Hi there new to the site. I`ve been injured a year and a half now and I`m coming across my first skin issue. It isn`t bad yet but I don`t want it getting worse. Just a red spot on my ankle bone now that showed up this morning. Anything I can to to help the spot heal faster and to stop it getting worse while I`m sleeping. I am turning every 3 hours right now. Is that enough while it`s trying to heal? And should I be protecting that area somehow.
Thanks...Kira
I don't want to scare you, but I'm going to! Mine started out as a red spot on my ankle. It took months ... mere months ... for infection to get through the tiny layers of skin there, start a sinus (tunneling) and get into the bone. I was staring at amputation very fast (I didn't though - I was lucky and I persevered until I found an excellent Wound Care facility in Toronto).
Bone infections (osteomyelitis) are extremely difficult to treat. I ended up losing my left distal fibia head (ankle bone) ... but it has affected the way my foot sits forever.
Usually the ridge of a shoe is the culprit ... though pressure from a regular bed mattress was my problem.
You can help by keeping that foot 'not swollen' by elevating it above your heart. (Swelling squishes those tiny cells making it harder to get circulation to the area - difficult when you have dependent edema from paralysis I know).
Inspect all your foot wear and look into either some medical booties that will keep your ankle from touching the bed or change your mattress (low air loss mattress).
There's more but I'll keep it brief for now. Red spots in this area are in the top (besides arse) areas for pressure sores!
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
T-11 Flaccid Paraplegic due to TM July 1985 @ age 12
You could also put your foot on a pillow, kinda hang it over the pillow so your foot does not touch the mattress at all. Watch your heels too.
I call red spots larger than a dime begginings of a pressure ulcer
I've had 2 pretty bad ones that started out as waking up to a redspot to getting downright dangerous
My culprits were bad matresses
I am dealing with the same issue with Sarah. Her right ankle has a small spot on it. Just like all of the advice that you have already been given, I rest her feet on a real cushy pillow so that her heals and ankles are not touching. This takes me a lot of care but I have it under control. We took her to a wound care specialist at OSU and was told to keep doing what I am doing.
I do these things for Sarah myself. I know it is her body but no one takes care of her better than I do at this time. If I left it up to the aide (who we really care for), I do not know what would happen to her ankle or heal.
I do have to agree that foot wear is exteremly important. Sarah has a tennis shoe thing and does not realize that some of the shoes that she loves to wear are 1 - horrible to get on her feet and 2 - could not possibly be good for her feet either. I look forward to the day that she can get her shoes on herself again. I know those damn shoes will go up on Ebay - never hit the floor. They got to be worth something. LOL!!
Welcome Kira!
As you know, pressure sores are a very big deal in SCI and are taken very seriously.
You are right to start dealing with this immediately. Agree with above and keeping pressure off is most important wiht good mattress, footwear and a bootie type footwear while in bed. Also encourage you to read the sticky post at beginning of this care forum that talks about stages of pressure ulders. REad up on "deep tissue injury" types of pressure areas, which is sounds like this may possibly be.
Also, you will get lots of information if you use the search option on top of this page listing "pressure sore on ankle."
AAD
Now that I am a little more scared then before, thanks Lynnifer (j/k)...I've looked into the shoes I've been wearing and I'm pretty sure I know the ones that are the guilty party, if it was the shoes and now while sleeping. Needless to say I won't be wearing them again. As for my mattress I think it is time to prehaps look into a new one to avoid any future problems, I'll read up on new mattresses in the forums. (Or feel free to weigh in here) T4 para btw.
Also taken everones advise and got a pair of boots for sleeping in to protect my feet in bed. Perhaps I should have been doing that in the first place!
Thanks for all your responces.
Kira
I like my alternating air mattress (cheap on ebay) but a low-air-loss is apparently preferred. An air mattress will make it a bit tricky to get in/out of bed ... but worth it!
What kind of booties did you get? I'm not a fan of them at all ... but I know my doctor recommended a certain brand and the nurse advised on one recently that they prefer in the Veteran's Care System. I just can't remember the names!
Sorry to scare you! An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of flesh later (literally! lol)
When injustice becomes law, resistance becomes duty.
T-11 Flaccid Paraplegic due to TM July 1985 @ age 12
Just a foam heal suspension boot. I'm with you 100% on the ounce of prevention Lynnifer, and scare away to stop any future problems I say.
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