Painful Open Wounds

[allenlondon]

I know I've visited this problem before, but as no resolution, thought I'd try again.

I have a large (30mm diameter) surface ulcer on the back of my calf which I wash in saline and cover daily with Comfeel, an ulcer dressing.

Fair enough, the Comfeel does work, maybe slowly, but gradually skin grows over the hole, and eventually it will heal (past experience tells me).

But in the meantime, it hurts! Is this just tough tits (i.e. open wounds hurt, so suck it up), or is there any analgesic I can apply pre-Comfeel to ease the discomfort?

No, sqad, I can't take Ibuprofen (kidney problems), but I do take paracetamol every four hours.

Any other suggestions most welcomed!


Allen.

[lady-janine]

I have no idea but just to say I'm sorry to hear of your pain.

[barry1010]

You can buy Emla cream over the counter, allen, it should help but PLEASE do not use this until you have spoken to either your GP or nurse.

[Sqad]

allen, I don't suggest this lightly, as I hate the drug,,but if you are getting severe, poorly controlled pain relief from an open wound, then has your GP suggested....Gabapentin capsules to take by mouth?

[barry1010]

I've had Gabapentin in the past for severe nerve pain and it worked, thankfully without side effects, but that was relatively short term.
Well worth a try, allen

[bednobs]

Is there any way of not disturbing it every day? Would like miist warm environments to heal in and every time you take the dressingn off you disturb that. There are many many dressings. Did you just decide on comflex yourself? If a nurse hasn't seen it fir a while I'd be tempted to start there

[bednobs]

I realise btw I didnt actually answer your q. I would not use emla on an open wound. Pain may indicate you have an infection in it. And infection may also stop it healing

[allenlondon]

Comfeel was Tissue Clinic’s recommendation. There is daily exudate; if it wasn’t for that, I’d leave it longer.

Pain is mainly due to ulcers being tightly confined by silicone liner (part of prosthetic leg suspension system). When I remove leg and liner, it hurts less! And no, not often a possibility, but I’ll try...

Might try gabapentin, although heard disquieting reports.

Thanks for the input.

Allen

[barry1010]

The prosthetic leg is a complication, I can't imagine how difficult the ulcers make your life.

[jennyjoan]

if you can get Gabapentin - take it - they do work for severe pain. good luck Allen

[Peter Pedant]

good advice from sqad

I was gonna say the other end - - DON;T put anything on it - as it is likely to be pressure induced and that will make it worse

you have told us - is this venous or arterial ? ( it cant be neuropathic)

[allenlondon]

From the google images, it seems to be arterial/pressure (i.e. extremely shallow - only the surface skin being missing, no depth to the wound).

I've been trying Comfeel on this and past ones over the years, and it does work, eventually - somehow the Comfeel releases medications which promote skin healing, and the edges of the wound move across to the centre, when it closes. I've got a particularly badly-placed small ulcer on the head of my fibula (which in turn gets rubbed by the hard layer of my socket!), and that IS rapidly closing - another few weeks, and it'll be shut.

This big one behind my calf IS showing signs of closing, but slowly, and it's (as I said) sore.

It's not childbirth, it's not cancer; it just hurts. I will survive. Mrs A is currently in the local cardio unit, and her condition is far more serious.

I'm just using this time when I'm not actively looking after her, in looking after my own dodgy bits instead.

Thanks for allowing me to air this on here.

A

[Peter Pedant]

oh great you are seeing the stump doctors and nurses
I am not sure there is better advice to be had outside

the quickest healing is to elevate it and wait - tht usually makes the pain worse and taking paracet and gaba may help

[ToraToraTora]

you probably know all this but here it says elevation will take the pressure off and possibly ease the pain:
https://www.circulationfoundation.org.uk/help-advice/veins/leg-ulcers

[allenlondon]

Thanks Tora, appreciated.

Yes and no, Peter. The local Tissue Clinic is very good, but absolutely zero connection with the Royal Orthopaedic at Stanmore.

The chief Stump Doctor at Stanmore (actually Senior Prosthetic Consultant) gave me Steristrips for my original stump ulcer; lasted about 25 yards.

‘Nurses’? No longer. It’s now owned and run by Blatchfords, whose main aim is to make a profit.

Just saying, in case potential amputees hop away with the wrong idea.