My 'first' sore - HELP

Emi2 · 08-22-2002, 04:28 PM

I just discovered a small pencil eraser sized sore on my left hip. Its just red, not broken... I'm pretty sure its from sleeping on it... what shouldI do, other than stay off it?

MWolverine · 08-22-2002, 05:13 PM

that is all you can do

SCI-Nurse · 08-22-2002, 08:38 PM

Staying off that area is the best thing to do. Rotate your sleeping positions without laying on that side. After it fades and looks like the surrounding skin, you can try to lay on it again for short periods and see how it looks. It might be prone to redness for a while after healing, so be careful. (EMK)

Emi2 · 08-23-2002, 09:35 AM

I wonder if I should put a pillow or something under my other hip and butt when I sleep on it? And should I be getting an overlay of some sort for my bed? I just have a mattress protection pad right now. I never had problems with sores in the last 8 months. This one might be from the bed I slept on when I was on vacation....

BILLY37 · 08-23-2002, 10:32 AM

Hang in there at least you caught it before it broke down! I had a sore on the heal of my foot a year ago it takes for ever to get them healed up! Billy

chasb · 08-23-2002, 11:25 AM

Emi

you might want to look into a 2-3" egg crate mattress.

JT · 08-23-2002, 12:45 PM

Can't you sleep on your stomach? I'm C7 and I sleep on my stomach all night its the only way I can get peace of mind and sleep well without worrying about how long I've been on my back or 1 side and when I need to change positions and try and get comfortable again.

Emi2 · 08-23-2002, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by eclipsegt:

Can't you sleep on your stomach? I'm C7 and I sleep on my stomach all night its the only way I can get peace of mind and sleep well without worrying about how long I've been on my back or 1 side and when I need to change positions and try and get comfortable again.

It hurts my neck to sleep on my stomach with my head turned...

Jeff · 08-23-2002, 08:51 PM

I understand your dilemma. I think things will improve greatly for you, though. I think your SCI level is such that you will not always have to be concerned about sores from sleeping.

Are you pretty independent with turning in bed, already? I was lousy for about a year. Now, I'm like totally normal in bed. I can roll over effortlessly. I even change positions in my sleep. At C7 you'll arrive at the same place if you haven't already.

I sleep on my stomach by putting a pillow underneath my chest. I fluff that pillow up and adjust it without even remembering doing it. I also partially turn my upper body to one side or the other. I think my neck maybe would get sore if I stayed in the same position all night but, as I said, I adjust throughout the night. I haven't thought about nighttime pressure in two decades.

To roll I simply use my hands to push my hips in the direction I'm going then reach a little bit to that side. If I'm on my stomach it's no problem to turn to either side as I just lift my upper body a little and then turn my head.

The first year after injury is the worst, of course. You'll still be gaining strength and learning new things for a long time. Do what you have to do now to protect yourself from problems. I just wish someone had told me in my first year how much better things would get over time. They improved steadily over the years but sometimes too slowly to notice. Then you look back and realize what you used to do and you're amazed how far you've come. Only a cure could stop you from being blown away by how far you go. I hope it does.

~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion

~

Emi2 · 08-29-2002, 06:58 PM

My sore is now faded, but white in the middle. It feels kinda wrinkly/scabby... is this bad? or a good sign?

08-22-2002, 04:28 PM	#1
Emi2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 3,205	My 'first' sore - HELP I just discovered a small pencil eraser sized sore on my left hip. Its just red, not broken... I'm pretty sure its from sleeping on it... what shouldI do, other than stay off it?

08-22-2002, 05:13 PM	#2
MWolverine Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Ann Arbor, MI, USA Posts: 40	Stay Off It that is all you can do

08-23-2002, 09:35 AM	#4
Emi2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 3,205	Thank you... I wonder if I should put a pillow or something under my other hip and butt when I sleep on it? And should I be getting an overlay of some sort for my bed? I just have a mattress protection pad right now. I never had problems with sores in the last 8 months. This one might be from the bed I slept on when I was on vacation....

08-23-2002, 08:51 PM	#9
Jeff Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: North Brunswick, NJ, USA Posts: 6,858	Hi Emi I understand your dilemma. I think things will improve greatly for you, though. I think your SCI level is such that you will not always have to be concerned about sores from sleeping. Are you pretty independent with turning in bed, already? I was lousy for about a year. Now, I'm like totally normal in bed. I can roll over effortlessly. I even change positions in my sleep. At C7 you'll arrive at the same place if you haven't already. I sleep on my stomach by putting a pillow underneath my chest. I fluff that pillow up and adjust it without even remembering doing it. I also partially turn my upper body to one side or the other. I think my neck maybe would get sore if I stayed in the same position all night but, as I said, I adjust throughout the night. I haven't thought about nighttime pressure in two decades. To roll I simply use my hands to push my hips in the direction I'm going then reach a little bit to that side. If I'm on my stomach it's no problem to turn to either side as I just lift my upper body a little and then turn my head. The first year after injury is the worst, of course. You'll still be gaining strength and learning new things for a long time. Do what you have to do now to protect yourself from problems. I just wish someone had told me in my first year how much better things would get over time. They improved steadily over the years but sometimes too slowly to notice. Then you look back and realize what you used to do and you're amazed how far you've come. Only a cure could stop you from being blown away by how far you go. I hope it does. ~See you at the SCIWire-used-to-be-paralyzed Reunion ~

08-29-2002, 06:58 PM	#10
Emi2 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 3,205	Looks better...but feels scabby My sore is now faded, but white in the middle. It feels kinda wrinkly/scabby... is this bad? or a good sign?

08-22-2002, 08:38 PM	#3
SCI-Nurse Moderator Join Date: Jul 2001 Location: USA Posts: 41,306	Staying off that area is the best thing to do. Rotate your sleeping positions without laying on that side. After it fades and looks like the surrounding skin, you can try to lay on it again for short periods and see how it looks. It might be prone to redness for a while after healing, so be careful. (EMK)

08-23-2002, 10:32 AM	#5
BILLY37 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2002 Location: BIGELOW,ARKANSAS,USA Posts: 196	Hang in there at least you caught it before it broke down! I had a sore on the heal of my foot a year ago it takes for ever to get them healed up! Billy

08-23-2002, 11:25 AM	#6
chasb Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 1,283	Emi you might want to look into a 2-3" egg crate mattress.

08-23-2002, 12:45 PM	#7
JT Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Posts: 479	Can't you sleep on your stomach? I'm C7 and I sleep on my stomach all night its the only way I can get peace of mind and sleep well without worrying about how long I've been on my back or 1 side and when I need to change positions and try and get comfortable again.

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