Evolution of a Diagnosis

Saturday, Nate's ankle becomes swollen.  No possibility of an actual injury, but it looks as if he'd had a bad accident.

Walk-in clinic: "It's a sprain."

Sunday, swelling has spread to mid-calf and has red splotches.  Night nurse is sure it's not a sprain.

ER: "Cellulitis"

Across the week, the swelling spreads to the knee, redness fades for a couple days but starts to return.  Pediatrician sends us to the children's hospital on Thursday.

Specialists: "Septic arthritis, osteomyelitis, cellulitis"

Hopefully, that's the end of this particular saga... no more complications, Nate!  That's an order from your mother.

Basically, Nate has an infection of the ankle and calf that affects all the layers from his skin to his ankle joint.  No idea how it started, but they caught it early, thanks to Nate's night nurse and pediatrician being so alert to the red flags that escaped the other doctors.  He had surgery right away, did really well.  Now we begin the 4-6 week recovery.  Hopefully this will NOT all be in the hospital!    They hope to send him home next week, but it depends on exactly which germ is involved and whether the appropriate antibiotic can be given orally or if it has to be given by IV.

Nate's a lot more active now- he wouldn't move that leg all week but now that the surgery has alleviated the swelling (and he's on pain killers) he is rocking and kicking both legs so much I'm worried he will dislodge the drain in his incision!  It's good to see him moving normally again, though.