Pressure Relief Against Wound Development
Blisters, mask pressure, bed pressure sores, offloading
If you have a wound under your foot, or the side of your foot, or anywhere on the toes, you may need protection other than just normal shoes.
The wound may be due to blisters, cuts, pressure, diabetes, and can take a while to heal.
Tight shoes and walking on the wound will continue to irritate the wound, but this will not hurt in diabetics with neuropathy. (loss of feeling)
Once you require a thicker dressing, you may not fit into your shoes. When you squeeze into shoes, this causes more pain and pressure. If you have lost your feeling, you will not feel the pressure and the sore will get bigger.
If a foot wound leaks a lot, it will soil your shoe or insole, and even washing it may not get out the smell.
Why people should not wear expensive insoles while the wound is healing
The insoles may not be able to be recovered, and that’s hundreds of dollars in the bin. This where temporary cheaper insoles can be put into joggers or buy a darco shoe.
What can I wear while sores/wounds are healing?
Some people love darcos, they look ugly, but some people love them and want to buy more and have them forever, as comfortable, especially for those with deformed or swollen feet. They are not designed to last more than a few months, especially when you decide to do the gardening. They come as a single shoe only. So buy two.
Cam walkers, walking boots, moon boots all offload the forefoot, midfoot and stabilise ankles.They can be used for some fractures. Those that have air pumps tighten around the leg and ankle to try to offload off the foot to the leg and to further cradle ankles.
Bed Pressure Care
Causes of bed sores/ bum ulcers are:
- are often those bed bound
- who refuse or cannot move
- cannot move around post surgery
Lying in one place more than 2 hours can start to cause pressure areas.
This is common in hospital, nursing homes and at home.
Here is where pressure care is helpful but no guarantees for complete healing in the very old frail, immobile and obese or boney person.
Beds with pressure relieving mattresses, especially air mattresses are helpful, the best being beds where the foot end can be lowered and the bed tilted back.
Dressings that are often used against pressure around heels, elbows, bottom are foam or silicone dressings.
Pressure relief for masks
In a world where masks or N95 masks are the norm, pressure injuries occur especially around the nose, cheek and behind ears.
Besides petroleum jelly very thin transparent dressings or hydrocolloid transparent (see supplies section for your region) is helpful, however if working in a hospital, and you are fit tested ask what is your hospital policy on the matter.
A transparent dressing like comfeel or a transparent film is wonderful.
Cut in a strip for behind ears. One can try across the nose. Change daily.
It is important that pressure care is started as a prophylactic, not once the skin has broken, as this will not heal quickly, especially if one still needsto work and wear masks.
FUN NEWS – One day smart masks could detect carbon dioxide build up,
Crutches, walkers
- Knee scooter to offload is important. Knee scooters are only for those who have balance and under a certain weight.
- Crutches UK, Crutches USA
- Walkers : these come in various forms like a combined walker
- wheelchair e.g. transport wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs
Wheelchairs can now be bought that fits in a car and is needed to get to appointments and reduces the need to walk long distances and that includes outpatient hospital appointments.
Blisters from running
Prevention is better than cure
These toe and finger siliocne pads protect from friction and can be washed. Below are silicone pads with links which have anti friction properties from a UK supplierSilipos tubing strips for toes
Silipos silicone digital cap for toe tip pressure
silipos Achilles heel pad
Vivomed virtual skin blister plasters
Semi compressed felt bulk 5,7,10 mm options. Use 5 mm for shoes. 10 mm for diabetic ulcers in joggers or post op devices