Decubitus Ulcer - Bed Sore

Pressure ulcers are a growing problem for people confined to a wheelchair or being confined to bed. Due to illness or injury and not being mobile, people are prone to these ulcers " bedsores " which causes the skin to break down causing a sore. If the sores are not taking care of in the right manner they can lead to more serious problems.

When someone is confined to their bed or wheelchair it makes it harder for them to get circulation through out their body. When someone has to lay or sit for a long period of time, they aren't able to fully release pressure of their pressure points. The unrelieved pressure damages the skin and the underlying tissue. The tiny blood vessels that supply the skin with nutrients and oxygen then die due to loss of blood flow to the area.

There are many ways to take care of an ulcer and research is being done to develop better methods for getting rid of these ulcers before serious complications occur. If the sore is not treated in the right manner and is unnoticed for a long period of time, the sore can get so deep and actually reach the bone of the area of the sore. People who are confined to their bed or a wheelchair must relieve pressure from the parts of their body that pressure is being put on every 20 minutes. They must shift their body weight allowing blood to flow to the area. If you're in a wheelchair one-way to relieve pressure off the buttocks area is to lean to one side and hold that position for a few seconds. You then want to do the same for the other side. Another way, if at all possible, is to lie down in bed, on either one of your sides for a few minutes.

Pressure ulcers are also a growing problem in nursing homes. The problem is in some nursing homes the care for these patients is not very good and not turning these elderly men and women when they are bed ridden causes these ulcers. Lawyers are getting tough with this problem and taking some nursing homes to court over these growing problems. Some of the elderly are known to have passed away due to the care they receive in nursing homes. The ulcers only get worse getting infected causing death to some of the elderly.

The best way to eliminate this problem is relieving the pressure from the pressure points. If you are someone or you know someone who is dealing with an ulcer, there are ways to take care of him or her and get him or her to heal. Wound care is being researched and there are many news ways of taking care of a wound. SAF-Clens AF is a spray, to apply you simply spray SAF-Clens directly on or even in the wound if the wound is deep. After spraying the wound dry the area thoroughly. If the wound is not to deep, you then want to place a 2x2 or even a 4x4 gauge over the would depending on the depth. SAF-Clens does not damage healing tissue and it removes debris, slough, and eschar. Another thing to try and is actually easier to use and less time consuming is PolyMem Wound Care Dressing - 4x4 non-adhesive. This design formulation eliminates cleaning the area during dressing changes, and eliminates manual debridement. This dressing has a cleanser, moisturizer, and a super-absorbent starch co-polymer. PolyMem helps with nutrients and regenerated cells in the wound. After using PolyMem you should notice a difference in the Interfacial tension between healthy tissue and debris is reduced, loosening eschar and necrotic tissue.

When taking care of an ulcer, it is always good to measure the area each week. Measuring the outside of the wound and the depth will show you if the technique you are using is working. If you do not see improvement in the wound area within two weeks I suggest you try another approach. You can find many wound care sites online and you can choose a different cleanser or dressing and see what one improves the wound better for you.

If you have a loved one who is in a nursing home, I would suggest you check on them daily or weekly. Checking parts of their body for bedsores. Places most common to check are the ankles, heals of their feet, buttocks and back area, by doing this it will keep your loved one from being in pain or getting a bedsore. Some of the elderly may not be able to communicate to you or be able to tell you if they are sore or in pain. It is better for you to take action yourself and watch out for your loved ones.