Make sure to keep your sores clean. Wash your hands before and after working with your sore. Make sure to eat a healthy diet. You need a balanced diet rich in vitamins and proteins to help your sores heal.
Drink lots of fluids. Take all prescribed medicines. If you have pressure ulcers, make sure to shift your weight and change positions often. If you cannot do this on your own, have a friend, family member, or caregiver help you.
If you have diabetes, make sure to check your feet daily for new problems. Check with your health care provider regularly to make sure your diabetes is well controlled. There are a lot of different kinds of sores that may have trouble healing on their own. Venous ulcers, arterial ulcers, diabetic ulcers, and pressure ulcers are all common types of slow healing sores.
If you have a sore that is not healing, you need to call your healthcare provider. If you don't, it could get infected and get worse. It could lead to a partial amputation, amputation of a limb, or even death. Your healthcare provider can help diagnose the sore. He or she can also come up with a treatment plan.
Always follow your doctor's directions. Most wounds heal more quickly with fewer complications if treated by a healthcare provider. Do not hesitate to get treatment if you have a sore that is not healing. All information provided on this website is for information purposes only. Every patient's case is unique and each patient should follow his or her doctor's specific instructions. Please discuss nutrition, medication and treatment options with your doctor to make sure you are getting the proper care for your particular situation.
If you are seeking this information in an emergency situation, please call and seek emergency help. Certain marks Reg. US Pat. All Trademarks acknowledged This information intended for a U.
The information listed on this site is common guidance and is not meant as medical advice. Search Search site:. Some of the most common sores that have trouble healing on their own are: Venous Ulcers. Arterial Ulcers. Diabetic Ulcers, and Pressure Ulcers. Venous Ulcers Venous ulcers are a common type of sore. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. They can start small, as a pimple or a scratch. While cancer can sometimes present as a chronic wound, chronic wounds typically fall into three main categories: diabetic ulcers, venous leg ulcers and pressure ulcers.
People who have diabetes are at greater risk for chronic wounds. Several factors contribute to this, including:. Anyone who has diabetes should seek medical attention for any foot wound as soon as possible. Cavaliere says. Venous leg ulcers account for a high percentage of leg wounds. As a result, HBOT revitalizes tissues and stimulates the growth of new blood vessels and helps the body fight infection.
This will include using advanced therapies and sometimes hyperbaric therapy. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is covered by most medical insurance companies, including Medicare and Medicaid. Contact your health insurance provider to find out more about what is covered and what costs may be out of pocket.
If further financial assistance is needed, contact the JRMC business office and speak with a financial counselor at Just call April 16, In fact, insufficient nutrition is, by far, the most overlooked reason why wounds will not heal. Treating the outside of wounds with grafts, flaps, special compression wraps and debriding agents can only heal wounds to the degree that there is adequate nutrition inside the body. So with malnutrition and insufficient protein intake, the wound-healing process is fundamentally halted until these insufficiencies are corrected.
This means a very substantial intake increase is needed to heal wounds in addition to the amounts needed to carry on normal daily body functions. In fact, the amount of protein alone needed can be up to three times the recommended daily requirement. At Encompass HealthCare, we use blood work along with an indirect calorimeter to determine a patient's nutritional needs during healing.
When a wound undergoes repetitive pressure due to bumping or rubbing against a surface, it is said to be undergoing repetitive trauma. This can lengthen the healing process or stop it completely. This problem is magnified in paraplegic patients since they cannot feel if one or both of their feet are continuously bumping on their wheelchair, for example. Similarly, in spinal cord injury patients, pressure ulcers can develop due to lack of body movement such as when they are sleeping in the same position night after night without the ability to shift, or even when watching a two-hour movie without repositioning.
In these cases, diligent offloading and repositioning are keys to resolving repetitive trauma to the wound. Then, normal blood circulation can resume and wound healing can occur. As you can see, it's important to understand the five reasons why a wound won't heal: poor circulation, infection, edema, insufficient nutrition, and repetitive trauma to the wound. The challenge to wound care providers is to recognize these conditions when they are occurring and also to understand that more than one condition can be operating at the same time.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on December 3, and has been updated for accuracy and comprehension. About the Author Dr. Bruce Ruben is the Founder and Medical Director of Encompass HealthCare , an outpatient facility featuring advanced wound care, IV antibiotic therapies, hyperbaric oxygen treatment, nutritional assessment, and other treatment modalities. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are solely those of the author, and do not represent the views of WoundSource, Kestrel Health Information, Inc.
Communication issues have arisen in the wound care world while providing care during the coronavirus disease COVID pandemic.
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