What are Bedsores?
Bedsores, pressure sores or pressure ulcers develop when your body rested in the same position for a long time. The most common name is bed sores. Bedsores are the result of injuries to the skin and the underlying tissue caused by prolonged pressure. Bedsores can develop in any part of your body, but the bony parts of your body like ankles, elbows, heels, tailbone and knees are particularly at risk for developing bedsores. Bedsores can affect anyone; you are likely to get affected if you are confined to bed (bedridden) or wheelchair for a long period. Understanding the bedsores meaning is important before knowing its treatment.
What causes Bedsores?
Know the causes of bedsores. Bedsore develops when the blood supply to the surface of the skin is cut off for a long period (2 0r more than 2 hours). The cutoff blood supply makes the skin cells die. The bedsores appear red and painful and later change to the colour purple. Pressure on the same surface area of your skin for a prolonged time can also be a cause to develop bedsores.
What are the stages of Bedsores?
Another name of bedsores is decubitus ulcer. Bedsores have staging processes that would help your doctor to diagnose your stage to treat it in a better way. The need for surgery will be decided by your doctor, considering the severity of your bed sores.
Stage 1: This is the starting stage, during this stage you may feel the changes in your skin such as redness, you may also feel skin irritation and itchy in the particular area of your skin. Some common symptoms are pain, irritation and itchy sensation in the particular area. Bedsores if diagnosed correctly during stage 1, can be treated without any complication within 2 to 3 days.
Stage 2: In stage 2, your bed sores develop deeper into the surface of your skin causing a hole. At this stage, the wound is either open or looks like a pus-filled blister. In stage 2, You may feel pain and irritation around a particular area of your skin. Bedsores of stage 2 are also diagnosed and the recovery time may take from 3 days to 3 weeks.
Stage 3: In stage 3, your bed sores develop furthermore deeper affecting the second layer of your skin into the fat tissues. The bedsores appear like cracks, it is due to the tissue damage on the skin’s surface. In stage 3, Your bed sores look like carter and it may also have a bad odour. It gives the sign of infection and it is also like pus-filled blister Bedsores diagnosed in stage 3 take 2 to 4 months of recovery. It also has complications.
Stage 4: The serious stage of your bedsores during this stage there is possibly severe damage in the skin, tissue along with an infection. The whole is developed furthermore affecting the muscles and ligament. The bedsores become big and a change in colour of the skin is visible. You may also experience pain and the muscles may be visible. Stage 4 of bedsores, needs immediate attention and surgery is required to avoid further complications. The stage 4 diagnosis and treatment of your bed sores needs more than 3 mothers or a much longer time to heal.
What are the symptoms of Bedsores?
Let's discuss the sign and symptoms of bedsores here. Following are the common symptoms of bedsores
- Change in your skin colour
- Skin patches Pain or itchy sensation in your affected area
- The affected area develops as a wound or blister
- The wound develops deeper into the surface of your second skin layer
- Would develop further into the surface of your muscle or bone
- Necrosis (the dead tissue of skin turns to black colour)
What are the treatments for Bed sores?
The bedsores treatments depend on the stage of your bed sores. If your bedsores are diagnosed in the early stages then they can be treated with medications like antibiotic creams. If you let your bed sores develop into stages 3 and 4 you are thrown into a position to undergo surgery.
What are the complications of Bedsores?
The untreated bedsores can cause serious illness in your body. Some of the complications are as follows. The bedsores lead to an opening in the skin leading to microbial and bacterial infection. It causes fever, chills and generalised weakness. As the bedsore wound digs deeper into the muscle, you may also develop the risk of getting bone and joint infection. In the worst condition can also cause the chance of getting cancer.
Conclusion
It is possible to reduce your risk of developing bedsores, reposition yourself to avoid the stress implied on the skin. Other prevention includes the adaptation to a healthy diet, don’t overlook the symptoms of your bed sores, if you find yourself getting skin rashes, burns or changes in the colour of your skin, consult a doctor immediately.
The bed sores in bed ridden patients are a result of pressure, which might be due to being in a bed or wheelchair for a long time. Knowing the cause of bedsores might help in its treatment. Talking about the grades of bedsores, stage 1 and 2 ulcers may not need operative measures; however stage 3 and 4 ulcers might need a surgical intervention.
Regularly changing your position to avoid stress on the skin by taking good care of your skin, eating good food, drinking enough water, quitting smoking, managing stress, exercising daily, etc. might help in the prevention of bedsores.
