AVOIDING PRESSURE WOUNDS
Taking care of your skin has to be a daily priority from the very beginning. Prolonged pressure on the skin damages underlying tissue, especially on the bony parts of your body where you don't have a lot of skin: heels, ankles, elbows, hips, shoulder blades, and the tailbone.
A pressure ulcer shows up as a red mark on the skin. Red, unbroken skin can quickly become a deep injury involving muscle and bone which takes months, and in some cases years to heal.
"I have dealt with pressure sores on and off for the almost 26 years of injury. I recently had my worst problem with a pressure sore. I had to spend six months in bed. I was under home healthcare and they used several different treatments, but the one that finally worked was MediHoney." Tiffany, C5-6
How do we avoid pressure wounds?
In bed, roll to the side or even partially to one side. Wedge a pillow under your back to keep pressure off the tailbone
Change positions for pressure relief every few hours. Later, when you are able to transfer to a chair, use features to frequently lean and tilt into different positions.
Don't lay on pads in bed. Use a draw sheet to be moved in bed, and disposable incontinence pads only.
Use a mattress designed to provide pressure relief.
Don't cover wounds that aren't open unless otherwise instructed by doctor.
Keep skin clean and dry.
Put pillows under your calves to float your heels in bed or use protective foot-drop prevention boots.
Check skin daily. Push on red mark and make sure it blanches (turns white for a second) when you remove pressure
If a red mark persists for 48 hours, involve a wound doctor.
The hospital should perform a pressure wound risk assessment when determining whether an alternating air mattress should be used. Insist on this assessment. A head-to-toe skin assessment should be conducted as soon as possible upon admission and at least daily thereafter, paying special attention to bony prominences.
Pressure wounds are a big deal. Quadriplegics who have won the fight with pressure wounds recommend using DermaWound, an iodine based solution that yields incredible results when used as directed. You can buy an 8 ounce tub at a really affordable price at dermawound.com. Make sure to use as directed! We also like Medihoney, silver nitrate, calcium alginate, collagen powder and stem cell therapy. See what your health insurance will approve.
Dermawound was the catalyst in healing my stage 4 pressure wound. I had tried everything. I had been down over a year. My caregivers noted visible improvement in just the first few applications. I wish I would have known about this magical stuff much sooner!
Consuming enough protein is very important for healing as well. We like products like Prostat and Juven.
"I healed a stage 4 that I had for 6 years and was the size of a softball in about a year and without major surgery. And I did not spend every minute in bed. I required like 120 mg of protein A DAY. I used carnation instant breakfast, mixed in additional, unflavored protein powder, and drank 2 a day, and got as much protein through food as I could." Adrian, C5-6
"Pressure sores are the worst thing ever. They show you pictures and you can watch a video but you truly don't understand until it happens to you. I had mine for 3 years and was on bedrest for 2 1/2 years. We tried everything to heal it. Stem cells healed it but I came home and didn't stay off of it like I should have so it opened up. I had every infection possible. I finally broke down and decided to get the flap surgery. It was a 6 week stay in the hospital but it was the best decision ever because I got my life back after that. I will never sit on anything other than a Roho again." Jordanne, C3-4
When you get your wheelchair you'll get a seat cushion like Jordanne's Roho. I've got one too.