26 replies to this topic

[Laila]

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore? I've been injured for 6 years and thankfully never had a skin issue.. I'm so scared of getting one Can you go through your life and never get one? I just have this notion that everyone gets one sometime in their life, I'm concerned Especially after I saw this guy on Dr 90210 get this surgery to fix one today. It was so bad. I never want to get like that.

[buffie]

I know that you can. I had a friend that was injured when she was 21 and died at 45 due to cancer, but the whole time she was injured she never had a pressure sore. She was c5c6 and spent every day in bed unless she had an appointment to make.

[Kev-O]

i have been out of rehab for a little under two years an have not done a weight shift since i left. I guess it all depends on the skin. If we live a long life an get old then then yes we are going to get one. the older you get the more sensitive your skin gets.

[nomis]

Laila, on Dec 28 2007, 11:18 AM, said:

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore?

I think only a dead person could answer that.
However, I can say I've done 37yrs SCI without one which doesn't mean I won't find I've got one tonight. Plenty of people seem never to have had one but for those who get one, it's hard to heal for good and sometimes leads to another....

I believe it's good to have a "healthy paranoia" about pressure sores - that is worry enough about the threat to constantly be aware of taking precautions.

Edited by nomis, 28 December 2007 - 09:56 AM.

[crazy8]

I went 17 years post injury with no pressure areas, no skin problems at all. I never did weight shifts or lifts or anything, and I slept on a regular mattress. I worked full time, sitting in my chair with whatever cushion came with it, many days for over 12 hours straight. THEN, all of a sudden one day I found a hard spot about the size of a pea on my bottom. Thus began my Pressure Sore nightmare. I eventually had to have a flap procedure done. A couple of years after that I stopped working full-time because I could no longer sit for 8 to 12 hours a day without pressure releif.

My surgeon has convinced me that the key to avoiding future sores is having a great pressure relief mattress and the right cushion in my chair. It's been several years sinced my surgery, but I am pretty paranoid about pressure areas now.

By the way, if anyone knows of a good pressure releif mattress please let me know. I need to get a new one, and they can be very expensive. I can't seem to locate the kind I have been using so I need to switch brands, but I am not very familiar with the various types out there in the market today.

[carole338]

Weight shifts, bed shifts often, and if you can stand and walk with walker. This is what I do to keep away the pressure sores.

[qbounce]

I have a friend with the same level injury as me, only he's INcomplete. Lucky guy can feel more and knows better when to releive pressure (he's been a SCI for 30+ years like Nomis). Either way, though, complete or not, do your pressure relief religeously. and eventually it becomes second nature

btw Crazy8,
Why noy buy a memory foam matress that goes on top ofthe matress? J ust about any department store carries them and it's an inexpensive fix to an otherwise needed problem.
Good luck

Edited by qbounce, 17 February 2008 - 02:16 AM.

[Horseman]

qbounce, on Feb 17 2008, 02:10 AM, said:

I have a friend with the same level injury as me, only he's INcomplete. Lucky guy can feel more and knows better when to releive pressure (he's been a SCI for 30+ years like Nomis). Either way, though, complete or not, do your pressure relief religeously. and eventually it becomes second nature

btw Crazy8,
Why noy buy a memory foam matress that goes on top ofthe matress? J ust about any department store carries them and it's an inexpensive fix to an otherwise needed problem.
Good luck

Hello everyone Im new at posting here

My wife and I were just talking about this tonight. She is a T7 T8 Para. 17 months post injury.

When I brought her home from the hospital we put her in the same bed we were in before her injury

It is a flotation mattress. She has not had a sore yet. But it does worry me. I keep a close eye on her skin and so does she.

If any one knows a reason why we should not be using water please let me know.

[nomis]

Horseman, on Feb 17 2008, 04:23 PM, said:

If any one knows a reason why we should not be using water please let me know.

No reason not to use a waterbed but two precautions to keep in mind is poor body posture and a threat of hypothermia if the heater stops.

[Horseman]

nomis, on Feb 17 2008, 11:05 PM, said:

Horseman, on Feb 17 2008, 04:23 PM, said:

If any one knows a reason why we should not be using water please let me know.

No reason not to use a waterbed but two precautions to keep in mind is poor body posture and a threat of hypothermia if the heater stops.

Hi Nomis

Im all new at doing this posting stuff but im trying.

The bed is a flotation mattress it has about 2" of foam mattress cover. It has done my wife well in that

she is comfortable. I only have to turn her once in the nite. I just wanted to make sure that in the long term there are no ill effects . Thank you for your reply , I have been reading alot of posts and have enjoyed yours very much. alot of good info here I will keep reading.

Horseman

[Mikerowaved]

I get enough "butt burn" during the day to force me to do weight shifts, so that part of my skin stays healthy. My problem is an occasional hip bone getting whacked on my wheelchair tire when transferring in and out of my van. It usually developes into a smallish sore that takes weeks to 100% heal, then a short while later I'll find I did it again.

[paraman]

Laila, on Dec 28 2007, 03:48 AM, said:

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore? I've been injured for 6 years and thankfully never had a skin issue.. I'm so scared of getting one Can you go through your life and never get one? I just have this notion that everyone gets one sometime in their life, I'm concerned Especially after I saw this guy on Dr 90210 get this surgery to fix one today. It was so bad. I never want to get like that.

Thank your lucky stars that you never had one! I have battled bedsores for most of my paraplegic life. Had 2 surgeries too for different bedsores. Just have to deal with them. There is no option. Take all necessary precautions and pray to God that you never get one.

Edited by paraman, 18 February 2008 - 02:56 PM.

[crazy8]

Thanks for your suggestion qbounce. Luckily I was able to locate a Pegesus Renaissance mattress, which is the mattress I have been using, and loving, for the past few years. I am a "good sleeper" and with the Pegasus I can sleep a good 12 hours straight with no turning and no pressure areas. From what I understand the Pegasus is the only 3 cell alternating pressure releif mattress, and for me it has been a miracle. The A, B, and C rows of cells are constantly alternating in I think it is 4 minute cycles. It helps with circulation and creates "Zero Pressure" Zones which means that when the A and C cells are inflated, the B cells are completely deflated. The areas of my body over the B cells then are completely free of pressure, not touching the mattress at all. The whole process then begins again with B and C cells inflated and A cells deflated... and so on.

The should pay me for advertising this product, as it has totally changed my quality of life, allowing me to sleep through the night without having to wake for turning, etc. Huntleigh Healthcare apparently bought out Pegasus, but they still carry the Pegasus products in their stock.

[qbounce]

Hey Crazy8,
Does that matress include some type of air motor, and if so, how NOISY is it?

Also, doesn't not turning get you feeling a little stiff in the morning?
Just sleeping on one side for 4 hours gets my neck stiff (of course that's where my injury was).
Thanks for the sales pitch, by the way!

[linda]

My daughter is 22 years old and hasn't gotten one yet. She has had a few times where one heel would become a bit pink and spongy, but I immediately cough it before it could go to the next stage.

Massage and skin treatment is a plus to help with the prevention of skin break downs. Where there is pressure there will be less blood flow and if the blood flow is not getting to the tissues the tissue starts to die thus causing break down of the skin. By massaging the pressure areas a couple times a day it helps to keep the blood flowing to that area.

[crazy8]

Hey qbounce, so sorry for the long delay in responding to your post. I relocated from NY to FL for the Winter months, and it has been crazy lately... Anyway, you are right about the stiffness. While I do enjoy a long good night's sleep, I do pay for it when I wake up if I sleep for too long. Lately I have found that I seem to wake up briefly during the night, usually because my shoulder or neck feels uncomfortable. I then change position and go back to sleep.

Yes, it is a motorized system. I am totally used to the sound of the motor and I don't even notice it anymore. But, I do tend to fall asleep with the TV on, which is probably why I don't notice the sound. It is sort of a quiet hum. The motor does not run continuously. It comes on for very short intervals as air needs to be added to the system.

The bottom line is there is no substitute for a great skin care regimen. After going through the drama of a flap procedure and bone infection from a nasty pressure sore, I have learned the importance of staying on top of my skin care. -Crazy8

[qbounce]

Crazy8,
Welcome back!
I really don't have a life outside of this forum, so I've been sitting on my laptop in quiet solidity awaiting your return. . . hence the quick reply!

I had a similar air-blown system, but couldn't stand the noise (I tried to get used to it. . . I really did). But, I still sleep w/ the TV on now too!!

And to the point I was getting at, I just turn once in the middle of the night also. . . it's very second nature now and doesn't really disturb sleep much. Oh yah . . . . . . and, it's good for pressure sores!! (I knew I could tie everything together).

Obviously, 'sleep' is a subject I could go on with for awhile, but .......I'm to tired. . . nighty night.

[roo]

hi there i've been in a chair now 22yrs touch wood never had a pressure ,when i did my re Hab in pinderfields they drummed in your head about these sore's and shown photo's of ex patient who got 1 and the pics were scary,,

also drummed in your head about pressure relief and NOT STAYING in 1 position for to long ,they say for every 15 mins you are sat in yer chair push up in your chair for 15 seconds .and when in bed turn regular every 4/6 hrs turn to another position.

i was that scared about these ugly pressure sore's i even went to bed in the atfernoon for 2 hrs to rest my bum.
i did this for about two yrs after my re Hab.
going back to bed in the afternoons was interfering with my quality of life so much, i stopped going to bed in the afternoon's{ i thought am not letting these pressure sore's rule my life} after then i started to transfer alot out of my chair ie; onto the settee to watch telly ,onto the floor for stretching and playing with the little nephew's this was so much fun,{ i used my stretching mat for this i were'nt sat just on the hard floor } i always thought that the rest of my life i was going have to seat on this speical cushion +in my chair all the time and was scared to do anything different without the cushion under my bum ,
and for sleeping in the bed i have always slept on a tempur mattress for pressure relief,and for good sleeping posture,

so all i can say in my case is don't let them worry you to much AND DON'T STAY IN 1 POSITION TO LONG AND TOUCH WOOD

[Mike (c4-5) & Lorena]

Laila, on Dec 27 2007, 05:18 PM, said:

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore? I've been injured for 6 years and thankfully never had a skin issue.. I'm so scared of getting one Can you go through your life and never get one? I just have this notion that everyone gets one sometime in their life, I'm concerned Especially after I saw this guy on Dr 90210 get this surgery to fix one today. It was so bad. I never want to get like that.

Mike is post 21 years. Only had heal sores because the hospital did not put his feet in special boots. He did get another heal sore 20 years later due to bad shoes. After having sores on his heals, it is very hard to find good soft shoes.

[carole338]

After over a year I just had the beginning of a pressure sore. It was due to my sneaker being too tight in one area. Caught it and now I'm fine. Did a lot of message on the spot and circulated the blood.

[Quad65]

Almost 43 years a C5-C6 quad. I had a pressure sore on my tail-bone and one on the bottom of each heal from a two month stay at a county hospital when I was first injured. I had skin flap surgery after I moved to a rehab facility. It went very well and I've not had a problem there since. The heals filled in by themselves, but the right one is still very sensitive and has a deep dent in it.

About twenty years ago, I tried some different cushions and developed one on my right bony prominence. A Roho High Profile fixed it right up. No butt problems since. I do have good sensation in my butt and am religious about shifting my weight and raising myself up about a million times a day.

I used to sleep on my stomach with my feet hanging off the end of the bed and an artificial sheep-skin under my shins. For quite a few years now, I sleep on my right side, in a sort of running position. I have a natural sheep-skin/fleece that goes under my left knee and foot to cushion them. Sometimes I go without it. I never sleep on my back. Never could even before my injury. I use whatever mattress is comfortable, usually a very firm one and have never had a problem. I never have to be turned at night. I might roll on my back in the morning for a bit, but I can roll back on my side unassisted easily.

I prefer a side-zipped Western-style boot instead of regular shoes. Always have. Love cowboy boots. Very comfortable for me.

They serve several purposes. They look good, give good support, prevent foot drop and ankle roll-over, and they help support my leg-bag from the bottom. I use just one strap at the top. When I have to empty it, I just pull up my pant leg, flop the leg-bag up on the toilet bowl rim, and open the valve. No muss no fuss. Then, I tuck the bag in the boot top, pull down my pant leg, and no one even knows I wear a leg-bag. Very discreet.

[quad]

Laila, on Dec 27 2007, 03:18 PM, said:

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore? I've been injured for 6 years and thankfully never had a skin issue.. I'm so scared of getting one Can you go through your life and never get one? I just have this notion that everyone gets one sometime in their life, I'm concerned Especially after I saw this guy on Dr 90210 get this surgery to fix one today. It was so bad. I never want to get like that.

I have been paralyzed from the neck down or shoulders down better yet for the past seven years and I am also the same way I only go out unless it's a doctor's appointment rarely do I get out to my friend's but most of my time is spent in bed line on my backside and ever since I have stopped using my alternating the air mattress I have stopped getting pressure sores so now I never use it and I avoid all pressure sores I think I can manage and I am doing just fine but it's definitely helpful to read other information on here

[The Quadfather]

I'm 15 years in and never had one but I've got enough feeling that my ass will get sore and I'll have to move just to stop the pain in my ass. I guess that means I'm sometimes my own pain in the ass.

[Scribbler]

Laila, on Dec 27 2007, 11:18 PM, said:

Can you go through your life and never get a pressure sore? I've been injured for 6 years and thankfully never had a skin issue.. I'm so scared of getting one Can you go through your life and never get one? I just have this notion that everyone gets one sometime in their life, I'm concerned Especially after I saw this guy on Dr 90210 get this surgery to fix one today. It was so bad. I never want to get like that.

I've NEVER had a pressure sore. I'm C4/5 and been injured 50 years but as I get older I notice my skin getting thinner, which happens to all elderly people.

I hope I continue in good health but a lot of it is down to good skin care and looking after yourself. It also depends on who's taking care of you, as a bad carer can soon damage your skin.

[Manda]

Sometime between my stay at Hershey Med,and HealthSouth Rehab,I got one,they said Oh,It's just a blister so i told my mom,My mom asked to see it,they were'nt expecting that,So I feel they r to blame,Well I thought my mom was going to go through the ceiling when she saw it(She did this for a living)Well they lied to me it was no blister,It was a stage 4 bed sore,It took time but it is healed now thanks to my mom,if you need help in that area,1 day silvadeen next day saline cover w/patch,but switch it up,cause at the end it kinda just lingers til it completly closes,It blends in w my dimple above my butt so its barely noticeable,Thank God

[Ashley]

I've only ever had two in the ten years I've been injured. It's never been on my bottom, though. On my hip kind of where my jeans would hit (years and years ago), but my mom took care of it. Naturally it took a while to heal because I didn't stop wearing jeans. Heh. And then I had one on the back of my right foot, but that was taken care of no problem... and it was about 4 or so years ago. So I think I've done pretty well, plus the gel seat helps, and I'm pretty active in my chair (leaning, lifting), so I do "pressure relief" without even trying.

[Scribbler]

Manda, on Sep 29 2008, 03:05 PM, said:

It blends in w my dimple above my butt so its barely noticeable,Thank God

Hey Manda!... Who've you been showing your butt to? Can we all see?