Medical Negligence Can Be A Real Sore Point
"Bed sores become irritating and very painful. This blog goes into more detail about how they are caused and how they can be prevented. "
The purpose of this blog is to inform people who have loved ones or, are indeed, suffering themselves from bed sores. These are not only irritating but they can become very painful and if the problem isn’t addressed, they can also become infected which causes all sorts of additional medical issues.
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What Are They?
Commonly known as pressure sores within the medical profession, they can (in their mildest form) appear as an area of brown or red skin that’s tender to touch. In the most severe cases they will become incredibly painful, larger in appearance and the skin will break exposing the vulnerable tissue beneath. If this does happen, it leaves the patient open to infection.
It’s worth noting that you may also have a nurse or doctor refer to plaster sores and these occur when casts have been incorrectly fitted to fractured or broken bones.
Where Do They Appear?
Most commonly, this type of sore will first present itself on the outside of the coccyx (your spinal tailbone). They also appear at the sacrum which is the triangular shaped bone located at the base of the spine. They can also appear in other places on the body where pressure from the bones is at its most against the skin. This includes heels, elbows, knees and the head.
Why do People Suffer?
People who are bed-ridden for a long time can suffer with pressure sores. They’re also very common in people who have mobility problems and spend large amounts of time (if not, all their time) in a wheelchair or bed. What happens is blood is prevented from reaching important areas of tissue that cover the bony areas of the body resulting in what we know as bed sores.
How Are They Treated?
For those that suffer from pressure sores in their mildest form, treatment will usually involve relieving the pressure to the area that’s affected. They may also be dressed to help stave off infection. In the most severe cases, treatment isn’t the easiest thing in the world, and can involve chemical treatments or surgery.
The fact is that prevention is better than a cure and people don’t have to suffer in this way just because they can’t move around on their own.
Home Prevention
If you have to take care of someone at home who is either in a wheelchair or bed-ridden, it’s vitally important you make sure the pressure on bony parts of the body is relieved regularly. This can be done by manually moving the body around where possible. There are also specialist mattresses and wheelchairs available that help. A good diet with plenty of fluids will help keep the skin supple and can aid in the prevention of these nasty sores.
Medical Prevention
If you or someone you know is in hospital or a care home, bed sores should never be a problem! The reason for this is the professionals that take care of people who are not able to move around themselves are properly qualified to make sure this doesn’t happen.
An assessment should take place of how mobile the patient is and a proper care plan should be laid out for them. Casts should be properly placed in order to prevent plaster sores.
Negligence
Negligence can be difficult to prove. Whilst every effort is usually made to ensure the patient is comfortable and doesn’t suffer, there are times when a mild form of pressure sores can appear. However, if the case is severe, you may have a case for negligence. It could mean that proper equipment such as beds and wheelchairs have not been used.
It could even mean that bedding has not been changed regularly enough to stop infection which is especially important in patients that are incontinent. If you feel you have a case, don’t be afraid to stand up and speak out. There are companies out there that specialise in getting you the compensation you deserve for the discomfort you’ve suffered.
Paula Whately is a writer who believes that if you are in a medical environment, trained professionals should ensure that bed sores do not affect you. However, if you do experience a severe case of these sores then you could file a claim for medical negligence.
Category: General Health
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