[paraman]

Hi,

I am a T12 paraplegic from India. Its been 21 years since my accident. I have been battling with bed sores over the years. 3 months back I underwent a flap surgery for a bed sore on my sacrum which wasn't healing for 4 years. The surgery was successful. My plastic surgeon advised me to go in for a air bed instead of the water bed that I was using all these years. In her opinion air beds are better than water beds.

My air bed is connected to power supply and it has a motor. The bed has rows of air pockets and alternating air pockets are filled and emptied automatically. She claims that this relieves pressure better than water beds.

But within the last 3 months since I began using the air bed I have got 2 new wounds near the operated site. One is a skin tear just on the surface. It is now almost 80% healed. The second one developed as a spongy area with skin discolouration. Almost like a blister. After 4 days the bubble burst and blood came out. Now the sponginess is gone and the open wound is the size of a peanut and only on the surface.

This is giving me second thoughts about the efficacy of air beds. When I was using the water bed at least I wasn't getting new wounds.

I would like to know from you guys what your experience has been with air beds and which ones do you prefer.

I am fully mobile in my house and use a Otto Bock wheelchair and Z-Flo cushion to do so. I sit for a total of about 9 hours (split into 3 sessions) on the wheelchair. Both the new wounds aren't on the pressure area.

Thanks in advance.

[crazy8]

My history is very similiar to yours. I too am a T-12 para, 23 years since injury. After my flap procedure my surgeon also recommended a pressure relief air mattress. The one the doctor recommended and I have been using with excellent results is called a Pegasus. The model is the Renaissance. I like it very much and I have not had any pressure areas since I have been on this mattress.

In the US I have had some problems with trying to purchase a new Pegasus, as I believe the company may have sold their homecare division. However, I think that Pegesus is also available in the United Kingdom and Sweden and most likely other countries as well. When I was asking for advise on finding a new air mattress, others have said that a company named Hill-Rom has good air mattresses also, but I have never tried any of them. I hope this was helpful to you. This is a wonderful website that I have found to be very helpful. Hopefully others will share their opinions with you too, so you will get more information. Good Luck to you. Respectfully, Crazy8

[paraman]

Thanks for your reply. None of the companies that you have mentioned sell their products in India. The bed that I am using is from some Taiwan / China manufacturer imported into India by a local distributor.

[crazy8]

I would try a search on the internet for Pressure Releif Mattresses to see if you can find a company that will export to India. I have learned that a good pressure releif mattress is the only way I can avoid getting pressure sores. I do spend a lot of time in bed, and ever since I got this mattress, I have had no more problems with prssure sores.