FAQ - Products & Medicines

The Antibiotics

Keflex (Cephalexin is the generic) and Cipro (also has a generic) are frequent first choices among doctors to knock back an infection. Don't make the mistake of thinking that you can cure Pilonidal Disease with antibiotics. The antibiotics will kill the immediate infection but it will most likely be back since the abscess cavity and pit are still there and prone to infection. Surgeons never like to operate when an infection is present since it greatly increases the risks of infection in the surgical wound. Whenever possible, they will try a course of antibiotics to eliminate the infection before they start cutting. Sometimes, an infection is so bad that even antibiotics won't touch it, the only relief is from a lancing. This is because the inflammation is so bad that it is preventing blood flow to the infected area - so the drugs can't get to it. It may also be that your infection has developed an resistance to the antibiotic and you need a stronger one.

The Painkillers

What you get will depend on the preferences of your doctor. The usual suspects: Vicadin, Percoset, Roxicet or Darvocet. Darvocet is the weakest of the bunch. Try to take your pain meds about 30 minutes before you think you will need them so they have time to kick in, especially the first few days when you are changing dressings after surgery. These pain medications work best BEFORE you are seriously in pain. Eat a little bit of food about 15 minutes before taking them and don't take them with anything acidic like fruit juice, cola or coffee, since it can make you nauseous.

Silver Nitrate

Is something that many people going through open healing will have an experience with. Silver Nitrate is a caustic chemical that the doctor will use it to burn off excess scar tissue (aka "proud flesh") that develops during the last stages of healing. It is a liquid that will be dabbed onto the wound using a long Q-Tip and may burn for a few minutes. Some surgeons will use it to "jump start" healing in a wound that isn't responding.

No Bump Rx

A product that helps prevent ingrown hairs. Available at Sally Beauty Supply and other retail beauty stores in the wax and hair removal section. Average cost is $8 for a 4 oz bottle. You can also find it for mail order at various web sites for more money - just do a web search.

Cushions

One of the best things you can do for yourself! Don't get a "donut" made for hemorrhoid sufferers. Donuts don't relieve the pressure on your tailbone. What you want is a "coccyx cushion" - they have cut outs in the back of the cushion to take the pressure off the spine. These can be found online or in any medical supply store. The cheapest ones start at about $20. www.tushcush.com makes some that are customized for cars as well.

Horseback Riding

(Courtesy of message poster Mary) "Also, for those who cannot find relief with the cushions on the market, I found out that there is something called seat mapping system that some rehabilitation centers are using to help determine the best type of cushion to use for pressure relief for people with various disabilities. The centers have various samples of cushion materials (air, gel, closed cell, open cell) that could be tried over your chair, car seat or other place and the computer reads out how much pressure is present and exactly where it is over the buttock region. From the readouts they make alterations in the cushion, try another material, or/and change your position to relieve the pressure over the painful or delicate area. These professionals suggest and can customize cushions if necessary to relieve pressure. A prescription is needed for the evaluation . We used it to determine which seat cushion was best for my daughter to use on her saddle while resuming her horse back riding."

Packings

There are a huge range of high-tech wound care products on the market. Most of them should be covered by insurance if the doctor writes a prescription. We list some of the products that our readers have experienced on the Products page. Most people in the USA will get the standard gauze packing, while Europeans are leaning more towards the alginate dressings such as Aquacel.

DO NOT use Hydrogen Peroxide in an open Pilonidal excision wound. If your doctor told you to do it, find another doctor who knows something about wound care. HP destroys new tissue and will impede wound healing.

Multidex Powder

many of our readers have had success with this product in getting a stubborn wound to heal. Google Shopping Search Result

For much, much more detailed info, read the Aftercare section...

This page last updated: 10/28/2010

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