Minutus

I had to look this one up!

Anyone have experience treating this?
-----------------
"A pilonidal (pie-low-NIE-dul) cyst is an abnormal pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. A pilonidal cyst is almost always located near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks.

These cysts typically occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded. If a pilonidal cyst becomes infected, the resulting abscess is often extremely painful. The cyst can be drained through a small incision or removed surgically.

Pilonidal cysts most commonly occur in young men, and the problem has a tendency to recur. People who sit for prolonged periods of time, such as truck drivers, are at higher risk of developing a pilonidal cyst.

-----------

"it's swollen and extremely painful, as in he hasn't been to class for the past 4 days and has been taking pain medication non-stop. But even with the pain meds he says he can still feel it throbbing, and it's really hard for him to sleep. His mood hasn't been affected, other than him looking sad all the time because he can't escape the pain and he hates feeling useless."

I'm hoping they can send more detail, e.g. whether there is any sensation of heat, and whether warmth , other changes.

I assume that clearing the abscess will take some time, but should be able to get pain relief within a day or less?

Thanks,
Shannon

No direct experience but I remember a lecturer telling us the only thing that worked on a patient of hers was Carbo An. It normally has to be cut out but reoccurs.
Rochelle
From: minutus@yahoogroups.com [mailto:minutus@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Shannon Nelson
I had to look this one up!
Anyone have experience treating this?

-----------------

"A pilonidal (pie-low-NIE-dul) cyst is an abnormal pocket in the skin that usually contains hair and skin debris. A pilonidal cyst is almost always located near the tailbone at the top of the cleft of the buttocks.

These cysts typically occur when hair punctures the skin and then becomes embedded. If a pilonidal cyst becomes infected, the resulting abscess is often extremely painful. The cyst can be drained through a small incision or removed surgically.

Pilonidal cysts most commonly occur in young men, and the problem has a tendency to recur. People who sit for prolonged periods of time, such as truck drivers, are at higher risk of developing a pilonidal cyst.

-----------

"it's swollen and extremely painful, as in he hasn't been to class for the past 4 days and has been taking pain medication non-stop. But even with the pain meds he says he can still feel it throbbing, and it's really hard for him to sleep. His mood hasn't been affected, other than him looking sad all the time because he can't escape the pain and he hates feeling useless."
I'm hoping they can send more detail, e.g. whether there is any sensation of heat, and whether warmth , other changes.
I assume that clearing the abscess will take some time, but should be able to get pain relief within a day or less?
Thanks,

Shannon

HI Shannon

I helped a young lad years ago with this. Silicea was a good match for him as I had used it before this for other issues. Hepar Sulph helped out as well when indicated. They were recurrent over the years sometimes nothing for 1-2 years and then right back again but not as intense. Other things you could suggest is to shave around the area really well (if there is a lot of hair) as it may trap foreign material and cause infection. shaving the area also allow for better "wiping". Have him wipe away from cyst. Daily bathing will help to keep the area clean and keep from getting reinfected. Epsom salt baths may help bring it out. Handy wet wipes for "away from home" may be needed to clean the area. Keep his towel separate from all others in the household. He also found a hot compress to help draw out the fluid helped. How one sits needs to be addressed. Diet can be addressed or looked at and it would not hurt to add in some garlic and/or echinacea supplements to fight the infection. Lastly Stress is usually at the root of it so of course finding ways to reduce stress will assist and that is why Silicea worked so well. Of course it has to match his Sx.

Good Luck Domenic

--- In minutus@yahoogroups.com, Shannon Nelson wrote:

Thanks, Rochelle--interesting.

For interest I am sharing this that someone (thanks!!!) send me; it's from ReferenceWorks but I have not yet looked up the author.

" CASE 118
A 30-year-old man who had recently joined my list attended a morning surgery, and declined to sit down as he was in too much pain from his pilonidal sinus, which had flared up a week previously. It was his twenty-first relapse in thirteen years, and despite the extreme pain and tenderness he was emphatic that he was not going to have further surgery.
'I couldn't stand another operation. Even after surgery it takes weeks to heal.'
That was why he had put off coming to see me, in case I insisted on referring him to hospital again.
The lesion was red, angry and inflamed, like a boil that needed lancing, and was exquisitely tender. It had remained unchanged for the last week.
I gave him Hepar sulph. 30c to be taken cautiously, every four hours until the sinus discharged effectively. He returned two days later. The 'boil' had come to a head and discharged the same evening, with no further increase in pain, and was subsiding satisfactorily. This was unique in his experience, and he observed that I had not even prescribed an antibiotic. I told him to stop taking Hepar sulph. and gave him a single dose of Silica 200c.
The condition cleared up, so that he did not have a further relapse to my knowledge during the next five years that he remained in the village and on my list.
In my experience, Hepar sulph. should be used cautiously as it can accelerate the inflammatory process too rapidly, causing unnecessary distress. It should be used when suppuration appears inevitable, in order to 'ripen' the boil or abscess, and should be discontinued as soon as it is discharging freely.
Silica has a well-earned reputation for healing after the discharge has subsided. It suits chilly, sweaty people, with cold extremities, who overclothe because they are intolerant of cold and draughts, and have unhealthy skin; such was my patient."

I'll report back on what I try and what happens.

Shannon

Thanks, Domenic!

These sound like good suggestions, and I will pass it all along.

Shannon

Calc Carb 30C or 200C worked for me!
BG
____________________________________________________________
How to Sleep Like a Rock
Obey this one natural trick to fall asleep and stay asleep all night.
peaklife.com

Thanks, Bill!

Do you recall, was it the first remedy used for the condition, or as follow-up to more acute ones?

In this particular case I am thinking to start with Hepar (especially hoping for quick pain relief), then silica to finish the healing, but have been considering carbo-an if needed after that (or if Hepar and silica don't do it for him). My experience with carbo-an has been limited but very intriguing, and seems perhaps relevant to this case as well. I would love to hear more detail of your case, if you remember and have time?

Shannon

This case was about 5-6 yrs ago. Cyst developed slowly, but painful from the start, & no pus until day 3 or 4. Then developed
into a large cyst, sac filled will creamy puss, extremely painful on upper leg under rt buttock. Pat wanted to go to hospital to have it lanced. Pat was a couch potato, sat at desk for 6 hours a day. Don't remember other rubrics. Pat was given Calc Carb 30c @ HS. Next morn sac had burst with creamy fluid & bloody fluid draining. All gone in a few hours.
BG
____________________________________________________________
How to Sleep Like a Rock
Obey this one natural trick to fall asleep and stay asleep all night.
peaklife.com

Thanks! A much nicer result than the "several weeks" that I read for recovery from the surgery!