bed sores,don't know much about it.need to know more than i do now.?

Question

my husband is disabled,in wheelchair & bed most of the time.we think that he my have developed bed sores on the tail bone &down the thigh.

Answer 1

Not sure, but ask this guy:

Answer 2

It's a pressure type sore you get from sitting or laying down in the same position for a long period of time. You need to turn every two hours and if your in a wheel chair all day? You need to get out and lay down, or get a gel pad( buy at medical supply store) for the wheelchair. Just keep the pressure off any area for long periods of time, use pillows etc.. Roll blankets and put behind back or in between knees. As for the sores, keep dry, and clean. put some antibiotic ointment on and keep an eye on it, if it feels warm and looks red that's a sign of infection.. go to the doctor. Good luck

Answer 3

well if he's left in one position...i.e the chair or on his back while in bed this leads to bed sores. They are defined in stages 1 being the stage with the slightest blanching on the skin. if u poke a finger on his skin and it remains before raising back up right away thats always a sign of beginning sores. u can generally tell by the look of the skin itself and the difference between the "normal" skin. its best to rotate his position every 2 hrs while in the bed from the left to the back to the right sides to give each side even distribution of weight. start soon b/c bed sores get worse quickly if there is no intervention at all. ive seen some where the tunneling goes all the way to the bone exposed due to pressure being unrelieved for a long time.

Answer 4

I would suggest going to the doctor. Bed sores are very painful and if not cared for can be very serious and even become infected. I do know that sitting or lying stationary for long periods of time without changing position can cause them. They start out red, and painful and can develop into seeping sores, and even holes. There are ointments, and other things that can help. They are mainly caused by pressure on different areas for a prolonged period of time. There are gel mattresses for beds and wheel chairs that will help so that there isn't as much pressure there. Try to help him move or rotate every hour to a different position, and clean them with soap and water. But please go to the doctor they can help you with this much more than anyone else.

Answer 5

Those are the most common places for bed sores. He needs to be turned in bed at least every 2 hours (if not more) and if the sores are not open, massaging lotion into the developing sores helps them. Try getting a doughnut for him to sit on in the wheelchair and while in bed to turn him on his side using pillows under is tailbone and between his legs, good luck.

Answer 6

Bed sores can be a huge problem and can develop in several days and progress to a stage 4 (able to see the muscle) within a few weeks of movement). They tend to form on pressure areas. The medical term is decubitus ulcers, you may be able to find more information fom the internet if you serach that word. However, there is a special air mattress to prevent the ulcers and is covered by most insurances. Below is a website that you may find helpful regarding the air mattresses http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/abstract/34/3/261

Just remember that Prevention is the best treatment. Best of luck!

Answer 7

What are bed sores?
Bed sores can occur when a person is bedridden, unconscious, unable to sense pain, or immobile. Bed sores are ulcers that occur on areas ofthe skin that are under pressure from lying in bed, sitting in a wheelchair, and/or wearing a cast for a prolonged period of time.

Why does a bed sore develop?
A bed sore develops when blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than two to three hours. As the skin dies, the bed sore first starts as a red, painful area, which eventually turns purple. Left untreated, the skin can break open and become infected. A bed sore can become deep, extending into the muscle. Once a bed sore develops, it is often very slow to heal. Bed sores often occur in the buttocks area (on the sacrum or iliac crest), or on the heels of the feet.

Preventing bed sores:
Bed sores can be prevented by inspecting the skin for areas of redness (the first sign of skin breakdown). Other methods of preventing bed sores and preventing progression of existing bed sores include:

frequent turning and repositioning
providing soft padding in wheelchairs and beds to reduce pressure
providing good skin care by keeping the skin clean and dry

Treatment for bed sores:
Specific treatment of a bed sore is determined by your physician and based on the severity of the condition. Treatment may be more difficult once the skin is broken, and may include:

removing pressure on the affected area
protecting the wound with medicated gauze or other special dressings
keeping the wound clean
transplanting healthy skin to the wound area
medication (i.e., antibiotics to treat infections)

more sites :

http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/uvahealth/adult_derm/bedsore.cfm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bed_sores

http://www.ecureme.com/emyhealth/data/Bed_Sores.asp

http://www.strengthforcaring.com/daily-care/66/176/recognizing-treating-bed-sores.html

http://www.mamashealth.com/skin/bed.asp

thank you and have a good day!!

Answer 8

Its very important to get them taken care of. They are caused by pressure. Do whatever you can to relieve the pressure and keep it off the sores, changing positions, sitting in different chairs. Make an appointment and they will give you something called a dermapatch. Its like an artificial layer of skin and helps relieve the pressure while it heals.

Answer 9

Whatever you do, don't use a doughnut. They are banned from the hospital that my wife goes to. Doughnuts relieve pressure on the tailbone, but just send it to the buttocks. He will just develop sores where the doughnut touches his skin.

The best advice is to turn him regularly. When he is in the hospital, ask for the beds with sand in them. They inflate with air and have sand in the mattress. They are very comfortable.

Answer 10

Any place where the skin is compressed between a surface and bone is at risk. In nursing homes patients need to be flipped every 2- 4 hours to cut there risk of developing these. Try to keep repositioning in order to avoid.
go here for more info
http://www.dermnetnz.org/reactions/bedsore.html

Answer 11

Hi Liz, If your husband is disabled, my guess is that he qualifies for some health insurance. I'd find a doctor and bring him in soon. Wound care has become its own field, and there have been lots of advancements as far as wound dressings go. For example, there are dressings that allow air to get in to assist in healing while providing a nice gely-cushy protection against further skin breakdown. Your doctor may have samples of this in their office, and can write prescriptions for different materials. Everyone's advice about frequent repositioning is great as far as prevention goes. I'd ask for resources regarding home health care, in particular wound care nurses. They are amazing resources. Good luck!