Lawrence Okoye, an Olympian, recently uploaded a video to TikTok showing his legs turning into playdough. Others wondered if he had water retention and if his kidneys, heart, or other organs were failing. A bacterial infection led to him developing cellulitis, a condition.
Former discus thrower Lawrence Okoye, 31, participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He also worked as a trainer for various NFL teams. Fundamentally speaking, this guy works out frequently.
But he recently uploaded a video to TikTok indicating his health was not good. The footage showed him pressing into his swollen right lower thigh.
He claimed that his leg looked like it had changed into play-doh. Unsurprisingly, people concerned for his welfare quickly populated the comments section.
Others immediately noted that the reason for this was water retention. The worst-case scenarios, including cancer, heart failure, liver failure, kidney failure, and more, were immediately discussed.
Okoye did visit a doctor, after which he informed his followers and fans. He was not experiencing organ failure, though. He had cellulitis, a disease.
“I had a leg injury a few days ago, and the wound became infected with bacteria, causing the redness, swelling, and pitted oedema you saw, which was me making craters in my leg,” he said in the follow-up video. “I can get better in a week with some medication and relaxation,” I said”.
When germs enter the body through skin wounds or sores, cellulitis develops. Though it does not pose a life-threatening threat immediately, if untreated, it might.
The heart and lungs are among the other organs it affects as it spreads quickly through the bloodstream. Strep A or B bacteria frequently cause cellulitis, though many strains can also be blamed.
Infections are typically restricted to the skin but can travel through the bloodstream to other body parts.
People with weakened immune systems, such as those with cancer or diabetes, are more likely to develop it. Inadequate cellulitis treatment can cause early labour or miscarriage, which is highly harmful to pregnant women.
Accidents or cuts that allow bacteria to enter your skin and start an infection beneath the skin’s surface (subcutaneous) are the usual causes of cellulitis.
Before cellulitis spreads through your bloodstream to other parts of your body, you might not even know you have it. The most typical causes of cellulitis are as follows.
Contact with a cut or wound on another person’s body that is bacterially infected (such as with strep).
Skin deterioration is a result of diabetes, pressure sores, and infections.
Severe damage to your limbs, where bacteria can enter your body, can result from limb injuries.
Cellulitis can cause excruciating pain and annoyance. There’s also a chance of experiencing flu-like symptoms like fever, chills, and fatigue. There are also the following additional symptoms:
Red lines extend from the original cut or incision.
Your armpits, groin, or neck lymph nodes may be swollen.
Cellulitis-affected areas are warm.
Oedema is the medical term for localised swelling.
The best way to treat cellulitis is with your doctor has prescribed medications. In addition, getting enough sleep will strengthen your body’s defences against lingering infections.
Your doctor might recommend an antibiotic if you have cellulitis in your legs. Reducing blood flow to the affected area lessens swelling and inflammation.
Keep wounds clean and bandaged until they heal correctly to reduce the risk of cellulitis.
If you notice a change in your health or something about your body that doesn’t feel right, act immediately. Go to the doctor right away. In Okoye’s case, the infection was not as severe and quickly controlled with medication.
He won’t sustain any long-term damage; in a few days, he’ll return to normal. However, the outcome might have differed dramatically if he had neglected to treat the infection. Don’t put it off – Keep an eye on your body and health, and wait to let things slide until it’s too late.
