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i cant get rid of my bed sore

AmandaBurkholder
0 Recommendations

hello im amanda a 23 y/o female and i have had this bed sore for almost 2 years and it wont go away i tried all kinds of med,cream,packings and i cant get it to heal iwas in a nurshing home for a year with wound care everyday and it went from stage 4 to 2 and now that i cant get wound care everyday its at a 3..i kno its best to stay off it but i have a house and animals to tend to daily so therefor i bought a ROHO and it is so comfy..lol i was shot and paralyzed april 10 2006 one month after my 21 birthday..im dealin with this quite well i look at it as what doesnt kill us only makes us stronger but i almost died twice from this wound..some please give me some advice u can reach me here or my e mail neworleanshoodstar@yahoo.com...thanks all who read and respon god bless

Explore topics in this discussion:

Surgery Osteomyelitis Paraplegia

28 replies

jerry2

hi,

im jerry i wish i could tell u somthn to help but ive nevr dealt with a bed soar .i am also paralysed waist dwn since 07,i fell an broke my back..anyways i wondered how the soar developed was it cause u never got off that spot or did sumthn happen to inflict the wound like was u scratched maybe and it developed? i sit on a roho also i sleep on my side and rotate sides to keep of same spot...ok thnks if u can reply jerr..

ADifferentCaliberWom

oh my gosh, you have to be kidding me - I HOPE!

ADifferentCaliberWom

DeAnna,

You didn't mention anything diet wise that I didn't already know. Could you go into more details about the diet please? Thanks

Learning1

As Matt32 mentioned in his post, Amanda, the lady who began this post, passed away in May, so she will not be able to benefit from the suggestions, but others might. For those with this as a problem, and who are looking for options, Matt32 also has a discussion called "Pressure Wounds" where a number of ideas are given, including ones by a doctor who works in the field.

pat7

My son also had a bad pressure sore that was taking forever to improve. After a visit from a tissue viability nurse, she prescribed Acticoat Absorbant with Silcryst nanocrystals. (This may be called something else in the US, we live in the UK) Within few weeks the wound began to shrink and 2 weeks ago the wound had reduced enough for him to have it surgically closed. If you want to try this and are unable to get any, contact me and I will happily send you the little we have left

asintmah

have you tried Lanaseptic ointment--very healing but I've never had my skin break open--liz

Matt32

Learning1,

I'm sure the family of Amanda appreciates your response to her original post to this thread, and I'm guessing you now know that your post was a little late as far as what advice you were giving to Amanda, seeing as how she passed away 10 days prior to your post. And I understand where you're coming from with writing the post because it wasn't until much later as I had written awhile back that Amanda's mom left me a message on her stating Amanda passed away.

Learning1

Hope the sores are under control by now. It has been 9 months since the last post here.

If not, of if someone new is reading this and has lingering problems, it is probably worth considering some more out of the box approaches. The key thing is to somehow trigger the body to begin working on healing itself.

A recent chain on Pressure Wounds, under Health Matters, has someone recommending electric bandages, and they had success with.

Laurance Johnston's book, "Alternative Medicine and Spinal Cord Injury" the mentions that studies have been done with the Diapulse electro-magnetic pulse therapy machine, and in a number of cases it substantially helped pressure wounds. A site that has a Johnston's original article [which first appeared in PN Paraplegia News (http://www.pvamagazines.com) but to get article from them you have to pay for it] - posted at: http://www.healingtherapies.info/diapulse.htm.

This fits with the theory they point to in many branches of Energy Medicine (which is slowly progressing in North America, but is regularly used in Europe, especially eastern Europe). This includes laser, scenar, electro-magnetic therapy, and several other methods. What they said is that a big part of healing relats to the cells having adequate energy to heal. Energy medicine has grown out of physics, rather than medicine, so most doctors in North America know little if anything about it. I've heard antedotal stories of lingering wounds rapidly recovering when treated with laser and Scenar, and the same with the magnetic pulse therapy devices. They all apparently work at the cell level, aiding the body in its natural healing processes. Some provide energy faster, others are better at getting the body to pay attention to the area and begin the healing process again.

If there is no place close to you that has a Diapulse machine, I understand that the magnetic pulse therapy machines do basically the same thing and should ge the same results. They add energy, help with cell polarity, and help trigger the body to work on healing lingering problems. Large commercial versions include the Papimi and the MagnacPulse. Smaller home units (with mat and pillow attachments) inclde the QRS, the MRS 2000+ Designo, and the Magnopro. The home units appear to start at around $1890, which seems like a lot, but if they can help with healing and aches and pains, they are probably worth considering. Many of the units come out of Germany, where they have been used for a number of years, and claim they have helped a number of problems. And if none of these are available, laser or scenar may be options.

If you are going to consider laser (which antedotally has a good chance of helping), watch the time (which controls the amount of energy). Apparently bodies of muscles otpimize at about 4 joules of energy per sqare cm per 12 hr, and anything more begins to stall or hinder healing. In addition to adding energy to the area, laser increases blood flow to the area, increases the body's natural lymph drainage, and apparently has an effect of either neutralizing bacteria, etc, or driving them from the area (bugs don't like light, and laser is light that penetrates).

SirVab

Hey,

This really is a thread every one should read. Very insightful advice. Can’t add much more to what’s already been said except reemphasise the fact about staying off your wounds for a while. Nothing else will work otherwise. Getting your pressure wounds healed really is a life or death issue, things can’t get more serious than that, right?. Pity you’re living alone, you do need a lot of help right now.

Don’t beat yourself up over the down moments either. You’re bound to feel like you’re losing from time to time but you’re not. Two years in isn’t too far into this to have a good cry once in a while, there isn’t any shame in that… it’s quite therapeutic actually I speak from experience. I was 21 years and 29 days too when I got injured and two years after I was still having the occasional crying fit when things got tough [If any of my butch friends ever read this I’m dead, my rep will never recover I tell you]. You just have to have the resolve to make the necessary tough choices concerning your health after the Kleenex runs out.

Custom-made is right on the money, and it isn’t restricted to the cushions and wheelchair, it’s every single choice that you make from now on. I’ve learned that the best lessons we learn are those we figure out for ourselves, you’re unique and so are the solutions to most of your problems. That also applies to everything from wheelchair transfers to new ways of holding a spoon when your hands no longer work.

Best of luck, keep your head up and keep fighting.

Peace,

Tony.

Farfalla

Hi Amanda,


You have not failed! Having a pressure sore is one of the worst secondary conditions but it can be healed!
You need to be seen by a plastic surgeon who specializes in wound care..They are out there! I had my sore for over a year, was being seen by this plastic surgeon who opted for trying to heal the sore with the wound vac. I had a stage three sore, if I know now what I didn't know then i would have opted for surgery than use the vac!! Although it did help make the wound smaller, it took a very long time and the drainage that the vac takes from your body and the longevity of having to use it is not worth it!! I wasn't getting any where with this surgeon so i found another one who worked for a wound care clinic. The best move I ever made! He got me on a very good nutritional program..PROTEIN..Is a main key in healing a wound. I had to take in 90 grams a day..Getting that much is hard with just food so i drank protein drinks three times a day..I got the whey protein powder and mixed it with skim milk. You have to make sure you get into your body a lot of PROTEIN. He also had me taking vitamin C, zinc and L'Arginine. I used the powder form called arginaid(comes in individual packets, can be bought at walgreens.com) because you get more of it in a powder form than having to take many pills. I mixed that with water three times a day..Doing this for 3 months got me ready for having flap surgery. This is something that i didn't want to do in the beginning but if i had, it would have been just 4 weeks in bed instead of almost two years of trying to have the wound heal without!!
Get a good plastic surgeon, take in a lot of protein..90 grams a day, take vitamin c, zinc, drink the l'arginine (you will be amazed at how much it helps in healing) and have the surgery to close it!
Having to spend for weeks in bed is worth so much more than letting this sore get the best of you! Dying from these wounds is a reality!!

Hope this helped..
Stay strong, you can beat this!!

DeAnna

AmandaBurkholder

well i have aslo tried everything ive been in my bed now 4 days and i feel like a prisionor in my own home...i just got some test back i have staff{mrsa} this sucks i knoo im strong but how much can i really take..i feel like im slowly dyin and i cant help my self..i told my self in 2006 that this wasnt ganna beat me im strong i feel like i have failed.

lyzzal

If you have a pressure sore you should not sit on anything. This is for those following this thread and reading about seating options. I used to get pressure sores then have to stay in bed until they healed, but they always came back. I have found some preventative measures that are working for me. In addition to nutrition, skin care, weight-shifting through standing or tilt, etc, I use a custom cushion. It was made at Gillette Lifetime Specialty Healthcare in MN (http://www.gillettechildrens.org/default.cfm?PID=1.17.6). This has worked for me for several years. If ever they cannot provide something adequate, I will go to the Ride system (http://www.ridedesigns.com/cushions.html). They have authorized suppliers all over the place (http://www.ridedesigns.com/suppliers/list.php). To me, something custom seems logical when every other off-the-shelf product I've tried has failed. (Obtaining funds for these products is an entirely seperate issue, I realize).

FuschiaFan

You should not be sitting at all, Roho or not, if you have sitting pressure ulcers.

Can you see a good plastic surgeon or wound care specialist? Most regular doctors don't know much about wound care. With long-standing deep pressure ulcers it is very rare to be able to get them to successfully heal without surgery.

luminita

Reading your comments I start to afraid for my life.I have bed sores for 3 years now and i can't heal them.I used anything that could help,but nothing.I went to the doctor,he says are clean,I made blood tests,is ok,but still can't heal.I was desperatelly looking for a roho cuscion,i couldn't find one in my country(Romania).I really don't know what else to do.Please,give me yours advices.Thx

harrshar

i use this cream call lantiseptic skin protectant try this to see will it work the cream is really good

Matt32

if it has not been done already, even though they can be pains in the butt, try a wound vac. option 2 is to go for surgery but you def. need to stay off of it. i've had sores for awhile and the only time i was sitting up was at meal time or when nature called and still i had to wind up having 3 closures surgeries within 2 weeks and just have came out of the hospital. good luck

Elysse_AZ

Amanda,
Have you considered surgery? The recuperation can take a while, but then it's done. Then you focus on keeping it from returning. I had problems with pressure many years ago and more recently with a bone infection in the area that used to have problems. I can't imagine having a wound that long. The risks are so great.

Also, look into different cushions. One doctor told me that maybe we should look at it like you would a diabetic --- they often have to change shoes during the day; so more than one cushion. I never sit on anything not "special". I have gel cushions for the shower bench, and cushions for my chair and my van. You might need a combo of things.

When I had my problem, my insurance paid for a standing wheelchair and that helped. It was a great thing for me then.

If your wound is deep and large, it can takes ages to heal and that's whith staying off of it about 100% of the time. If it was minor you might be able to get it to heal. Two years is a long time.

As was mentioned in another response, it can lead to death. Example: Christopher Reeve. Infection can get in there and cause all kinds of problems. Some you may not know about until years later.

I hope you find a solution. Good luck!

~ Elysse

AmandaBurkholder

well i thank all of yall for takin the time out to explain these things to me see they never explained it like yall have ...kinda scared the shit outta me...im not ready to die..no way..i have wound care come out only once r twice a week the say that they are short on staff thats through my home health....but im waitin to hear something back from the people with my sitters{pca} it takes so long to get anything done and let me tell u in louisiana ur lucky if u get home health..i dont kno much because noone has told me about anything its like im going in this but self my family is like 2 hours away and it just me im so thankful for yall helpin me...

myheartkayla

Amandamy daughter had a bed sore that went into osteomyeltis it ate away at he bone and we had wound care she finally was admitted in the hospital thank god and they went in cleaned it a put a wound vac on then when it healed they did a skin flap which as turned out well for her. Its not easy staying off your butt exspecially for her she is a teenager trying to enjoy her teen years she spent 5 months in the hospital but it was wonderful to know that it was healing the smell was horrible and the drainage was embrassing, so I feel for you why can't wound care nurses come to your house to take care of this it sounds like you are slipping through the cracks. You have to be firm with them we had to deal with this for 6 months before something was one I finally put my foot down and had to raise my voice but my point was heard this is a serious matter and you need to have it taken care of as soon as possible.

God bless and wish you the best of luck
Kristy

Lorajw

Amanda,
I was injured 10/10/06 and got a pressure sore when on the vent at the nursing home and like Fuschia said, I got osteomyletis and septis and almost died. After surviving the above mentioned they gave me a colostomy followed by a muscle flap and believe you me that's where you are headed if you don't get off of it. That $500 rojo is no comparison to $50000 mandatory clinitron bed you will be confined to! I finally have been discharged from wound care from that surgery after almost 2 yrs. Stay off of it, take a multivitamin, zinc, and vitamin c everyday and what helped me personally was drinking 2 scoops of choclate or vanilla protein whey in my milk every morning. That's 52 mg of protein and your body needs a lot of to heal that tissue! Protein, protein, protein, and then some protein! I admire your courage and your spirit! You have such a great fight in you now get your butt healed and show the world how strong you are!

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