How to take care of bedsores faster

  Decubitus ulcers, or pressure sores, are defined in Western medicine as pressure injuries, which are localized injuries and ulcers caused by pressure necrosis of the skin due to prolonged lying and sitting. In Chinese medicine, it is considered to be a necrotic ulcer caused by the loss of nutrients to the skin as a result of the poor flow of Qi and blood due to prolonged lying.  For the treatment of decubitus ulcers, it is necessary to choose according to the condition of the trauma. If it is a mild to moderate common type of decubitus ulcer, it can be treated with topical decubitus ulcer cream or muscle-generating cream, and it can also be treated with negative pressure; if it is a severe trauma or a difficult condition such as necrosis, black crust, cavity or sinus tract, it is necessary to go to a trauma repair specialist for debridement and comprehensive treatment.  For daily care, the following aspects of work can be done: a. Turn and change the patient every 2-3 hours to avoid long-term local skin pressure, and pay attention to light and slow movements when turning to avoid friction as much as possible. At the same time, the patient can be equipped with an anti-decubitus inflatable mattress, which can be inflated and deflated alternately to help improve the pressure situation.  Special attention should be paid to bedridden patients to avoid maintaining the same position for a long time to prevent bedsores from appearing on other parts of the body, and it is more difficult to care for multiple traumas throughout the body, so it is necessary to try as many lying positions as possible.  If there are bony protrusions, it is recommended that soft clothing be placed on the bony protrusions to prevent frictional breakage.  Regularly check the skin and observe whether the patient’s body is pressed with erythema or acupressure to test whether the microvasculature of the skin is crushed, and for erythema or superficial ulcers that have appeared, topical decubitus ulcer medication should be used promptly for protection.  If incontinence is a problem, use a stool bag or stool catcher to assist in solving the problem and avoid skin irritation by filth. Scrub the patient’s body regularly to keep the skin clean and dry.  Fifth, maintain a balanced diet and nutrition, and properly increase the intake of protein and vitamins to enhance the skin’s tolerance and body resistance.  Chinese medicine says “lying down for a long time hurts the qi” and “sitting for a long time hurts the flesh”, whether the patient is bedridden or wheelchair-bound, he can stretch his body and move his muscles and bones appropriately. This will promote the smooth flow of qi and blood, boost the physical and mental state, and maintain a positive and optimistic state.  Decubitus ulcers are essentially a type of wound, but they are different from ordinary wounds in that they are chronic ulcerated wounds that require a relatively long period of time to heal, and the entire healing process can be worsened by secondary pressure, making them more difficult to treat than ordinary wounds.