leg ulcers

[brenda]

Can anyone help please I am so worried.

Basically my Uncle who is 90 years of age is going into hospital for treatment on a very badly ulcerated and infected leg.He has had this for about 7 months now. He lives alone , I am 250 miles away and am his only relative.

The leg has about 8 ulcers and is not healing, and is infected. He has had 7 courses of antibiotics, silver patches on the leg and now honey patchesall to no avail.
Nurses come and dress the leg each day and still no improvement.
His general health is not good having had 3 strokes,

I am worried about what may happen to him.

Would appreciate any advice , he is rather nervous of his hospital stay and I don't really know what they can do.

Please help if you can.

Sincerely thank you.

[daffy654]

An ex next door neighbour of mine had to have both legs amputated below the knee because of ulcers,his were caused by poorly managed diabetes.Sometimes it is the only option left to the surgeon in order to save the patient's life.It may not come to this with your uncle but it is best to consider the possibility.

[brenda]

daffy 645

Thank you for taking the time to answer, had thought of this, but wondered if his overall health would allow this.

Thank you again would prefer to face upto things which could happen

[daffy654]

Amputation involves a very long operation,the surgeon and anaesthetist will decide if your uncle's general health would be a risk and if it is then they will surgically clean and debrade the ulcers instead of amputation. It all depends on how bad the infection is really...........it must be pretty bad if they are even considering surgery. I hope your uncle will be ok.x

[brenda]

daffy654,
I find your answers a real comfort , thank you so much.
I' m not expecting miracles but he is the only living relative I have and I don't want to lose him just yet.

So thanks again.

[sqad617]

Brenda, I think that amputation would be the treatment of last resort. I am only guessing, but I feel that his hospital admission would be for investigation only .Ulcers may be due to vein problems, arterial problems or a combination of both. He may see, or indeed should see, a vascular surgeon who by means of arterograms and venograms see if he is suitable for arterial bypass surgery. Blood and urinalysis is also important. Look on the bright side at this moment in time.

[brenda]

sqad 617

Thank you for your time in answering. Understand much more now, keeping very calm at the moment and arranging to go and see him when he is in the Hosp.