[Chilepepper]

I've been fighting this pressure sore for the last couple of weeks now. I almost had it cleared up but had to work this week and it consisted of four twelve hour shift in a week. Now after three nights completed so far, I looked at the irritated area it has gotten redder and a bit bigger. Last week I was off work for a week which is part of my shift schedule, and for that time I stayed off my butt entirely, and nearly had the problem beaten, but the last four nights at work just made it worse. Now I’m concerned and discouraged of the progress of this pain in the freaking ass problem I’m having.

I've been using Aloe Vera to speed up the healing process, and it has been working pretty well of late. But my concern now is that I will be back to work in three days, and I know that this is not enough time to clear this problem up, but just make matters worse, and I do not want to take time off work if possible. Is there anything I can put on the irritated area the protect it and at the same time heal it? Also is there any kind of padding I can buy that I can protect around the troubled area so that my cushion does not put to much pressure on the sore area.

[Joed]

The first thing I thought of was a doughnut pillow...but it may be too much 'doughnut' for the area you need it for. Still, it might provide a change of pressure. Maybe a smaller, modified version of the standard doughnut could be made for you.

There's also a product called Sween Cream. My mother's oncologist recommended it when she started to develop a pressure spot on her ear from lying down so much. He said that it helps to heal the area, but it also works to toughen up the skin and helps to protect it against further damage.

It did seem to help with her ear, but we had also been quite diligent in keeping her off of that side too, so the good results were probably a combination of the two.

I hope you can get (and keep!) ahead of this thing. Is there's anyway you can intermittently recline while at work? It wouldn't take all of the pressure off, but it would certainly lessen it.

[Bob Clark]

Hi Joed,

I remember Sween Cream. They had it at my SCI rehab wayyy back in '79!

Hi Chilepepper,

I'm sure you know to be very careful with that red spot. Make sure that it's not a "tunneling" pressure sore or one that's located under the skin next to the bone. I think they're the most common type. You need to keep pressure off of it. Lots and lots of weight shifts if you can't take time off from work. But that's still no guarantee.

Making a small, customized pressure relief device or cushion is difficult to do by yourself. As it's hard to know if it's really positioned correctly. And it can easily slip out of place and perhaps put more pressure on that area. And if it's a circular design it can cut the blood circulation off from around the area which is just as bad as putting pressure directly on a weakened area.

There's no better preventative or curative solution other than total pressure relief. Just remember, if it gets to the point of needing a Wound Vac or flap surgery you'll be out of commission for 6 months or more in bed 24/7. And that area will never be as tough or as healthy as it is now. Pressure sores are killers in more ways than one. Hopefully it's only a reddened area that can be treated with just more pressure or weight shifts and no muscle has been affected.

Best of luck.

[Chilepepper]

Well I just got woke up after finishing all my work shifts and took and look and I sure have a red spot there and burning like hell. I hope it is just from sitting for such a long time, and that some time off will get it back to normal. Bob Clark you sure put a scare in me about this tunneling pressure and I hope that it is not what it is. With what you said about 24/7 bed ridden duration is not what I want to deal with. I will try soaking it in Epson salt to see aloe and what ever else that will help. I recall someone using a medicated transparent tape like medical pad that you put on the sore and it is supposed to replace the skin that is irritated until the skin rebuilds itself. This paper like transparent pad you just leave on until it dissolves and then you just put another one on and so forth until the sore is healed. Also this pad lets the sore breath so it does not get moist, which could lead to more problems if you know what I mean. I sure wish I could remember what this product was called. It has been so long since having a pressure sore that I have forgotten all this stuff. That is why this website is so cool and I am hoping for more input for I am not sure what to do other that staying off my butt as Clark says and hope for the best….. It looks like I will more than likely be taking time off work u

[SuzyQ]

i think what you are talking about is Tegaderm - what is even better is Duoderm - could get either from Shoppers Home Health.
I think those are more for an open area than for a red area.
what kind of cushion are you sitting on?

[joisliniad]

if the skin is not open, do not cover it, it would make it worse...PRESSURE RELIEF is the best. I know you don't want to take time off, but it is now or it would be later forced for the worsening damage of the skin pressure. You should make sure the cushion you have is good, and it should be appropiate for your long periods of sitting, becasue of your condition, you should be allow to relief pressure very often, and your must try to be consitent on this if not t will get worse. Canu build an small donut with a sheep skin cloth to keep that area off the w/c? The sooner you take care of that red spot, the quicker it wil heal...please don't fool around...Good luck

[Chilepepper]

Well the cushion I use is a high profile ROHO. I've tried other cushions and always seem to come back to the ROHO's. The only thing I don't like about them is that in the summer when it is hot outside you tend to sweat because of the rubber.

But if there are new cushion products out there that you think are better than ROHO why not tell of this cushion as the information might help me or someone else that will be looking for a new cushion.


SuayQ that sounds like the stuff I was talking about.

Since the sore area is red I've been just staying off it and it is slowly getting better. There is nothing worse that having to stay off my ass when I'm feeling perfectly healthy. This laying around is driving me right out of my tree.

I've got these leg braces that have been collecting dust in the basement for about 15 years and tried to put them on thinking that some walking would help in circulation but could not fit into them. I guess I have not lost enough weight

yet Oh well I guess they are going back into the basement.

Thanks for the the information you guys have been giving me.

[hillarymcarter]

There has been research done on sitting on "donut pillows" or modified cushions that leave the ulcer open. They do nothing but make it worse. By putting the sore in an area where there is a cushion all the way around it is doing nothing but cutting off more of the blood supply, which is the primary problem.
If the wound is open, you should try an aleveyn pad....it will just put some cushion under the sore. It is important to take it off when you get home however, because the wound will mascerate.
Bruce is using a great cream for stage 1-4 pressure sores. It is called Derma Gran-B. If it is open, it is also important to keep it covered. Although, it seems like you would want it to scab, that is actually what you want to avoid. You want it to heal from the inside out and a scab will only hinder healthy flesh growth.
Does it have any leakage? If so, I would suggest using santyl and covering that with some calcium alginade and then dress with a 4x4 and tagaderm.
If you can take off work, I would suggest it. It would be much better to take a week off now than have to battle a sore for a year.....TRUST ME!!!
Good luck!

[Joed]

Quote

Bob Clark wrote: Making a small, customized pressure relief device or cushion is difficult to do by yourself. As it's hard to know if it's really positioned correctly. And it can easily slip out of place and perhaps put more pressure on that area. And if it's a circular design it can cut the blood circulation off from around the area which is just as bad as putting pressure directly on a weakened area.

Bob and Hillary, you're right. It was my lapse in judgment to suggest a doughnut pillow, because now I remember this particular warning in my binder of info they sent home with me from rehab. Thanks for clarifying that...I don't want to steer anybody wrong.

[Coach]

Have you tried either reducing or increasing the amount of air in your Roho? If it's already just right it's a bad idea, but, well, no harm mentioning it.

[Chilepepper]

Well things are a lot better in that the red tender area is now only the size of a pinhead, though still tender when sitting. I think I will be calling the boss tomorrow to say one or two more days off should just about do it until I can come back to work. With working twelve-hour shifts, it makes it to be a long duration sitting on my ass (18 hours) so I want to take it easy at first, just to get the ass function going again with out any pain, which I am having now.

Man oh man if it would of been an open sore, I think I would of gone completely insane knowing that I would have had to stay off my rear end for weeks or even months. Just staying off my ass completely for this last week was really tough. Yesterday I was feeling really tired, depressed like I had this dark cloud over me and I could not get rid of it. I remember years ago when I was Lyndhurst Rehab, there were people wheeling around in banana carts trying to heal the pressure sores that got out of control and became infected. My hat goes off to anybody that had or has to endear this type of situation.

At any rate all is well now and I am almost back to normal and would like to say thanks for all the information you guys have given me and who else might be in the same boat and used some of this information to speed up the healing process. One more thing, has anybody tried using a cushion made out of memory foam or from Temperpedic foam? Someone had asked me that I said I do not know but would ask this

[hillarymcarter]

We are about to buy a new bed made of memory foam. I've never heard of a cushion made of one though....it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I would think that it would keep heat trapped in between your rear and the seat....maybe okay for winter, but not for summer. Nothing worse than a sweaty !!!!

[Chilepepper]

hillarymcarter you are going to love the memory foam bed. You guys are going to sleep like babies. Enjoy it.

As for a cushion I was kinda of thinking the same thing that is why I'm asked the people of Apparelyzed.

[paki]

hello,
I am quite new around here, and I am interested in finding out a very good hospital where severe pressure sores are treated. My boyfriend is paraplegic, and he has some nasty problems. Could you help me with some information?
Thanks.

[jamesgirl]

Use whatever creme's or pillows that make you comfortable but also heal from the inside. Increase your protein. Anyone with a wound needs to increase their protein to help the healing. Go to your local Vitamin store and ask about a supplement that encourages skin replenishment and growth. Healing start within. Like most things.

Chilepepper, on Jan 29 2006, 10:48 PM, said:

I've been fighting this pressure sore for the last couple of weeks now. I almost had it cleared up but had to work this week and it consisted of four twelve hour shift in a week. Now after three nights completed so far, I looked at the irritated area it has gotten redder and a bit bigger. Last week I was off work for a week which is part of my shift schedule, and for that time I stayed off my butt entirely, and nearly had the problem beaten, but the last four nights at work just made it worse. Now I’m concerned and discouraged of the progress of this pain in the freaking ass problem I’m having.

I've been using Aloe Vera to speed up the healing process, and it has been working pretty well of late. But my concern now is that I will be back to work in three days, and I know that this is not enough time to clear this problem up, but just make matters worse, and I do not want to take time off work if possible. Is there anything I can put on the irritated area the protect it and at the same time heal it? Also is there any kind of padding I can buy that I can protect around the troubled area so that my cushion does not put to much pressure on the sore area.

[jamesgirl]

Get a SLEEP NUMBER BED it very expensive but very worth it! I'll never buy another bed!

hillarymcarter, on Feb 5 2006, 01:23 PM, said:

We are about to buy a new bed made of memory foam. I've never heard of a cushion made of one though....it doesn't sound like a good idea to me. I would think that it would keep heat trapped in between your rear and the seat....maybe okay for winter, but not for summer. Nothing worse than a sweaty !!!!

[Chilepepper]

Hi jamesgirl

Supplement that encourages skin replenishment and growth? Myself I go to a health food store all the time and I never seen anything like that. I know for myself I buy the Whey powder for protein, but I find when taking before a workout and after a workout that I get pimples on my ass. Once this happens I have to really watch down there for I would not want it to turn to a sore. So I would say when doing the protein for prevention of sores, do not get carried away when consuming protein, thinking that it will heal faster. It just might make it worse. But would never suggest to not take protein, for I also have heard what you are saying, just in moderation. Myself I still take the Whey but in less quantity.

By the way I'm all fixed up down there I had to take five weeks off of work. Man oh man did that really suck the big one. Jamesgirl I will though be looking into these creams for future problems when the arise.

This post has been edited by Chilepepper: 04 May 2006 - 12:24 AM

[lilbit]

O.K. I hate laying in bed,sorry to here you are. This is what I do! I have a crock pot I have on the side of my bed, I find hot compresses thoughout the day help the blood circulate,[ change water when dirty] plus keeps area clean. plus I keep a hand massager around for more circullation. keeping the blood flowing helps healing process faster. tree tea oil is great for open sores, and neosporine for non-open sores too keep moist not dry.. I know it really messes with my sanity when laid-up, I find [maryjane] a good friend during the healing process.. Be exellent to your self..
lilbit

[forgivun]

Depending on where you live, there are cushions that can be made to fit your rear using special machines that measure you and then cut them out. Try some teaching hospitals. Here in Virginia we have the University of Virginia Rehab and they are great!
Next, besides staying off the area, there is a new cream which you need to get prescription for from doctor, called, "Calmoseptine" ointment.
Good Luck...been there done that and still doing it!

[Joed]

lilbit, on May 11 2006, 09:49 PM, said:

I keep a hand massager around for more circullation.

It's not always a good idea to massage the pressure area itself, as the tissue is already undermined and it could do more damage. Massaging the more remote areas shouldn't hurt anything though. I just wanted to mention that distinction to avoid any confusion.