7 replies to this topic

[LeviM]

Hi there, about a month ago I discovered an area of skin near my tail bone that seemed really odd.
The skin itself feels slightly rough in texture but thin and under neath it it is really sunken in as if there's a chunk of flesh missing. I had someone look at it but was told it was only slightly discolored and the skin was not broken open anywhere on it. It started out about the size of a nickle and over the past month has grown about half the size of my palm.

I've had a nasty pressure sore before but by the time it was noticed the skin was open, so I'm not sure if this is a pressure related sore or not. Any idea?

Thanks for any insight you may have on the issue.

[Simba]

You should get it checked out properly ASAP.

Pressure sores can travel back down (inwards) and abscess if they do not come to the surface initially and burst open. If it is a pressure sore it will have to be lanced probably but please go to your doctor and get it checked out...it is dangerous to leave a suspected pressure sore as you more than likely know.

Edited by Simba, 13 May 2011 - 09:29 AM.

[LeviM]

Thank you for the info. I was not sure if it could actually be a pressure sore because the skin has not opened up. Now that I know it could be I'll have it checked.

[Apparelyzed]

Hi,

Have you been on a different cushion, or been wearing trousers/jeans with large seams in them?

If the skin becomes hard and discoloured, swollen, due to pressure, then it's called an Induration. An Induration is a stage 1 pressure sore, and can be managed by keeping pressure off the indurated area.

If the pressure is not kept off the indurated area, the tissue inside begins to die, and the area will breakdown into a stage 2 pressure sore.

Is the area red or warm at all?

The fact that you have had this for nearly a month, is odd, as I would of thought it would of broken down by now if the internal tissue is dead.

Simon

[Simba]

I'm glad to hear it - for future reference please do not exclude the possibility of a pressure sore based on the fact that the skin is not broken, when they abscess they can potentially cause a lot of further complications.

If in doubt get it checked out - pressure sores if left untreated can be life threatening. Hope you are able to make an appointment soon to sort it out and wish you well with your recovery. In the meantime it would pay to alleviate pressure off the area as much as possible just in case difficult given the locality, I hope someone can advise on good positions to relieve the pressure - I am AB myself and usually prevent pressure sore formation as a carer in a combined effort with my husband who I care for.

Are you taking preventative measures yourself or have you been taught about prevention of pressure sores? If you are physically unable yourself make sure to educate your carers to assist you, it is such an important part of life with disability.

[LeviM]

Apparelyzed, on 13 May 2011 - 09:22 AM, said:

Hi,

Have you been on a different cushion, or been wearing trousers/jeans with large seams in them?

If the skin becomes hard and discoloured, swollen, due to pressure, then it's called an Induration. An Induration is a stage 1 pressure sore, and can be managed by keeping pressure off the indurated area.

If the pressure is not kept off the indurated area, the tissue inside begins to die, and the area will breakdown into a stage 2 pressure sore.

Is the area red or warm at all?

The fact that you have had this for nearly a month, is odd, as I would of thought it would of broken down by now if the internal tissue is dead.

Simon

Actually I just moved from Texas to Md in Janurary and am living in a house where I can not use my power chair. I tend to fall out of my manual chair a lot so this has left me spending 95% of each day in bed.
It's a regular pillow top mattress and I've spent so much time in the same spot on the bed that the mattress itself has broken down and has a permanent dip where I lay. This may have something to do with this odd area of skin.

I haven't been able to see it myself, but was told by a caregiver that it was only slightly red. It is warmer to touch then the rest of the area . The area is not hard at all its quite soft and very sunken in. I was told that you can see the dip, not just feel it, and also that it has became visibly more sunken in as time has passed. Like you I'm confused about it. It seems to me that if it were a pressure sore it would have opened up by now.


Thank you.

[Apparelyzed]

If the area is red and warm to the touch, after 4-5 hours of pressure relief, then I would say there's a danger of it being some kind of sore.

Really, the best thing for you to do is get it checked out by your spinal injury doctor, as they'll have experience in these issues.

Also, try to stay off your back when on bedrest, alternate side to side. The fact that your mattress is wearing out probably isn't helping matters.

Simon

[LeviM]

Apparelyzed, on 13 May 2011 - 10:05 AM, said:

If the area is red and warm to the touch, after 4-5 hours of pressure relief, then I would say there's a danger of it being some kind of sore.

Really, the best thing for you to do is get it checked out by your spinal injury doctor, as they'll have experience in these issues.

Also, try to stay off your back when on bedrest, alternate side to side. The fact that your mattress is wearing out probably isn't helping matters.

Simon

Thank you very much. I will call my physio here in a couple hours when the office opens and set up an appointment to have it looked at.
Thank you for the additional info as well. A bed replacement is in the works as well.