®
Practicing at St. Joseph Medical Arts Bldg., Port Charlotte, FL



2400 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 18, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 629-2355 ~ (941) 627-6275 Fax
E-mail Dr. Swing




  GENERAL DISCUSSION
As A Patient, What Can I Expect Regarding Healing Time of a Brown Recluse Spider Bite?


    The healing time and care involved varies depending on the size of the wound (ulcer), age and health of the patient. The fastest healing time was 17 days in a healthy 43 year old white female with a wound (ulcer) 1.2 inches (3 cm) in diameter. A 66 year old patient with vascular disease took 6 weeks to heal. This is what usually happens, but cannot be taken as a promise or guarantee.


Case History: Non-healing Brown Recluse Spider bite healed with Medical Acupuncture:


PRIOR HISTORY (Submitted by patient). AGE: 43 ~ SEX: Female

    On 11-26-96 patient sustained an insect bite on the lower left leg. It appeared as 0.8 inch (2 cm) red raised area with fluid-filled center approximately one cm in size. After three days, it opened and drained. The red area enlarged to 2 inches (5 cm) in size, and the pain increased at the wound site and also spread to cover the leg area from the knee down to the ankle. The wound was treated with normal saline rinse and clean dry dressing twice a day. The necrotic center gradually got bigger.
    On 11-30-96 (Day 5) started taking Augmentin and Dapsone orally (prescribed by a ysician). Three days later, the pain was increasing and was interfering with walking
    On 12-03-96 another physician (infectious disease/internal medicine specialist) took over treatment. The doctor started IV Vancomycin for 12 days with whirlpool and debridement by physical therapy. Three days later, cellulitis set in and IV Vancomycin was restarted for 5 days.
    By 01-10-97 the cellulitis and infection cleared up, but the wound remained open with no further healing.
    Acupuncture Treatment history (recorded by Dr. Swing):
      On 1-10-97 patient came to me with a non-healing wound (ulcer) on her left lower leg. The wound (ulcer) was about 0.08 inches (2-3 mm) deep, and its diameter was approximately 1 - 1.2 inches (2.5-3 cm) (about the size of a quarter). Patient said there had been no change in the size of the wound (ulcer) for 3 weeks. Patient request me to try using acupuncture techniques to stimulate healing of her wound. Even though the wound was clean, and free of infection, the patient's wound had not reduced in size in the three weeks prior to her first examination by me.
      Acupuncture Treatment #1 (01-10-97):
      Patient was given first acupuncture treatment on Friday afternoon, 1-10-97.
      Acupuncture Treatment #2 (01-13-97):
      On Monday, 1-13-97, I saw the patient for the first time since the first treatment. I asked her "Well, how did it go?" She responded, "Wonderfully - when I woke up Saturday morning, I was sleeping on my left side, which I haven't done for 2 months because of the pain. I then realized that 90% of my pain was gone."
      Examination confirmed the cyanotic (blue) rim around the wound (ulcer) was pink now, and the beginnings of some granulation tissue was forming at the bottom edge of the wound (ulcer).
      Acupuncture Treatment #3 (01-15-97):
      Patient reported deep pain was gone. I observed that the wound (ulcer) was continuing to fill in with granulation tissue
      Acupuncture Treatment #4 (01-17-97):
      Upon examination, I observed that the whole crater of the wound (ulcer) was filling in with granulation tissue and wound (ulcer) diameter decreased by 0.08 inches (2 mm). Patient reported that 4-5 days after fourth acupuncture treatment, a scab formed over the wound. The scab remained over the wound for approximately another 4 or 5 days then came off.

      DISCUSSION:
    It is my medical opinion that the Brown Recluse Spider bite produced a reoccurring vasoconstrictive toxin and that the acupuncture destroyed the toxin, broke up the vasospasm (constricted blood vessel) on the rim of the wound (ulcer), thus allowing the wound (ulcer) to heal.

    The patient's wound was completely healed within 17 days of the first acupuncture treatment.


    WARNING! These photos are graphic and untouched!
    Click here to see photos of Brown Recluse Spider Bite healing progress

    Treatments are administered by Dr. Swing at St. Joseph Medical ARts Bldg., Port Charlotte, Florida.


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    2400 Harbor Boulevard, Suite 18, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
    (941) 629-2355 ~ (941) 627-6275 Fax

    Designed by Sandy Gwynn Assisted by Maggi Swing - updated August 2003

    © - 1997 Acu-Heal all rights reserved. © Dr. Fred Swing 1997. All Rights Reserved.