Hi all I am a 32 year old woman, who has an active life, nothing limits me. About 1 year and 4 months ago, I got a wound on my tailbone, and did not even know I had it in the first place. I had a fever went to my PCP she took tests and said it was a viral infection, went home, and then 3 days later ended up in the hospital with a wound the size of a grapefruit on my tailbone going down toward my anus. Was hospitalized and was in the hospital for 1 week on antibiotics to get out the infection that had formed. Well sense then I came home have been on Home Health Aide and Nursing care. Something I never experienced in my life since I am very independant with the right equipment in the home. Well time as gone by I was with a doctor I was not satisfied with his services so I left him and went to a wound care clinic was with them for about 9 months the wound got better while on the wound vac, it came down to the size of a coke can, then they said they wanted to do a flap at that time I declined, so they discharged me from there care, now I went to a doctor about 1 week ago, he said its either a flap or a debridement surgery I will have to have. I opted for the debridement surgery, he said my skin has healed around it but left a quarter size opening. So I was explained that he is going to clear away the necrotic tissue again, and put me back on the vac...again...I am tired of that machine. I am going to be put under general anesthia which I dont want, why because I dont feel from my waist down persay, I feel pressure, but not pain. I must say that I am also afraid of being put under. I have only had one surgery where I remember being put under and it was horrible for me when I got out, I lost my voice do to scratching of the vocal cordes...anyway getting side tracked here, back to the topic at hand. I am sitting on a Roho and the doctor said that its not the best cushion for me. I think it is...so I am sticking with it. By the way even with the vac I was active...should I have been. Is that why it stopped working? Also I am tired of dressing changes now, they have used everything from Polymem dressing to Sorbsan and everything in between even Hydrogel. I am writing all of this to ask, what does the debridement surgery do, anyone know. and how long will this stupid thing take to heal...An active person in need of advice.

As you have found,,, it ain't easy,,,,, Everyone is going to tell you to "STAY OFF OF IT",,,, and I'll admit that would probably be best,,,,,,, but I never did,,, and I wore the wound vac till it was damn near healed completely.

My wound care doctor simply debrided each time I went in ( once a month) either with scissors, scalpel, or silver nitrate. It will take longer if you if don't stay in bed,,,, but the quality of life while healing will certainly make it worthwile,,,,,,at least, for me it did.

ed

Thanks for the advice..I just got an MRI done of that area to see if something is going on that we dont know about...so this week I get results thanks for the advice.