3 replies to this topic

[McRobb]

Quick back ground - 18 months in bed with Stage 4 pressure sore. Finally started getting up in mid-June. Took bath - small opening in wound appeared, two weeks more rehealing. Back up early July - have been working up slowly to more time in the chair. Last week, I did 2 hours at a session with no problems.

Saturday I had company for my father's 90th birthday party so I stayed up 3 hours. I did do pressure relief every 45 minutes for 10 minutes - totally reclined, tilted so I knew pressure was off. But when I went back to bed after 3 hours, had two tiny pin-pricks open areas in healed wound. Did not get up today to allow that to heal but after day in bed, the two pin-pin pricks have connected by a split. So now there is a 1/4 inch split area that is not deep but has shape of a kidney bean. And I have been off it all day!

The wound had looked like it had all three layers of skin and was firm to touch, like scar tissue normally looks. Cannot figure out why that extra time should have caused such a problem, especially when I was doing pressure relief. The only thing I can figure is that I was sitting still instead of moving around doing things like I normally am when up.

And, why did it get worse today when I was off it all day and in bed?
How do I get this wound to toughen up??

Any ideas are appreciated - so frustrated with this thing!!

[kiwiquad]

Hi McRobb
firstly you shouldn't have gotten up for 3hrs instead of 2, & not enough p/relief was done when you were up. My wound (although not a skin flap) often takes a day to show the damage I did to it a day earlier.
I feel your frustration, & wish there was an alternative to skin flap procedures....I would have had one done years ago, but your story is all too familiar.
Hang in there, & stay off it!!

[Smileyblue]

My advice too, to stay off it a bit longer.. The "pin pricks" may be all you see on the surface, but what's underneath is what's the problem..

I would also recommend more pressure relief.. Without problem areas, I was told to do pressure lifts (totally off the pressure area) at least every 30 minutes.. I would imagine that pressure relief by tilting your chair should be even more often than that, due to the fact that you are not totally removing all pressure.. (I'm not 100% sure though)

Each of our bodies is unique! Yours may require slower progression to sitting again than someone elses.. Just take your time and listen to what your body tells you..

[kiwiquad]

Tilting may tear your skin, an absolute lift as SB suggests is safe.