Tunneling sore that was healing

[trainman]

I noticed a skin scrape in early June. It never did much of anything, but despite my wishes, I finally went to my normal skin doc. In August, I had surgery to debreed and "glue" it shut, it was about the size of a thumbnail at that point and one layer deep. Since then, it has grown much larger, but never had much depth. Early this week, an area of tunneling showed up along with a bad odor, about 5cm deep.

It's on my right groin, so my doctor has not issued any sitting restrictions as it's not in a pressure area. I have decreased my time up, my bed is an alternating air mattress that I'm allowed to sit on even after surgery. I have increased protein and stopped anything that could add strain to my body, breathing, neck exercises, etc.

I've had three muscle flaps in this area before, the last was November of 2005 and know I don't have many times left. Any clues on what to do would be appreciated.

[cmoore]

The debridement and "gluing" may have left an infection which has now broken through. Ask your doctor to refer you to a specialist in infection treatment and the surgeon who did your last flap surgery. Make some calls as soon as you can.

[Malibu]

If it's non-healing because of orgnisms, try colodial (sp?) silver. Don't use the junk with animal protein you get from GNC. Go to earthboundproducts for it like I do. It costs less.tt

[GoTWHeeLs]

What is causing the sore?

[marmalady]

If it's in your groin crease, just the fact that it's kinda 'squeezed together' when you sit could be causing problems, as the skin there is very tender, especially since you've had surgery there before.

We've had problems with that area after Matt's graft surgery, even tho it wasn't the area where an incision was closed; they brought out a drain close to the groin crease, and it took forever to heal.

If you can position your legs a little further apart when you sit, and also wear soft clothing, like sweats, that might help. Make sure your clothing and underwear isn't getting caught in the crease. We also rolled up a 4 x4 gauze and wedged it into the groin crease, to help keep the crease more open.

[trainman]

This is the same doc who did the flap surgery a couple years ago. I've been working with him for several years, so he's quite familiar with me.

Cmoore, I was starting to lean the same way, I'll ask at the next visit.

GotWheels, That's my same question. I can see the infection possibility that cmoore mentioned, but I have no idea beyond that.

Marmalady, I'm already wearing khaki pants and don't wear underwear for that reason and others. I'll see about spreading my legs a bit more, I already have plenty of gauze, paper towels and everything else down there to keep my pants somewhat dry from drainage.

Thanks for the tips everyone. After six months of dealing with this, it's getting very frustrating.

[6 Shooter]

One product that will help is called Lucky Tiger Ointment. http://www.getluckytiger.com/classicProd.html We have used this product for over 40 years and it works miracles with rashes and pressure sores. Keep a thin film over the area 24/7 and it will heal from the inside out. We rub it into the tissues in the affected area. My son has had one pressure sore from sitting too long on a flight. We were able to get it healed up in about 2 weeks.

[trainman]

One product that will help is called Lucky Tiger Ointment. http://www.getluckytiger.com/classicProd.html We have used this product for over 40 years and it works miracles with rashes and pressure sores. Keep a thin film over the area 24/7 and it will heal from the inside out. We rub it into the tissues in the affected area. My son has had one pressure sore from sitting too long on a flight. We were able to get it healed up in about 2 weeks.

Sounds interesting, how's it work? Does it still work for deep, 5 cm, sores?

[cmoore]

My Dad uses Lucky Tiger for his psoriasis. He says the ingredients include sulfur so that my have some anti-germ action

trainman: you have been on this site much longer than me and have a lot of senior member friends. I get a lot of inspiration from this site and especially from members who have been successful for a long time after injury. I don't want to offend any one here. I looked up your old post on what was possibly the same sore that came up as a red spot in the same area a few months ago.

You have a 5cm (nearly 2 inches in America ;)) deep sore with a foul odor in an area of recent surgery. This was likely brewing in deep muscle when you did your first post. It's now broken through. Please call your doctor on Monday. If you can't get to his office, ask for a home health nurse to come out to look. It may be too late for salves at this point.

My opinion for whatever its worth.

[lynnifer]

No amount of magic potion will work. Have to see what kind of infection it is and respond accordingly. It will take time. Hang in there! Happens to the best of us! It's frustrating I know!

[6 Shooter]

Sounds interesting, how's it work? Does it still work for deep, 5 cm, sores?
My son has not had a pressure sore that large and that deep. But, if he did, we would be using the Lucky Tiger ointment on it at first sighting.

On a similar subject, my son got some bad blisters on his heals from night splints of the wrong size and shape. We got some rubberized patches from the outpatient clinic and kept Lucky Tiger Ointment under the rebberized patches 24/7. Those took a month to heal as they were very deep and large.

Sorry, I don't know the specific name of the rubberized patches. Maybe someone else knows.

[SCI-Nurse]

Sounds ike a hydrocolloid ie Duoderm?
CWO

[trainman]

Thanks for the support. This is the same sore I posted about earlier, it's getting quite annoying, but they always do. I am seeing my doc on Tuesday, so I'll be pushing for a blood test for infection and possibly count of protein.

I'll post when I know more, thanks again.

[Mona~on~wheels]

Sorry Trainman.
Please take at least
1,000-2,000 Vit C, a good multi vitamin
I'll be praying for you. I hope the Dr. visit is good.

[cmoore]

I thought of you when I woke up this morning. If you want to tell...How was the visit to your Doc?

[trainman]

He didn't think it was real bad, just a lot bigger than it was when he saw it two weeks ago. I'm meeting with him again next week, and assuming it hasn't gotten drastically worse, he'll be doing a small surgery in early December to close it. I had him test for infection and protein levels as well, so I'll have to wait for the lab results to come back.

So, it's possible that Christmas and New Year will be spent on bed rest. At least it will hopefully heal up and I can get to enjoy Thanksgiving/birthday as usual.

[cmoore]

Sorry that you may need to have a small surgery but glad that you got it checked out.
Take care.

[Evonne]

good luck, i hope u get something worked out so u can have a little peace. hope to hear from u soon.

E

[trainman]

Well, it looks like surgery will be sometime the week of December 8, so it'll be a few weeks until I have much new news.

[lynnifer]

Glad they're getting on this -somewhat- right away! Sorry about New Years & Christmas on bedrest .. but we'll be here! (I think I'll be working Christmas this year).

Do you take any supplements? I'm thinking that's what finally made the difference for me.

[trainman]

I drink a protein mix called Juven (http://juven.com/) which seems to help. However, my test results came back this afternoon, no infection, but protein is low. Normal levels are supposed to be between 18-37, and I'm at 15.1. So, time to start adding more protein without adding a lot of calories.

[RAFS]

I drink a protein mix called Juven (http://juven.com/) which seems to help. However, my test results came back this afternoon, no infection, but protein is low. Normal levels are supposed to be between 18-37, and I'm at 15.1. So, time to start adding more protein without adding a lot of calories.
Hi Joel,
So sorry to hear that your having problems & will be spending Christmas & New Years on bed rest. That's a bummer but one does what one has to do when one has to do it as the saying goes. Hope your surgery goes well so you can them healed up for good. Take care & please post some more news when you have some to share. Any thing happening on getting a new chair? I'm still liking my Permobil chair. No problems so far knock on wood as I knock on my head HA! HA! HA! ..
Take care my friend.

Regards,
Bob

[trainman]

It has been over two years, and no chair yet. I think I'm finally close, but funding it is now the problem.