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Pressure Ulcers

Posted by Dion Regular in Blog on Jul 10, 2014

A topic that has been coming up a lot lately and one that I have been seeing more of these days is pressure ulcers.  This is a subject that unfortunately most take too lightly but is an EXTREMELY important subject. It can really affect an individual’s health and their quality of life.  You would think that there would be fewer cases of pressure sores but that’s not the case. It does make me wonder why this is popping up so much lately.  In my opinion we can narrow it down to two possibilities: one is either the patients are not getting the proper education on what pressure ulcers are and how they can be prevented or secondly maybe they are informed however are not doing what is recommended to try and prevent pressure ulcers.

More and more I see individuals who are still in the hospital recovering get pressure sores. Is it a matter of the care they are receiving? Are they getting turned regularly? Is the staff educated on these ulcers and the procedures to help prevent them? After the individual leaves the hospital or rehab are they educated on them or what about the home care, are they getting the proper education?

Pressure ulcers, also known as decubitus ulcers or bedsores, are localized injuries to the skin and/or underlying tissue. That usually occurs over a bony prominence as a result of pressure, or pressure in combination with shear and/or friction. The most common sites are the sacrum, coccyx, heels or the hips, but other sites such as the elbows, knees, ankles or the back of the cranium can be affected. (From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia)

Pressure ulcers most times can easily be prevented by education and following through with the necessary prevention/treatment steps.  Most ulcers seem to be associated with long periods of time in bed. So turning over regularly to stay off the pressure points is very important. In addition using pillows when possible to avoid bone on bone contact such as the knees and ankles or using them as a support under the back and buttock to stay on the side.

Wheelchair users are at a high risk of developing ulcers. They sometimes will develop ulcers in places you wouldn’t think of like the sides of the calves, back of the knees and the back. So seeing an Occupational Therapist and making sure your chair is proper fitting is a very important preventive measure.  The most common places for wheelchair users to develop ulcers are the sacrum and coccyx these types can be prevented by having a good cushion. The best method to prevent ulcers for those who use wheelchair would be for them to have periods out of the wheelchair. Some of us require to be in our chairs for long periods of time so periodically releasing pressure is important and this can be done by simply holding the wheels or armrest and raising the buttock up off the seat. If you are unable to do it yourself you should ask for assistance.

Preventing pressure ulcers can be easy at time but most of us take it for granted and it can just slip our minds.  I myself have been very fortunate to have not gotten any ulcers. Even though I can feel the warnings of a pressure ulcer (as I have sensation) I have come close myself to developing pressure ulcers. So it is extremely important for someone with low or no sensation to take the proper preventive measures to reduce their chances of pressure ulcers. As these individuals would have fewer warning signs than those that have sensation.

One should always check the most common sites for signs of ulcers. Signs of ulcers are discoloration in the skin, pain in the affected area, infection, open skin, skin that does not lighten to the touch, or the skin may be softer or firmer than the surrounding skin.  Areas that are harder to see you can asks someone to help you check these areas or simply by using a handheld mirror or two for certain hard to see areas.

A pressure ulcer that is left untreated can cause serious problems; from causing sickness to being hospitalized. I have seen cases where an individual has spent over a year in bed trying to heel which took a toll on their health and quality of life.  Even though avoiding pressure to the areas or pressure relief is very important there are other things you can do to help prevent pressure ulcers. For instances, keeping all areas of your skin dry and having a well-balanced diet with adequate amounts of protein.

If at any time you notice any of the above symptoms or think you might be developing a pressure ulcer you should contact your doctor IMMEDIATLEY as even though you might have caught it at an early stage some medications you are on could actually slow the healing process.