[wheelierach]

Hi all,

bit of a long shot really but maybe someone has some advice. Been injured for ages but keep getting a split in my anal cleft. Have been lucky for quite a while now but it just seems to have totally fallen apart at the weekend and I now have a deep split. Am on bed rest and probably will be for the next month.

I make sure I:

a. Do pressure relief
b. Eat well
c. Have a good cushion
d. Lie on my side at night

etc/etc

I am going to phone my SI on Mon and ask someone to come and have a look/arrange a seating clinic appointment.

I am lying on my side and using aquaform.

My question is, is there anything I can use to quicken the healing process/make my skin stronger and less likely to break? Am a big believer in alternative therapies/medecines although my boyfriend calls it 'hopeless hopeless'...........................

[margaret]

Hi Wheelierach! My husband is C-6 complete also and never had a skin issue for his first 13 years. He lost 70 #(on purpose to control his diabetes) and all of a sudden had decubs on his bottom and one on his scrotum. The Doc said the underlying cause was his self-imposed diet eliminated all his protein. That is now back up to where it should be, but 8 months later, we are still going to a wound care clinic. Healing on the outside but not on the inside. I would suggest getting your protein level checked, maybe an x-ray and bone scan to rule out osteomyelitis and have your chair and bed pressure mapped. We did this and were surprised that the air mattress overlay for his bed had more pressure points than a regular mattress and it was ordered by the Doctor!! It is a long slow process and takes alot of patience. Good luck to you.

[EmHope]

Try either of these or both. I only have pressure sores on my feet but it is a hard area to dress. I've had good luck with a Duoderm & Polymem combination.

Cut out 2 thicknesses of the polymem in the shape of a doughnut. This makes a ring around the wound w/ the wound still visable through the doughnut hole. This elevates the other dressings so the dressings themselves don't add more pressure and the polymem will soak up any drainage. Then place sheet of polymem (not doughnut shaped) over top of the 2 polymem thicknesses that are doughnut shaped. This will again soak up drainage from the wound without adding unneeded pressure to the wound. Then place duoderm (1/2 inch bigger than the polymem on all 4 sides) overtop of all layers of polymem to seal it off. This will not allow water or moisture to get into the wound. If the dressing is done well and says dry under the duoderm it could stay on around 4 days w/o being changed.

You could also add a step of putting silvadien or silverlon (topical antibiotic) on the wound if there is infection. Put topical stuff on after the 2 doughnut polymem are surrounding the wound and before you place full sheet of polymem over the doughnuts. If there is no infection I still recommend Neosporin to advance new skin growth.

I’ve tried a million things and they are all slow going unfortunately. Stay off the wound. GOOD LUCK!!

DUODERM -
http://www.skinsite....nfo_duoderm.htm

POLYMEM
http://www.southwestmedical.com/Woundcare_..._3_x_3in/2720p0

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