Is this cellulitis?

knowledgeforpower

Ok, I am sitting here trying to decide if I need to make a doctor's appointment.  Friday night my elbow started to really hurt.  I looked an there was a red spot about the size of a half dollar on the inside around the joint.  My arm also was tender running down towards my hand.  On Saturday morning I had a red streak running up my arm to a very small cut on the inside of my upper arm and a red streak running down toward my hand.  No way was I going to the ER.  I watched it all day and too my temp a couple of times.  I also develped smal bumps up and down my arm.  The redness was better yesterday, but it started to itch.  Today the redness is almost gone, but my arm feels tender and is very itchy.  I am trying to decide if I should just chalk this up to allergy of somesort and let it run its course or I need to make an appointment....  It's the same arm I had my SNB, followed my cording and mild lymphedema and breast cellulitis.  I really dislike go to the doctor when my symptoms are almost gone, but I also don't like wondering what it is.  Anyone else have symptoms like this??????  THANKS!

kira66715

Cathy, the red streak and the tenderness unfortunately sound like possible cellulitis. As you've already had breast cellulitis on that side you realize that you're at risk--we're all at risk--and unfortunately these infections can get very bad if not treated.

I had a red hot patch develop on my arm last summer, and it was cellulitis.

I'd advise getting evaluated, and this is a situation where the current desire in medicine to avoid overuse of antibiotics runs flat into the reality that we're at risk of serious and rapidly developing infections.

http://www.stepup-speakout.org/Emergencies_and_Medical_Care_lymphedema.htm

I'd say: get this checked out, and push for treatment.