need to investigate cause for recurrent abscess
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for asking in healthcaremagic forum
I am Dr Deepak S Jois answering your query
I understand your situation. Abscesses/boils are very common in the back and buttock area. Your progesterone shot 13 years ago and accident way back may not be related to the present incident at all.
Usually back and buttock area has less blood supply compared to other organ systems and more over the pressure upon it by sitting for longer duration without changing position can further decrease blood circulation and lead to infection and abscess.
If it is recurrent you need to rule out Diabetes at first and other chronic illnesses causing low immunity.
Non-sterile instruments during acupuncture can also cause infection.
So, As a doctor I would like to suggest you to get investigations for diabetes and other basic investigations to rule out decreased immunity after consulting your local doctor.
Hope, I have answered your query. Please let me know if I can help you further. All the best.
Need to investigate cause for recurrent abscess
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for asking in healthcaremagic forum
I am Dr Deepak S Jois answering your query
I understand your situation. Abscesses/boils are very common in the back and buttock area. Your progesterone shot 13 years ago and accident way back may not be related to the present incident at all.
Usually back and buttock area has less blood supply compared to other organ systems and more over the pressure upon it by sitting for longer duration without changing position can further decrease blood circulation and lead to infection and abscess.
If it is recurrent you need to rule out Diabetes at first and other chronic illnesses causing low immunity.
Non-sterile instruments during acupuncture can also cause infection.
So, As a doctor I would like to suggest you to get investigations for diabetes and other basic investigations to rule out decreased immunity after consulting your local doctor.
Hope, I have answered your query. Please let me know if I can help you further. All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX S Jois,
Thank you for getting back to me. I will certainly look into Diabetes and other chronic causing low immunity. I do have to mention I have not been sick or have had a cold for 3 years until this year I let my husband share his cold. I workout strength/cardio 3 days a week and TaeKwonDo 2 to 3 times a week. Plus, I have a family and house to tend to. I am 57, 5'4", weight 130. I have never been one to sit for to long. Acupuncture, I hear him opening packages of needles. I sure would hope there sterile. He does come highly recommended. Since, I finally nailed down what I have and received your feed back, it will be easier (I hope) to get this situation under control.
Thank you for your expertise and time,
XXXXXXX
Thank you for getting back to me. I will certainly look into Diabetes and other chronic causing low immunity. I do have to mention I have not been sick or have had a cold for 3 years until this year I let my husband share his cold. I workout strength/cardio 3 days a week and TaeKwonDo 2 to 3 times a week. Plus, I have a family and house to tend to. I am 57, 5'4", weight 130. I have never been one to sit for to long. Acupuncture, I hear him opening packages of needles. I sure would hope there sterile. He does come highly recommended. Since, I finally nailed down what I have and received your feed back, it will be easier (I hope) to get this situation under control.
Thank you for your expertise and time,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for getting back to me
I am again Dr Deepak S Jois communicating with you
You do have a healthy life style and its good that you have not been sick since 03 years. Please do continue this habit without fail.
I think you have got an idea about where the thing is wrong, by your reply. Please do look into the causes for your problem as mentioned in my previous answer.
Hope you are satisfied with my answer. Please do let me know, if I can be of any help. All the best.
Regards
Dr Deepak S Jois
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX Thanks for getting back to me
I am again Dr Deepak S Jois communicating with you
You do have a healthy life style and its good that you have not been sick since 03 years. Please do continue this habit without fail.
I think you have got an idea about where the thing is wrong, by your reply. Please do look into the causes for your problem as mentioned in my previous answer.
Hope you are satisfied with my answer. Please do let me know, if I can be of any help. All the best.
Regards
Dr Deepak S Jois
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Shanthi.E
Dear Dr. XXXXXXX S Jois,
Thank you for getting back to me again. It baffles me on how I got this. It's on my upper left buttock. I've had no soars or anything there for that area to get infected. It is the area where I hit hard into the tree. Could that have weakened the area? The blood maybe not circling around well? I need to understand now, how I got this. I do see an acupuncturist. He did cupping on that area once. The blood was like gelatin. He mentioned cupping would help oxygen to circulate around the area. What are your thoughts? I called my regular physician early yesterday and I'm still waiting to hear back. I so appreciate your help. I start testing tonight for my 1st degree in Tae Kwon Do. I don't want this boo-boo interfering. I do get a burning sin cation once in a while during my activities but it's not stopping me. Yet
Sincerely, XXXXXXX
Thank you for getting back to me again. It baffles me on how I got this. It's on my upper left buttock. I've had no soars or anything there for that area to get infected. It is the area where I hit hard into the tree. Could that have weakened the area? The blood maybe not circling around well? I need to understand now, how I got this. I do see an acupuncturist. He did cupping on that area once. The blood was like gelatin. He mentioned cupping would help oxygen to circulate around the area. What are your thoughts? I called my regular physician early yesterday and I'm still waiting to hear back. I so appreciate your help. I start testing tonight for my 1st degree in Tae Kwon Do. I don't want this boo-boo interfering. I do get a burning sin cation once in a while during my activities but it's not stopping me. Yet
Sincerely, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
A picture of the affected area would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for getting back to me
If there was a loss of soft tissue mass with scar due to accident, there is possibility of getting back infection and ulcers again and again in that area.
Your theory of less blood circulation may be considered here.
Acupuncture increases blood circulation and can help you out in this regard.
So, if I can get the picture, it would have been easier to provide most probable diagnosis for your problem.
Hope, you can provide me one. Will be waiting for your pic of the lesion.
All the best.
A picture of the affected area would help.
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX
Thanks for getting back to me
If there was a loss of soft tissue mass with scar due to accident, there is possibility of getting back infection and ulcers again and again in that area.
Your theory of less blood circulation may be considered here.
Acupuncture increases blood circulation and can help you out in this regard.
So, if I can get the picture, it would have been easier to provide most probable diagnosis for your problem.
Hope, you can provide me one. Will be waiting for your pic of the lesion.
All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Hello Dr XXXXXXX S Jois,
I am downloading 3 pictures. One: lesion in action, two: lesion healing, three: lesion today with 2 bumps I can feel underneath. One is at the bottom of the lanced scar the other is on the right side still in the perimeter of the large mark. I have a gut feeling they're going to want out too!!!
Thank you, XXXXXXX
I am downloading 3 pictures. One: lesion in action, two: lesion healing, three: lesion today with 2 bumps I can feel underneath. One is at the bottom of the lanced scar the other is on the right side still in the perimeter of the large mark. I have a gut feeling they're going to want out too!!!
Thank you, XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Your wound needs dressing daily
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for uploading the pics
I am Dr Deepak S Jois again answering your query
As seen in the pics, the wound is deep and with slough. So, it needs daily dressing with proper ulcer/wound management.
Coming back to the cause of recurrent abscess/ulcer, please go for blood sugar levels to rule out diabetes as it is more common in these kind of situations.
Take precautions like changing your positions frequently when to sit for a long time, while you travel etc. to avoid further recurrence.
A course of oral and local antibiotics would have helped you to recover.
Hope I have answered your query. Please let me know your fasting blood sugar levels. All the best.
Your wound needs dressing daily
Detailed Answer:
Hi, Thanks for uploading the pics
I am Dr Deepak S Jois again answering your query
As seen in the pics, the wound is deep and with slough. So, it needs daily dressing with proper ulcer/wound management.
Coming back to the cause of recurrent abscess/ulcer, please go for blood sugar levels to rule out diabetes as it is more common in these kind of situations.
Take precautions like changing your positions frequently when to sit for a long time, while you travel etc. to avoid further recurrence.
A course of oral and local antibiotics would have helped you to recover.
Hope I have answered your query. Please let me know your fasting blood sugar levels. All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Yogesh D
Hello Dr. XXXXXXX S Jois,
Thank you for your reply, but I think that you may have misunderstood my previous email. I had sent 3 photos of the wound from different times. I am re-sending the photo of my wound as it currently is, (name changed to "Today_IMG_7730.jpg"), which is NOT an open wound nor has it been for a very long time. I am really in excellent physical health today and I do not believe that I have high blood sugar levels at this time and have never had high levels before. If you still would like for me to check my blood sugar level, I will try do so in the morning.
I look forward to any other thoughts you may have on this in the meantime.
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Thank you for your reply, but I think that you may have misunderstood my previous email. I had sent 3 photos of the wound from different times. I am re-sending the photo of my wound as it currently is, (name changed to "Today_IMG_7730.jpg"), which is NOT an open wound nor has it been for a very long time. I am really in excellent physical health today and I do not believe that I have high blood sugar levels at this time and have never had high levels before. If you still would like for me to check my blood sugar level, I will try do so in the morning.
I look forward to any other thoughts you may have on this in the meantime.
Thank you,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
Yes, I thought its the current one
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX
Dr Deepak S Jois here again
Sorry for the inconvinience caused due to my misunderstanding. Good to hear that you are free from the infection at present.
I got your recent pic, where only a scar is visible after healing of the wound. You need not worry about the previous accident/progesterone shot as are not related to your recurrent infection/abscess in that area.
You just need to find out the reason for recurrent abscess now. Some of the causes which can lead to low immunity and cause recurrent abscesses are,
a. Smoking
b. Alcohol
c. Diabetes
d. Injectable drug abuse
e. Immuno deficiency diseases etc
So, as you told you do not have high blood sugar levels, other causes need to be investigated as the list is too long to mention here. In my opinion it is better to visit your doctor for a followup who can find out the reasons for your problem, as it is difficult to assess it online.
Hope, I have answered your query. I do not know whether you are satisfied /not as we are communicating again and again for the same problem. All the best.
Yes, I thought its the current one
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX
Dr Deepak S Jois here again
Sorry for the inconvinience caused due to my misunderstanding. Good to hear that you are free from the infection at present.
I got your recent pic, where only a scar is visible after healing of the wound. You need not worry about the previous accident/progesterone shot as are not related to your recurrent infection/abscess in that area.
You just need to find out the reason for recurrent abscess now. Some of the causes which can lead to low immunity and cause recurrent abscesses are,
a. Smoking
b. Alcohol
c. Diabetes
d. Injectable drug abuse
e. Immuno deficiency diseases etc
So, as you told you do not have high blood sugar levels, other causes need to be investigated as the list is too long to mention here. In my opinion it is better to visit your doctor for a followup who can find out the reasons for your problem, as it is difficult to assess it online.
Hope, I have answered your query. I do not know whether you are satisfied /not as we are communicating again and again for the same problem. All the best.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Hello Dr. XXXXXXX S Jois,
Thank you, thank you, you were a great big help. I went to two different doctors neither told or could tell me what this was. I had to figured it out myself on line. Glad you could help me in confirming and giving me a direction to follow. I have my blood tested every year, for diabetes, liver, kidney, cholesterol, and what ever else they check for. Every year in February is my annual check up time. So now that I'm pretty positive on what it is I have, the doctor should be able to help me with this annoying problem.
Once again I thank you for all your expertise!!!
I wish you well,
XXXXXXX
Thank you, thank you, you were a great big help. I went to two different doctors neither told or could tell me what this was. I had to figured it out myself on line. Glad you could help me in confirming and giving me a direction to follow. I have my blood tested every year, for diabetes, liver, kidney, cholesterol, and what ever else they check for. Every year in February is my annual check up time. So now that I'm pretty positive on what it is I have, the doctor should be able to help me with this annoying problem.
Once again I thank you for all your expertise!!!
I wish you well,
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX
Dr Deepak here again
Thanks for communicating your opinion. Healthcaremagic forum will be there for you always to help you in need. All the best.
Regards
Dr Deepak S Jois
All the best
Detailed Answer:
Hi, XXXXXXX
Dr Deepak here again
Thanks for communicating your opinion. Healthcaremagic forum will be there for you always to help you in need. All the best.
Regards
Dr Deepak S Jois
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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