The Dangers of Bedsores

Bedsores, also called pressure sores or pressure ulcers, are a common problem for people who are trapped in the same position for extended periods of time. This includes the disabled as well as the elderly. Frustratingly, bedsores are a dangerous condition that can form quickly yet are difficult to heal.

gel cushions for pressure sores

First, anyone is at risk for developing pressure sores-people who sit at a desk all day, those who wear chafing or constricting clothing, and those who drive for long periods of time. However, it is a natural tendency for you to feel the urge to shift positions, even if it simply means shifting your weight from one buttock to the other. These simple posture adjustments help you avoid pressure ulcers.

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Bedsores occur when a certain position or article of clothing cuts off the circulation to a small area of your body. Over time, prolonged loss of circulation can cause parts of your body to itch and hurt, as well as feel warm, spongy, or firm to the touch. If this area continues to suffer from a lack of fresh blood and oxygen, it can look like a blister that turns into a crater-like sore. The damage caused by the pressure sore can extend as deep as the bone.

If left untreated, the deep damage caused by the pressure ulcers can result in long-term health complications. You can develop cellulitis, or an infection of your body's connective tissue. If the sore reaches your bones, it can lead to bone and joint infections like osteomyelitis or septic arthritis, respectively. Should bacteria enter your body through the bedsore, you may endure sepsis, or a bacterial infection of the bloodstream. Lastly, the deep cellular damage can also lead to cancer.

Bedsores are a major concern in nursing homes as elderly residents may be wheelchair-bound or bedridden. It is the responsibility of the nursing home staff to regularly help reposition the residents so that they do not develop pressure ulcers.

If an assisted living facility has failed to give your elderly loved one the care and attention that he or she deserves, resulting in pressure sores, you should fight back against this dangerous negligence. To discuss your case, contact an experienced Coral Springs nursing home negligence attorney from the Canter Law Offices, P.A., today.

The Dangers of Bedsores

PRESSURE SORES

10 Precautions Care Providers Should, But Often Fail, to Take to Avoid Bedsores

The majority of pressure sores can be prevented, and the ones that do develop, do not need to get serious or even life threatening.

The caregiver has to consider the patient's special circumstances when creating a care plan to make sure the person does not develop pressure sores that were preventable in the first place.

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Here we give you a list of the 10 precautions that care providers should, but commonly neglect to oversee to avoid pressure sores:

1. They should make an initial proper, thorough, and methodical assessment of the patient's risk of developing pressure sores.

2. They must conduct accurate periodical assessments to measure the patient's risk.

3. They have to bathe the patient well and thoroughly.

4. They should assess and treat the patient's incontinence condition to make sure that excess moisture on the skin does not cause pressure sores.

5. They have to maintain the patient well hydrated and eating enough and right.

6. They must reposition and move the patient at regular intervals to make sure the pressure is relieved properly.

7. They have to use proper support and moving devices such as a low air loss mattress, to relieve pressure from critical areas.

8. They should take into account postural alignment, weight distribution, balance, stability, and pressure relief when helping the person sit on a chair or wheelchair.

9. They have to use the right lifting devices and techniques to make sure that shear and friction do not cause pressure sores.

10. They must get educated on the best ways to prevent bedsores and find documentation that supports those measures.

In essence, every patient is different, and each one will present different conditions or combination of conditions that should guide the creation of the best care plan for him or her. The caregiver should be able to see this uniqueness in order to prevent the patient's condition from getting worse out of neglect.

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10 Precautions Care Providers Should, But Often Fail, to Take to Avoid Bedsores

PRESSURE SORES STAGES

Herbal and Alternative Medicines for Bedsores

Description

As anyone who has been bedridden for any period of time can tell you, bedsores are one of the unfortunate parts of the experience. Also known as pressure sores or decubits ulcers, they begin as sensitive, red patches of skin that eventually become sores or ulcers. Bedsores develop on weight-bearing parts of the body-commonly on the hips, shoulder blades, elbows, base of the spine, knees, ankles, and heels-where the bones are near the skin.

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Signs and Symptoms

Areas of red, sensitive skin (in early stages)

Open, ulcerated sores that don't seem to heal (in later stages)

Conventional Medical Treatment

For bedsores to heal, you must keep. weight off of them. Place cushioning at pressure points to help distribute body weight more evenly, thus keeping pressure from building in one spot. Air mattresses, foam pads and specially-designed pads for heels and elbows are available from medical supply stores. Clean ulcerated areas twice daily with an anti-microbial cleanser to keep sores germ-free and speed healing.

Complementary and Alternative Treatments

Nutrition and Supplementation

People who suffer from bedsores are usually deficient in a number of nutrients, especially zinc and vitamins A, E, ata balanced diet of which 70 percent is raw fruits and vegetables. Drink liquids (steam-distilled water, herbal teas, sugar-free Juices) around the clock to keep the colon clean. Eliminate animal fats, junk food, processed foods, fried food, and sugar. Get your fiber from oat bran Or ground flaxseeds. Fiber prevents constipation and absorbs dangerous toxins.

Supplementing your vitamin and mineral in take is very important. Try the following daily suggestions until healing is complete.

Most Important

vitamin E (400 IU)-improves circulation

zinc (30 mg, not to exceed a total of 100 mg from all supplements)-heals tissues

copper (3 mg)-balances zinc

Also Recommended

free-form amino acid complex (as directed on label)-supplies protein needed for healing

mixed carotenoid formula (15,000 IU)-improves skin tissue

vitamin B complex (100 mg twice daily with meals)-reduces stress and aids in healing

vitamin B12(2000 mcg twice daily)

vitamin C (3000 to 10,000 mg in divided doses)-aids in healing, improves circulation, and enhances immune function

vitamin D (400 to 1000 IU)-essential for healing

colloidal silver (apply topically as directed on label)-a natural antibiotic that destroys viruses, fungi, and bacteria; promotes healing

garlic (as directed on label)-a natural antibiotic

kelp (500 to 1000 mg daily)-provides a balance of minerals

vitamin A (25,000 IU for 1 month, then reduce to 5,000 IU; do not exceed 8000 IU daily if you are pregnant)-heals skin tissue

(For an acute condition, take supplements until your symptoms subside. If symptoms persist, seek the advice of your health care provider. For a chronic condition, consult your health care provider regarding the duration of treatment.)

Aromatherapy

To clean sores and promote healing, dab a solution of 4 drops of tea treeoil and 1 cup of water over the affected area.

Herbal Therapy

Herbal therapists recommend external application of the following therapeutic herbs, under appropnate supervision: echinacea, goldenseal, myrrh gum, pau d'arco, slippery elm.

Herbal products are available in health food stores and in some pharmacies and supermarkets. Follow package for specific directions.

Homeopathy

To help heal bedsores, apply Calendula ointment to the affected skin.

Traditional Chinese Medicine

Acupuncture Acupuncture can be used to improve blood and energy flow to the affected area-including the shoulder blades, buttocks, and hips-which may help bedsores heal faster. Acupuncture also can be used to relieve the pain associated with this condition.

Chinese Herbal Therapy There are many Chinese herbs that can speed healing and lessen the pain of bedsores, including Bletilla Striata, which can be mixed into an ointment with sesame oil and applied to the affected area 2 to 3 times a day. Some herbalists may add powdered amethyst to this preparation to enhance its curative properties.

Additionally, Lien Chiao Pai Th Pien is a skin-healing formula that can be found at health food or herb stores; follow package instructions (and do not use it during pregnancy).

Herbal and Alternative Medicines for Bedsores

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Bedsores and Nursing Home Abuse

When someone is bed-bound, it is necessary for them to change position periodically to prevent bed sores. Bedsores occur when a patient lies motionless for an extended period of time. Constant pressure on spots on that person's body can cause the skin underneath the contact point to die, creating a hole in the person's skin. If they are caught early, bedsores can be treated easily. But if they are overlooked, they can lead to massive infections and death.

Any spot the patient's body that experiences pressure while that person is motionless can develop a bed sore if the conditions are right. For example, if the person is lying in a position where part of the bed's frame is in constant contact with the person's knee, the sustained pressure of the frame on the leg can cut off blood supply to that small area of skin. If blood flow is cut off for too long, the skin underneath the contact point will die.

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Unfortunately bed sores are especially common in nursing homes. Nursing homes are designed to care for patients who cannot take care of themselves, and patients often live there for years. A substantial portion of nursing home patients may be unable to leave their beds. Nurses are expected to regularly help patients reorient their bodies and to check for bedsores, but some facilities fail to safeguard their patients.

Early-stage bedsores, if they are detected, only cause damage to the upper layers of skin. Over time, the tissue death proceeds deeper and deeper. Beyond a certain point, the body cannot recover on its own. Treating a bed sore requires surgically removing the dead tissue and applying anti-microbial dressings to keep it covered. Severe wounds require skin grafts or similar surgery, as the body cannot close the hole on its own.

The causes, nature, and effects of bedsores are well known. Nursing homes, hospitals, and other care facilities have an obligation to ensure that bed-bound patients do not develop bedsores. If their negligence causes a patient great suffering, that person and their loved ones have the right to seek compensation for their suffering.

For more information on legal subjects related to medical malpractice and nursing home abuse, visit the website of the Kankakee nursing home abuse lawyers of Spiros Law, P.C.

Bedsores and Nursing Home Abuse

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