notme
Extremely helpful member
- Joined
- Apr 3, 2011
- Messages
- 2,605
- Reason
- PALS
- Diagnosis
- 08/2011
- Country
- US
- State
- Fl
- City
- Orlando
We are getting more and more new members lately, sadly, that are recently diagnosed.
I know many people here already know this stuff, but hopefully, it will be of some use to the new people here.
Pressure sores, also known as decubitus ulcers or bed sores, are sores that are found at or near bony areas of the body.They happen when an area has too much pressure and blood can't circulate properly. They can normally be prevented--at least the more serious stages 3-4 are preventable with proper care and precautions.
There are 4 stages of bedsore:
Stage 1-- This stage is simple redness of the skin. The skin is not broken in this stage, and if the pressure is kept off the area until the redness goes away, a bedsore can be stopped in its tracks if caught at this stage.
Stage 2- In this stage, the first layer of skin is broken. Keeping the wound clean is important at this stage--it's also important to keep pressure off the area.
Stage 3- This stage means that the sore is working through the layers of skin. Infection risk is high. Usually, moist dressings are used, and a physician must be consulted.
Stage 4- This stage means that the sore is through all layers of skin and into muscle and even bone. This is the stage that increases the risk of serious infection that can spread throughout the body.(sepsis) It can take surgical intervention to treat sores at this level.
Stage 1 and 2 can usually be treated at home. Stage 3 and 4 are going to need more intervention. It takes weeks to months to heal a bedsore that reaches stage 3 or 4. And, they can get from stage 1 to stage 4 VERY QUICKLY.
How do we prevent them?
Anyone who is in a wheelchair should move around as much as possible every 15 minutes or so. The tailbone area and the shoulders should be checked regularly for signs of pressure sores. PALS should be moved carefully, so their skin is not being rubbed against surfaces. A good seat cushion is very important, and if a PAL is very thin, padding on the other bony areas that rest on the chair.
A PAL that spends most of his time in bed should be turned every two hours at a minimum. Also they will need some sort of special mattress--alternating pressure mattress pads can help. They work better than the egg crate mattress pads you might have seen in a hospital or nursing home.
To prevent sores on the heels, you can use something as simple as a cut out box to keep linens from pressing the heels into the mattress.
CALS can also get lambs wool pads for the heels and elbows.
Most bedsores can be STOPPED at stage 1 with proper care. Increased nutrition and hydration are important. Areas that are prone to bedsores can also be protected with pads. Even stage 2 bedsores can be treated relatively quickly with proper care.
I know many people here already know this stuff, but hopefully, it will be of some use to the new people here.
Pressure sores, also known as decubitus ulcers or bed sores, are sores that are found at or near bony areas of the body.They happen when an area has too much pressure and blood can't circulate properly. They can normally be prevented--at least the more serious stages 3-4 are preventable with proper care and precautions.
There are 4 stages of bedsore:
Stage 1-- This stage is simple redness of the skin. The skin is not broken in this stage, and if the pressure is kept off the area until the redness goes away, a bedsore can be stopped in its tracks if caught at this stage.
Stage 2- In this stage, the first layer of skin is broken. Keeping the wound clean is important at this stage--it's also important to keep pressure off the area.
Stage 3- This stage means that the sore is working through the layers of skin. Infection risk is high. Usually, moist dressings are used, and a physician must be consulted.
Stage 4- This stage means that the sore is through all layers of skin and into muscle and even bone. This is the stage that increases the risk of serious infection that can spread throughout the body.(sepsis) It can take surgical intervention to treat sores at this level.
Stage 1 and 2 can usually be treated at home. Stage 3 and 4 are going to need more intervention. It takes weeks to months to heal a bedsore that reaches stage 3 or 4. And, they can get from stage 1 to stage 4 VERY QUICKLY.
How do we prevent them?
Anyone who is in a wheelchair should move around as much as possible every 15 minutes or so. The tailbone area and the shoulders should be checked regularly for signs of pressure sores. PALS should be moved carefully, so their skin is not being rubbed against surfaces. A good seat cushion is very important, and if a PAL is very thin, padding on the other bony areas that rest on the chair.
A PAL that spends most of his time in bed should be turned every two hours at a minimum. Also they will need some sort of special mattress--alternating pressure mattress pads can help. They work better than the egg crate mattress pads you might have seen in a hospital or nursing home.
To prevent sores on the heels, you can use something as simple as a cut out box to keep linens from pressing the heels into the mattress.
CALS can also get lambs wool pads for the heels and elbows.
Most bedsores can be STOPPED at stage 1 with proper care. Increased nutrition and hydration are important. Areas that are prone to bedsores can also be protected with pads. Even stage 2 bedsores can be treated relatively quickly with proper care.