11 replies to this topic

[pmfc44]

My mom has a stage 4 bed sore on her bottom that is 4in x 4 in and 2 in deep. She has a small one on her left heel and her right leg is going to be amputated Monday. She has only been paralyzed 4 months, she has the air flow bed, and my dad turns her religiously, but her skin is just so fragile. She has had a vac pac and been debrided twice, but it's just getting worse. I saw this stuff (DermaWound ) on the internet and it sounds like a miracle, but you know they all sound great in their advertisements. Anybody here ever tried it?

[Kev-O]

She would have less of a chance of getting bed sore if she sleeps on her stomach. Sorry to hear she is having such a hard time with sores. Good luck from one TN'en to another.

[Illinois Boy]

Kev-O, on Nov 17 2007, 07:45 PM, said:

She would have less of a chance of getting bed sore if she sleeps on her stomach. Sorry to hear she is having such a hard time with sores. Good luck from one TN'en to another.

Yeah, I used to sleep on my stomach, till I had to have a colostomy........ Slept good that way Too! I've got 2 air matresses my insurance bought me...... One's an alternating pressure one.....
They are both pieces of SHIT! I've got a new Serta memory foam mattress, I like it cause the bed raises and lowers too...... Best matress I ever had was a soft side water bed, with individual tubes...

I lost my right leg 2 years ago to Osteomyelitis.......

Good Luck

Jim

[kewlcatkez]

pmfc44, on Nov 18 2007, 01:41 AM, said:

My mom has a stage 4 bed sore on her bottom that is 4in x 4 in and 2 in deep. She has a small one on her left heel and her right leg is going to be amputated Monday. She has only been paralyzed 4 months, she has the air flow bed, and my dad turns her religiously, but her skin is just so fragile. She has had a vac pac and been debrided twice, but it's just getting worse. I saw this stuff (DermaWound ) on the internet and it sounds like a miracle, but you know they all sound great in their advertisements. Anybody here ever tried it?

Hi,

The others have given some great advice. I just want to look at a few other factors outside the topical agents, I hope this is ok and not teaching "grandma how to suck eggs". Firstly, I was just wondering if your mother is elderly? I ask as many people in their Autumn years will have reduced circulation from either PVD ( Peripheral vascular disaese) or Arterial Sclerosis - to some extent. This is without the added circulation issues and compromises which SCI can bring.

Also diabetes etc could also be a factor, as many are un diagnosed.

I would advise that she is seen by a vascularsurgeon if she hasn't already. I know you say she is having an amputation, but that doesn't mean that she has seen a Vascular specialist - an Orthopaedic Surgeon or Wound care dr may have been the only ones she has seen.

The Vascular Specialist will be able to do "dopplers" ( like a hand held U/S)of her legs and determine if the blood flow is good, poor or inbetween. Circulation is the foundation upon which healing takes place and of course also can help in the prevention future breakdowns.

Next up is getting a Nutritionist to see her. This is especially true if she isn't eating very well. They will be able to prescribe/suggest supplimentation to her diet if she hasn't any appetite and also may be able to help with ideas to stimulate her appetite. Also see the Nutrition section here. As you probably already know, eating properly is crucial to wound healing and general well being. Eating PROTEIN when you have wounds is beneficial to help your body heal.

As you probably know, the above are the building blocks which underpin healing and any topical agents will -within reason, only be successful to a large extent if they are in place.

With regards to topical applications, many are much of a muchness when the wound is very persistent. Once the regular gels and dressings have been used the choices become limited. However, there are a couple of wound care applications which have shown promise in wound care healing.

REGRANEX (becaplermin) Gel 0.01% by Johnson and Johnson is apparently the only product which the FDA in the US approves which is a platelet driven 'growth factor' ( they claim). I believe that it has been used in the care of people with Diabetes who have persistent wounds and is now being prescribed for other wounds too. It is VERY expensive though ( someone who used it quoted $600 US). In the UK it IS available on the NHS prescription in most areas if it is prescribed by a wound specialist/consultant. Regranex is licensed for Diabetic ulcers (foot).

Also, OASIS WOUND MATRIX is also available and in trials has been shown to be as good as if not better than the Regranex. It is licensed for use on more areas than the Regranex ( including burns and full thickness wounds). Please see HERE for details.

I hope that this helps in some way.

Take care,

K

[pmfc44]

Hi guys,

Thanks for the advice. She became paralyzed two days after she had anuerysm surgery on her aorta. They put in a 18" long endograft stent extending from the top of her heart down to where the artery splits to the legs. It was done endoscopically (sp?) so she was only "cut" at the neck and the abdomen. She just turned 74 in October and was perfectly healthy, active, etc. (except for the anuerysms) until the surgery 7/11/07.

Because of the bed sore on her bottom, she had a colostomy three weeks ago. Someone bumped her big toe about a month ago and that, along with a small pressure sore on her ankle, got worse & worse. She has seen vascular, orthopedic, and heart doctors. They are so hard to pin down with definite answers. So far, they have said it COULD possibly be circulation problems, or it COULD have been a clot. I'm hoping that the amputation will be the end of the problem with her right leg and we can concentrate on her bedsores. THEN, maybe, if we get her well enough she will feel like getting up and about more and start living again. It seems like everytime she makes an effort, there is another set back.

Thanks again.
P

[Somebody]

Bless y'all's heart p.

I will pray she gets healed & up soon.

I know it's hard. {hugs} Mona

[ahobson]

It's been a couple months since you posted this question but I just joined tonight and saw it. I have tried Dermawound, and it helped at first. My pressure would is about 5 years old so there isn't much out there that will help mine (other than surgery which is scheduled for March 12th). I have an unopened container of Dermawound if you would like to try it before you spend money on any. A person can go broke trying to find the right cure for these things.

[kdhat]

pmfc44, on Nov 17 2007, 07:41 PM, said:

My mom has a stage 4 bed sore on her bottom that is 4in x 4 in and 2 in deep. She has a small one on her left heel and her right leg is going to be amputated Monday. She has only been paralyzed 4 months, she has the air flow bed, and my dad turns her religiously, but her skin is just so fragile. She has had a vac pac and been debrided twice, but it's just getting worse. I saw this stuff (DermaWound ) on the internet and it sounds like a miracle, but you know they all sound great in their advertisements. Anybody here ever tried it?

I am using Dermawound right now. I have a sacral sore that healed from 6cm long to 4cm with wet to dry dressings in 7 months. Then over the summer (I teach school) I had a wound vac and it went from 4cm-2cm. I was so disappointed it didn't heal up, but I have to make a living! They put me back on wet to dry and no progress and some circulation discolorations.

Thats when I started searching online and came across dermawound and the testimonials sounded to good to believe. I asked my home health nurse to see what she thought, so we decided to try. I used it for October and November, but not seeing the fast-acting success they described, I didn't use for December. I suffered a set-back for whatever reason, and sore increased to 3.5 cm and from .5 depth to 2. Now, after back to using it a month, my nurse is seeing granulation, healthy pink tissue and a gradual decrease in length and depth. I have NOT had to have any debridement, even though I sit in my wheelchair 6am-6pm weekdays.

I know you want to try everything to get her to heal. When I developed a previous ulceration on my right ichium 2 years ago, (it wasn't from a bedsore, it was a dumb injury caused by riding several days on a deflated set cushion) they debrided it away until it was 3 in x 3 in and down to the bone. I ended up having to have 2 skin flap surgeries. You might want to try this before it gets to that.

The appearance might take you aback at first. It is that dark iodine red color and granular, and it does not stain. We use a tongue depressor to keep stirred up, because sometimes a liquid rises to the top. You can use the tip of the depressor to apply it as well, just like peanut butter.

Take the advice from above about getting a team of people involved, especially a nutritionist. I try to eat foods with proteins, or the Ensure or Boost drinks. My mom is into more natural healing and looked up decubitus ulcers and found vitamin C, aloe vera (gelcaps), and golden seal root promote healing, among others.

Bless you all and I hope she gets better soon!

[ParaforGod]

I am so sorry to hear about your Mother I know it is so hard to see someone you love hurt and suffer and also frustrating when you don't know what to do or nothing seems to help. My daughter was 18yrs. old when I got hurt 7yrs. ago and she has been my angel. I am a amputee and when I came home from rehab after 4 months I still had a small opening in the end of my stump. Although it was small it was still pretty deep. I don't remember what it was they sent home with me but my daughter had to cut a piece of it off take a Q-tip and push it into the wound. Whatever it was after being put into the wound it would melt and it was to help close up the wound. I know that doesn't help but I noticed you live in Tenn. maybe you could call Shephard Center in Atlanta (404-352-2020) and make a appt. for your Mom to be seen for a second oppenion. Shephard Center is one of the top facilities in the nation. I responded to another question on the forum telling about how I got a pressure sore on my tailbone that came up within two days. It was already a stage 3. It was already the size of a cigarette package. I was very lucky I didn't have to have surgery and it healed fast. I've been told that once you get a pressure point sore you are more likely to get another sore in that same place because of the first breakdown. When I came home from the hospital Home Health sent a representative who sold medical supplies out to see me. He told me I needed to get a Temperpidic mattress but I couldn't afford one and I couldn't. He told me he wasn't suppose to tell me but he knew I really needed the matress and since Medicare wouldn' pay for the matress I was told when I got the bill from Medicare to write on the form or bill can not pay for insufficient funds. Medicare paid for the mattress. This is the matress on TV that shows the lady jumping on the bed while a glass of water is on the matress and the water doesn't spill. I can't turn myself at night because when I lay on my side within 15mins. the pain is so chronic from my rods and the neuropathy pain between my breast and across my chest I can't stand it. When you first lay on the Temperpidic matress it feels firm but then you start to sink down. The matress forms to the shape of your body. Also my wheelchair coushion is made from Temperpidic. Its the same as my matress. Since that pressure point sore I have not had another until about 2 months ago and it was very little and healed very fast. I was not shifting at all in my chair. Those two pressure point sores are all I have had in 7yrs. The doctors at Shephard Center are great. I live 2hrs. away from Shephard and I see my doctor at home but if I have a big problem due to my spinalcord injury I see a doctor at Shephard. I don't know if any of this will help but I do wish you, your Mother and family well. I want you to know I will be praying for you and your Mom and family as I do for each one on this forum.

[trains]

pmfc44, on Nov 18 2007, 01:41 AM, said:

My mom has a stage 4 bed sore on her bottom that is 4in x 4 in and 2 in deep. She has a small one on her left heel and her right leg is going to be amputated Monday. She has only been paralyzed 4 months, she has the air flow bed, and my dad turns her religiously, but her skin is just so fragile. She has had a vac pac and been debrided twice, but it's just getting worse. I saw this stuff (DermaWound ) on the internet and it sounds like a miracle, but you know they all sound great in their advertisements. Anybody here ever tried it?

No we use xynaderm, which has been great with beginning areas and we use it and cover the wound with bandages on open wounds. I do not believe my sons have been as deep as your mothers but keeping moving her and adding weight was my sons savior.

[edlee]

PMFC44,
how's your mom?
ed

[sunset]

kdhat, on Jan 20 2008, 01:31 AM, said:

pmfc44, on Nov 17 2007, 07:41 PM, said:

My mom has a stage 4 bed sore on her bottom that is 4in x 4 in and 2 in deep. She has a small one on her left heel and her right leg is going to be amputated Monday. She has only been paralyzed 4 months, she has the air flow bed, and my dad turns her religiously, but her skin is just so fragile. She has had a vac pac and been debrided twice, but it's just getting worse. I saw this stuff (DermaWound ) on the internet and it sounds like a miracle, but you know they all sound great in their advertisements. Anybody here ever tried it?

I am using Dermawound right now. I have a sacral sore that healed from 6cm long to 4cm with wet to dry dressings in 7 months. Then over the summer (I teach school) I had a wound vac and it went from 4cm-2cm. I was so disappointed it didn't heal up, but I have to make a living! They put me back on wet to dry and no progress and some circulation discolorations.

Thats when I started searching online and came across dermawound and the testimonials sounded to good to believe. I asked my home health nurse to see what she thought, so we decided to try. I used it for October and November, but not seeing the fast-acting success they described, I didn't use for December. I suffered a set-back for whatever reason, and sore increased to 3.5 cm and from .5 depth to 2. Now, after back to using it a month, my nurse is seeing granulation, healthy pink tissue and a gradual decrease in length and depth. I have NOT had to have any debridement, even though I sit in my wheelchair 6am-6pm weekdays.

I know you want to try everything to get her to heal. When I developed a previous ulceration on my right ichium 2 years ago, (it wasn't from a bedsore, it was a dumb injury caused by riding several days on a deflated set cushion) they debrided it away until it was 3 in x 3 in and down to the bone. I ended up having to have 2 skin flap surgeries. You might want to try this before it gets to that.

The appearance might take you aback at first. It is that dark iodine red color and granular, and it does not stain. We use a tongue depressor to keep stirred up, because sometimes a liquid rises to the top. You can use the tip of the depressor to apply it as well, just like peanut butter.

Take the advice from above about getting a team of people involved, especially a nutritionist. I try to eat foods with proteins, or the Ensure or Boost drinks. My mom is into more natural healing and looked up decubitus ulcers and found vitamin C, aloe vera (gelcaps), and golden seal root promote healing, among others.

Bless you all and I hope she gets better soon!