Every year, 2.5 million people get pressure ulcers, better known as bedsores, which occur when lasting pressure is placed on a body part. If left untreated, these sores can cause many complications, some of which may be fatal. If caught early, bedsores are treatable, and are also preventable with the right care. For any person who stays in one position for long periods of time in a bed or a chair, it is important to be able to identify when a sore is forming.
What Are the Signs of a Bedsore?
Bedsores develop in four stages and the symptoms and treatment options change as they progress. The symptoms and stages are as follows:
- In the first stage, the skin around the affected area may be itchy, have redness and be warm to the touch.
- By the second stage, the skin will turn into a blister or an open sore and the surrounding skin will become discolored.
- If left untreated in stage three, the blister or sore will become a lesion with a crater-like appearance due to developing tissue damage under the skin.
- Finally, in stage 4, bedsores will be so bad that muscles, tendons, or bones may be visible. And, due to this damage, there is a high possibility for infection.
Bedsores can cause severe damage to the body and cost time and money for recovery. It’s helpful for vulnerable populations to know the signs of the different stages so that they can be treated before significant damage is caused. The most common locations for bedsores to appear are different depending on whether they are formed by laying in a bed or sitting in a chair. However, the sores will develop in places that have a lot of pressure on them, such as the spine, back of arms and legs, ankles, and back of the head.
Some Treatments for Early Stage Bedsores
If caught early enough bedsores can be treated at home and do not need to be attended to by a medical professional. Treatments include relieving the pressure on the body part(s) that are showing signs by propping them up or adjusting their position. Clean any wound that may have formed with saline and apply any topical creams that are necessary before putting on bandages. For long-term solutions, the affected person can look at their bedding and make possible changes for support. If the wounds continue to get worse, then an infection may be setting in and further medical treatment should be sought from a professional.
What If a Loved One Is in Danger of Developing Bedsores?
If a loved one is either in a long-term care facility or has a home aid caretaker, it is important to know the signs of bedsores. If the loved one is an elderly relative who may not have all of their mental faculties, he or she may not be able to catch the signs alone. Although long-term care facilities should have a trained staff who are aware of the stages and signs, the staff is often overworked. This may lead the facility to not always stay as up-to-date on all its patients’ statuses as it should be. If medical malpractice is suspected because bedsores have been allowed to grow to later stages that can cause permanent damage, then it might be time for the family to report the facility or home health aid worker.
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