Prodiver
Top Contributor
Abscesses resulting from AAS injections are painful pockets of pus in a muscle or under the skin.
They are not caused by rough injection technique, blunt needles or by injecting large amounts: they are caused by bacteria introduced at the time of injection.
Bacteria are introduced by lack of hygiene, unsterile drawing up or injection technique, or by contaminated gear.
Many AAS users have injected hygienically for years without experiencing an abscess, but statistically the likelihood increases the more injections that are done.
Some sorts of bacteria, such as fecal, are easily spread to injection sites and are extremely virulent once in skin and muscle tissue, so scrupulous hygiene is vital.
The infectious bacteria kill local cells, causing an inflammatory response, increasing local blood flow and drawing in white blood cells which form the pus.
The inflammatory response results in redness, heat, swelling and pain.
The surrounding healthy cells try to stop the pus spreading the infection by encapsulating it.
Unfortunately this encapsulation tends to prevent immune cells and antibiotics from futher attacking the bacteria.
An abscess may become fully encapsulated, go "blind" and quiescent and gradually be absorbed, but more often worsens and spreads.
Abscesses which spread may cause severe debility, gangrene and septicaemia and even death.
Abscesses in most parts of the body rarely heal themselves and so require prompt medical attention as soon as suspected.
Ultimately abscesses not cured by antibiotics may need draining and debriding, and treatment which keeps them open until they heal from the inside out.
Rough injection technique and AAS containing excessive antiseptic may soon cause PIP (post injection pain).
If the PIP does not subside within a day or two and the injection site is red, hot, increasingly painful, firm and swollen, sometimes with a softer centre, an abscess should be suspected and treatment started as soon as possible.
A friendly bodybuilder Doctor says:
"For an abscess you should be on 1000 mg (1 gram) of flucloxacillin 4 times a day for the first 4 doses, plus 1000 mg of penicillin 4 times a day for the first 4 doses, providing you don't have any renal problems.
"You can go back to 500 mg of both 4 times a day for at least a week when the big guns hit it.
"The penicillin is overkill but you need to hit an abscess really hard. Big doses of antibiotics fast will knock it down hopefully otherwise you're in trouble."
If you don't have access to these antibiotics go immediately to your GP, walk-in centre or A&E and impress this upon them.
They are not caused by rough injection technique, blunt needles or by injecting large amounts: they are caused by bacteria introduced at the time of injection.
Bacteria are introduced by lack of hygiene, unsterile drawing up or injection technique, or by contaminated gear.
Many AAS users have injected hygienically for years without experiencing an abscess, but statistically the likelihood increases the more injections that are done.
Some sorts of bacteria, such as fecal, are easily spread to injection sites and are extremely virulent once in skin and muscle tissue, so scrupulous hygiene is vital.
The infectious bacteria kill local cells, causing an inflammatory response, increasing local blood flow and drawing in white blood cells which form the pus.
The inflammatory response results in redness, heat, swelling and pain.
The surrounding healthy cells try to stop the pus spreading the infection by encapsulating it.
Unfortunately this encapsulation tends to prevent immune cells and antibiotics from futher attacking the bacteria.
An abscess may become fully encapsulated, go "blind" and quiescent and gradually be absorbed, but more often worsens and spreads.
Abscesses which spread may cause severe debility, gangrene and septicaemia and even death.
Abscesses in most parts of the body rarely heal themselves and so require prompt medical attention as soon as suspected.
Ultimately abscesses not cured by antibiotics may need draining and debriding, and treatment which keeps them open until they heal from the inside out.
Rough injection technique and AAS containing excessive antiseptic may soon cause PIP (post injection pain).
If the PIP does not subside within a day or two and the injection site is red, hot, increasingly painful, firm and swollen, sometimes with a softer centre, an abscess should be suspected and treatment started as soon as possible.
A friendly bodybuilder Doctor says:
"For an abscess you should be on 1000 mg (1 gram) of flucloxacillin 4 times a day for the first 4 doses, plus 1000 mg of penicillin 4 times a day for the first 4 doses, providing you don't have any renal problems.
"You can go back to 500 mg of both 4 times a day for at least a week when the big guns hit it.
"The penicillin is overkill but you need to hit an abscess really hard. Big doses of antibiotics fast will knock it down hopefully otherwise you're in trouble."
If you don't have access to these antibiotics go immediately to your GP, walk-in centre or A&E and impress this upon them.
