[Cheshire]

My spinal incision scar is rather big...about a foot long and a couple inches wide, and goes over my reconstructed sacrum.
This is the area I've been getting pressure sores. I'm currently at 6 in three months, all but first and current were just red areas, but the current one is being stubborn. It's healing (I think), but very slowly. I'm staying off it as much as I can without dropping out of school...not going through that again. (I have a cushion I sit on in the car that keeps the area completely off the seat.)

Anyway...I was wondering about scar tissue. I've heard that it's pretty tender "like butter" and takes quite a while to toughen up. One person told me it could take up to 5 years for the scar tissue to "cure" fully. Until then, I'm to treat it very carefully. Anyone heard anything like this?
What's the deal with scar tissue?

[Cheshire]

Found more details on this.

I was asking b/c the "5 years" info was from my tattooist...wanted more detailed info.
Apparently scar tissue is 80% as tough as normal skin. Interesting fact, in case anyone was interested.

I'm still trying to find out how long it takes for scar tissue to cure, as it were. I know it depends on the size and amount of scarring, but I'm trying to get some idea of how this works so that hopefully I can figure out what to do to accelerate the process as best I can...and an idea of how long until I can stop babying it and watching it like a hawk.

[kewlcatkez]

Hi Cheshire,

the other thing about scar tissue is that it has not got the elasticity of 'normal' skin. Therefore, when forces are placed upon it ( such as twisting, sitting on it etc) the healing area is more likely to split open again at a scarred site. If in the middle of a scarred area, the sore/wound will have a tendency to split as opposed to regular skin which will stretch some, accommodating for the changes in pressure and position a little more favourably.

Of course this is a simplistic view.

When a wound is in the muscle it also doesn't have the benefit of calcium to speed the healing ( like bone does for example). So when you think about it, bone with its calcium boost takes a while to heal and therefore it can make sense that muscle will take longer. When the muscle does heal, it is then constructed of different properties than before. It does not merely grow more muscle to join up with the other side of itself, but instead, Collagen heals in the hole/gap. Also muscle fibres tend not to be 'aligned' together when healing so it may also result in weakened area of power/movement/strength if the muscle is in an area of ( residual?) function.

Another point to remember is that some lifestyles are contrary to wound healing. For eg, Smokers tend to heal more slowly due to the components of the ciggies and also due to the reduced oxygenation of the tissues. In smokers, wound edges can 'die off' and break making it difficult for the wound to heal.

People with Diabetes also have the added complication of high blood sugars inhibiting healing and circulatory issues (due to instability of the blood glucose and Neuropathies).

Also bear in mind that often skin heals more quickly than muscle areas. So you may find that in a stubborn area which is muscle laden will look healed, but it will be healing from the outside in...The skin will have closed but the inside, where the muscle is, may not be healed. The person is then in danger of cavernous wounds.

HTH, just my thoughts at the mo,..

take care,

K

[Cheshire]

great info: thanks!
The stretching/nonelasticity bit is particularly helpful...that's probably what's slowing things down the most at the moment. The sore is at the "hinge" point of my lower back/pelvis...and to keep pressure off the area I've been leaning forward when seated, stretching the area. Hmm...gonna have to stop that.

I didn't know about muscle/calcium before...I wonder if inceased intake of calcium makes up for this? I practically inhale milk: about 2 gallons a week just because I REALLY like chocolate milk at the beginning and end of the day.

I had just recently read about the collegen bit...about wounds looking healed when they're only closed over. Thanks for the reminder, and for putting it in layman's terms that more readily sink through this thick skull of mine!

[kewlcatkez]

Cheshire, on Dec 23 2007, 06:44 PM, said:

great info: thanks!
The stretching/nonelasticity bit is particularly helpful...that's probably what's slowing things down the most at the moment. The sore is at the "hinge" point of my lower back/pelvis...and to keep pressure off the area I've been leaning forward when seated, stretching the area. Hmm...gonna have to stop that.

I didn't know about muscle/calcium before...I wonder if inceased intake of calcium makes up for this? I practically inhale milk: about 2 gallons a week just because I REALLY like chocolate milk at the beginning and end of the day.

I had just recently read about the collegen bit...about wounds looking healed when they're only closed over. Thanks for the reminder, and for putting it in layman's terms that more readily sink through this thick skull of mine!

Hi Cheshire,

with regards to the calcium and muscle healing I probably didn't explain that too well. I was giving an illustration of the differences between the two ( muscle and bone). Bone has the help of Calcium to act like a sort of catalyst, but unfortunately it won't ( as far as I know) help muscle to heal, or skin and other tissue. Vitamin D is essential to absorb Calcium a point to remember if you have any bone healing to do.

so Calcium is not particularly useful in this situ, and be aware that taking Calcium supplements, unless under the careful eye of a dr/or the benefits outweigh the risks, can be very risky as it increases the chances of developing renal/bladder stones!..although some recent studies say very high calcium may decrease likelihood of stones...Not sure if the methods hold up to scrutiny,so best to avoid unless under a drs instructions, imo.

In terms of what can be done to heal muscle, skin and tissue its a case of going along with the things we do know about. So cut out/no smoking, eat a well balance diet full of PROTEIN, protein is the closest equivalent we have to the "calcium catalyst" in skin, muscle, tissue and even bone healing. If you are deficient of Protein healing will be secondary as the protein you do have will be directed to essential body functions.

Also especially if the wound is muscular in nature, but good to anyway, you need to make sure that you eat regularly (* apparelyzed has a great section on nutrition) If you do not eat well, or often, You can wind up with your body using the fat and sometimes the muscle stores to fuel its day to day running. ( The tell tale signs of this is Ketones in the urine of a non Diabetic, repeatedly).

I Hope this helps too. I am always worried that I will be teaching Grandma how to suck eggs/going over old ground, or coming across as a know it all..I just want to share anything I do know, like most here!

Take care,

K

This post has been edited by kewlcatkez: 23 December 2007 - 08:57 PM

[Cheshire]

I quit smoking recently, within the past couple months.
Hmm...I should probably re-evaluate my food intake again. That's always been my weak point. I keep forgetting there's so much more to this site than the forum. *heads off to check out the rest of the site again* Nothing wrong with a refresher course!

I know that for me, there's so much stuff to keep track of that repeated information is rarely a bother. I'm only 2 months past my 1st year anniversary. I feel like I've been crash-course studying for once-a-week final exams ever since I woke up in the hospital. Maybe one day I'll finally remember everything properly and get used to this...otherwise I'll just have to get used to feeling like I'm always one move away from being in checkmate!

Part of why I like this forum, and ya'll, so much. Kinda like having a coach that will look at me and say, "do you REALLY want to do that? Now think!"