[sciwife]

Hello,
I am fairly new to this site, but have found SO much info on here since joining! Thank you everyone.
I have been married to my husband for 12 yrs, and he had his accident 22 yrs ago.
He has been complaining of a sore he could feel on the end of his tailbone for quite some time, but couldn't see anything on the surface. A few days ago...it burst and some fluid came out. It scared both of us really bad, and he is taking it really hard...calling himself stupid for letting this happen. He takes extremely good care of himself & does almost everything on his own. This is the first time in 22 yrs that he has had an open would, so I myself think he is doing & has done very well. He thinks it started a few weeks ago when he bumped his tailbone getting into the hot tub, which he blames himself for being careless.
Anyway, I convinced him, finally, to get to the doctor & have it checked out. The doctor seems to think it is "not very exciting" & it may have just been a cyst that burst. He told us to just keep an eye on it & if it gets worse to come back in. No antibiotics yet.
We both know, that even if it IS just a cyst, it could turn into something else very quickly. He doesn't have a lot of meat on his bones, especially down there.
Oh...& while he was sitting in the waiting room...he went AD and they got him in there & took his BP, it was 227 / 199!!!
Does anyone have any insight on this? He knows he should stay off of it...but I don't think he does as much as he should.
I work full time, and he takes care of himself. He is a C-4,5 & 6 incomplete, and quite an amazing person if you ask me!

Thanks for any replies

[Tetracyclone]

SCI Wife,

I agree with you= the Dr. sounds ill-informed re the danger of this problem. Topical antibiotic cream might help a bit, but Trinity will know better than I. He sould keep off it, watch it carefully, and I advisee taking a picture daily becausee memory plays tricks. If you snap a photo with your phone or whatever he can see it for himself and monitor progress on the computer. This is empowering.

Best of luck.

[dangerousdave]

I'm no doctor .... but
I would want a corse of anti biotics ie ciprofloxacin, absorbent dressing ie lyofoam changed daily and return visits every 3 days
Cist or Pressure sore .. it's serious
Educate your GP, THESE THINGS KILL US

[qbounce]

Ask the doctor to get a skin specialist to look at it. Obviously it's in a very tender area. Mine was also on the Coccxyx, and after nursing it for a year I was forced to do a flap. Don't hesitate and get a specialist on it, pronto.

[kiwiquad]

KEEP HIM OFF THE AREA! As dangerousdave said..THESE THINGS KILL US!

[sciwife]

kiwigurl, on Nov 23 2009, 10:49 PM, said:

KEEP HIM OFF THE AREA! As dangerousdave said..THESE THINGS KILL US!

Thanks everyone!
I know how dangerous they can be...especially after navigating around this site. SO much info! My husband is very private about those things, and won't even let ME see it. He uses a mirror religously & wants to handle it himself I guess. I tell him he needs to stay off of it...and he says there is no way...so he concocted a cushion that he could use that won't let his sore area touch. It only works so long however, then his legs are falling asleep because he is sitting too high...AHHHH!
It frustrates me..but HE is in control. Always has been...always will be.

[sciwife]

qbounce, on Nov 23 2009, 09:04 PM, said:

Ask the doctor to get a skin specialist to look at it. Obviously it's in a very tender area. Mine was also on the Coccxyx, and after nursing it for a year I was forced to do a flap. Don't hesitate and get a specialist on it, pronto.

Qbounce...was yours a gaping wound, or just the beginnings of a sore? Everyone here seems to think that he doesn't need wound care until it's a giant hole! It really pisses me off that they just don't realize how quickly it can become that.
I am pushing for him to see a wound specialist, but he doesn't want me to interfere, so I guess he will do it in his own time. I just hope he doesn't wait too long...because THAT is the stupidity of it.

[hooplady]

Can't answer for Qbounce because I've never seen his - ahem - coccyx, but I know in Tom's case it was just a red spot one day and a hole the next. DON'T DELAY TREATMENT! The healthy tissue can be dying underneath the skin and you won't know until it's too late.

Kudos to your husband for taking good care of himself for so many years. But encourage him to seek help this time. As we age the skin gets more fragile, and all the good habits he's had may not be working right now. No need blaming himself if he bumped it or whatever. What's important now is to make sure it's properly treated.

If he won't let you see it, tell him to search the Internet for pictures/descriptions of pressure ulcers and compare to his own. He will quickly realize that Stages I-II don't look like much at all, but they can so quickly progress to III-IV. Maybe that will help him feel more in control.

This post has been edited by hooplady: 24 November 2009 - 10:27 PM

[lolapt2684]

I am married to a t12 paraplegic, and have specialized in wound care as a physical therapist. My advise is to get a referral for the wound care specialist. Your husband should not only be on an antibiotic but also having specialized wound care. They have some great products out there now, but he will need to spend as much time as he can off of his bottom. It sounds like his cushion solution could also cause problems elsewhere on his thighs. If you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

[dangerousdave]

I undestand peoples wants for pivacy and all that
Personaly .. I don't give a damn who see's what or does what
All that crap was dispelled when I was nursed intensivly for 2 months when I was under strict instructions not to move, and the nurses were under instruction that I wasn't to move.

So as a 21 year old randy male .. I learnt not to be so randy
Was very thankful for all that nesessary handling ... I owe them lots ... and still do .. will always do

So cut the crap for the conciquences are severe

[sciwife]

hooplady, on Nov 24 2009, 02:27 PM, said:

Can't answer for Qbounce because I've never seen his - ahem - coccyx, but I know in Tom's case it was just a red spot one day and a hole the next. DON'T DELAY TREATMENT! The healthy tissue can be dying underneath the skin and you won't know until it's too late.

Kudos to your husband for taking good care of himself for so many years. But encourage him to seek help this time. As we age the skin gets more fragile, and all the good habits he's had may not be working right now. No need blaming himself if he bumped it or whatever. What's important now is to make sure it's properly treated.

If he won't let you see it, tell him to search the Internet for pictures/descriptions of pressure ulcers and compare to his own. He will quickly realize that Stages I-II don't look like much at all, but they can so quickly progress to III-IV. Maybe that will help him feel more in control.

Thanks for all the input. He is doing much better at staying off of it, & is looking to rent a gurney that he can roll himself around the house on his stomach. I hope we can locate one. He also is gonna call his doc and get a refferal to a wound care specialist.

Thank you again everyone...it is just nice to be able to talk to people who have experienced the same issues.

[qbounce]

I'm glad he's taking care of it through a profesional. I got mine at a highly thought of SCI hospital while in ICU. Just like Hooplady said, one day it was a red spot-like blister, the next it was debrided and a hole left it a stage 3 ulcer.

Hopefully the refferal goes through quickly.
Good luck!