protruding subcutaneous suture

[edfskins]

It's 3am and I'm a bit worried  :'(  I'm 4 weeks and 4 days post op from a posterior approach BHR and all seems to be going well in regard to recovery.  Here's the problem.  My incision has healed nicely, however, at the top of it there is a bump that I noticed several weeks ago.  It feels like a staple or a small piece of a toothpick, just under the skin.  Rubbing my finger across it creates a sharp poking sensation as if it wants to exit through the now healed incision.  Initially, I thought it was a dissolvable suture, but it's not going away and is really starting to annoy and freak me out. It's just under the skin, fribrous, somewhat sharp, doesn't appear infected, but I'm now noticing it when I roll over onto my side while sleeping and throughout the day as the waistband of my sweat pants contacts it.  I read a post about someone who had a subcutaneous suture protruding through his skin, and am wondering  what I should do.   

[jgenese]

Have you called your doc?

[Pat Walter]

If you have problems that are upsetting you - please, please, please call your doctor's office and ask.  None of us can see or feel your problem and we don't know your specifics.  We are here to share information, but when it is something that is so upsetting to you - make the call.  That's what you paid your surgeon for.

All kinds of things can be happening with stiches, etc.  I had open heart surgery and one fellow on that discussion group has a wire that was used to keep his sternum closed coming thru his chest.  They will have to remove it surgically.

We can help each other, but when you are really frightened about something - pick the phone up and get the answer.

I hope it is only a dissolvable stitch.

Pat

[edfskins]

Thanks Pat,

It only recently became so sharp and obviously abnormal, wrote to my Doc this AM, and will call Dr. Pritchett first thing Monday morning.

It's not a big deal as long as it doesn't get infected and that's what prompted me to post my issue at 3am.  I also dropped a line to my Doc via e-mail, but it's the weekend  :(

I'll let you know what comes of it.  Much Thanks ~ Erik

[leggy]

Hi Erik, I have just read your post, so the issue may be resolved now.
I had the same thing, although the suture was actually poking out, I thought it was a bit of skin & tried to pull it off, ouch ! When I realised it was a stitch I rang the district nurse, she told me to trim it down if it was bothering me, also to keep an eye on it, in case of infection. I trimmed it, then left it alone, it was still there when I went for my 7 week check. The head physio who I saw, tried to tweezer it out,to no avail, so she also said keep an eye on it, but she thought it was beginning to break down anyway. A week or two later, it was gone on it's own.
Hope your problem has resolved itself too.
Linda.