7 replies to this topic

[coffeecups]

I developed a cyst on my back. I had minor outpatient surgery to remove it. I had two stitches, I think, on the inside and six staples on the outside to close the wound.  It is 5 cm long. The surgery was on Thursday. Since then I have been staying in bed, rotating frequently and using quad pads to pad and make sure that I keep pressure off the incision. 

My concern is the best way for me to heal. When I asked surgeon, he just said to not have pressure on it in the two weeks that it was healing.  Of course when I am in the chair I am putting pressure on the incision. Then the doctor said staying out of the chair for two weeks was unreasonable. But as most know when dealing was skin, it's not unusual to have to stay in bed while things heal. We have learned that not all doctors fully understand the needs of a quadriplegic. Today I was thinking about getting in the chair and using pillows and quad pads to see if we can keep the pressure off the incision.  One concern is so that I will be so twisted in the chair that I will end up with a skin spot on my rear.  (Right now my skin looks great.  But I do struggle with my tailbone getting red occasionally.)  Or we may just not be able to take pressure off the incision. 

I can stay in bed for the two weeks that he thinks that the incision will take to heal. It's not the easiest as I have three children. But my mother is here during the day to help with the kids, so it is possible. I just have three monkey crawling on me in the back.

I just wanted some any opinions.  Stay in bed for a couple of weeks as the incision heals or get up with lots of padding. 

[mellowgator]

dear coffeecups,

if i were in your situation i'd stay in bed as much as possible to relieve the pressure. however since you have kids to look after, i'd cushion the area when up in the chair. while up in your chair you should do tons of weight shifts so you don't create any other break downs.


mellowgator

[Millard]

mellowgator, on 01 May 2011 - 06:53 PM, said:

dear coffeecups,

if i were in your situation i'd stay in bed as much as possible to relieve the pressure. however since you have kids to look after, i'd cushion the area when up in the chair. while up in your chair you should do tons of weight shifts so you don't create any other break downs.


mellowgator

Ditto on MellowGator. Do many weight shifts and you should be okay.


Good luck.

[coffeecups]

I did get up and it was pretty uncomfortable with the padding. So looks like I'll be playing trains and reading books in bed.

[goose]

you said this was on your back. is there a way you could get a piece of foam -cut out the area where the cyst was and tape the foam in place. kind of like a square donut . there are foam pads used for putting in pillows. it would need to be 2 or 3 ins. thick. the thicker the better. that should buffer the wound w/o being uncomfortable.

this might get you out of bed for a few hours. just be sure to keep a close watch on it. i wouldn't be too skimpy on the size of foam. i'd think it would need to be fairly good size. pillow foam comes in 12x12 or 16x16.

i'd give it a try-it might work.

keep us posted

[coffeecups]

goose, on 03 May 2011 - 01:02 AM, said:

you said this was on your back. is there a way you could get a piece of foam -cut out the area where the cyst was and tape the foam in place. kind of like a square donut . there are foam pads used for putting in pillows. it would need to be 2 or 3 ins. thick. the thicker the better. that should buffer the wound w/o being uncomfortable.

this might get you out of bed for a few hours. just be sure to keep a close watch on it. i wouldn't be too skimpy on the size of foam. i'd think it would need to be fairly good size. pillow foam comes in 12x12 or 16x16.

i'd give it a try-it might work.

keep us posted

Good idea. I will have to try that. I'm getting bored in bed.

[goose]

i know it would drive me crazier if i had to stay in bed.
you may can attach the 'donut' to your w/c alittle easier.
just play around and see what works best. do be careful and watch it.

[isobar]

Get a foam donut and place it over the wound the center is open.