Wendi Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 A week ago, I tripped in a parking lot and wiped out on the asphalt. :blink: Out of my many injuries (big toe, both knees, both elbows), the only one that's not healing well is my left elbow. This was the deepest and worst scrape. It is still raw, and has a spot about as big as a dime that's discolored (blackish); I have soaked and cleaned the area numerous times, but that's the best I can do. It's still very tender. I've been keeping it covered and using antibiotic ointment on it. I made an appointment with my doctor; the soonest he can see me is Monday. Any better advice for how I can clean and treat the wound? Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lmrich Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I have wound that is not healing after my surgery on June 2. There was an infection and the skin was damaged a great deal. Here is what I was told...don't over use antibiotic cream it kills the bad stuff but also the good stuff (new skin growing) and to get air to it; leave it uncovered some of the day. I got prescribtion for a silver cream; it is supposed to encourage the new skin to grow and help ward off infection. You also want to make sure, no matter how painful, that you keep blood flowing to that area. I mean that you need to keep moving it not constantly, but don't baby it. Follow up with your doctor. If anyone else has more to offer. I would love to hear it as well. I have a long way to go with this healing and am sick to death of being on crutches. Best of luck with your healing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Any better advice for how I can clean and treat the wound? Wendi How deep is it? Is there crud building up on it every day? Is there a pebble or other foreign body stuck in it? If you think there is still dirt in it, I'd try a good long soak in warm "normal" saline (about a heaping teaspoon per liter of water), a gentle rub with a meshy guaze pad to make sure everything is out. You can also get spray bottles of "wound cleaner", but soaking is more thorough. I'd pat it dry, let it air dry, don't over do the triple antibiotic, and cover lightly. I'm old-fashioned, and I'd take it out for a good air dry and some sun shine every day. (No science in that but my mother's science.) If it is gooey, you could try wet to dry dressings. Make your normal saline, get a small enough piece of gauze (if need be, cut down a two by two), dampen, squeeze out all excess, place inside the wound such that NONE of the damp gauze is touching normal skin, cover with gauze and a non-occlusive amount of tape so the "wet" can dry out. Undress it when it is dry and pull it out, sore or not, without re-wetting. This "debrides" the wound. Now a days there are all kinds of fancy patches and materials, but you won't have these about the house. HTH Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 I've been keeping it covered because it's still shedding gunk. It's also incredibly tender to the touch. I have some silvadene ointment from when I got a second degree burn; I think that might help now that you mention it. I did soak it again today for an hour or so in warm saline water, then rubbed with a wet washcloth. Owww! Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I've been keeping it covered because it's still shedding gunk. It's also incredibly tender to the touch. I have some silvadene ointment from when I got a second degree burn; I think that might help now that you mention it. I did soak it again today for an hour or so in warm saline water, then rubbed with a wet washcloth. Owww! Wendi Do you have a chip off your elbow giving you pain (no it won't come out, but it can make the area really tender)? Is the pain if you merely brush the wound or only if you push hard enough to compress the underlying tissues? Are you getting "proud flesh" (I'm betting you can google that and see it in horses)? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caterpiller Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Sometimes the best thing you can do for a sore is leave it a lone. Try ignoring it for a day with no ointment on it and very loosely bandaged so it is still getting air. I have never heard of soaking a wound after its first cleaning unless it is getting infected. I would personally think it needs to dry. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted August 13, 2011 Author Share Posted August 13, 2011 It hurts if it is lightly touched at all. No proud flesh, thank goodness. That looks bad! The only reason I soaked and cleaned it again was because my dh thought there may be asphalt in the wound where it looks black, so I needed to try cleaning it again. Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kalanamak Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 It hurts if it is lightly touched at all. No proud flesh, thank goodness. That looks bad! The only reason I soaked and cleaned it again was because my dh thought there may be asphalt in the wound where it looks black, so I needed to try cleaning it again. Wendi I would keep an eye on it like a hawk for infection. Any growth, any spread, any smell, any swelling, any increase in redness, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MamaT Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 I had a wound like that once and my Dr. suggested I put Mercurochrome on it to dry it out. It healed up immediately once I started using that. My 14yd dd wiped out on her bike on a gravel road last weekend and had a wound on her elbow that sounds like yours. It was oozing and ugly. I put the Mercurochrome on it and it is healing up now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
justamouse Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Wash it good (at the drug store you can buy saline in a spray bottle-the force of the water should get whatever it is out of there) and get some raw honey and put that on it, then a gauze pad. I have a neighbor who is a wound care specialist. You'd be surprised how many times she uses honey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Live2Ride Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 good raw honey is the best stuff...I can't add much more to whats been said. I hope it heals soon. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lisa in Jax Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 In addition to topical treatments, you might consider taking a zinc supplement for the next couple of weeks. Zinc helps in wound healing, and may help your body heal the cuts and scrapes more quickly. Hope you're better soon! Lisa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chepyl Posted August 13, 2011 Share Posted August 13, 2011 Make sure it is getting time to dry out after soaking it. If you constantly keep them covered with ointment and bandages they stay warm and moist. It takes longer to heal. Each time you change the dressi.g let it air dry for a bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wendi Posted August 17, 2011 Author Share Posted August 17, 2011 I went to the doctor on Monday, after suffering from chills since Thurs. evening and the scrape still looking bad. I got a tetanus shot and antibiotics. It's already looking better. She also cultured it to make sure the germs weren't resistant to the antibiotic, MRSA, etc. Haven't heard back, and it's improving already, so I guess it was nothing like that. Thanks for your help! Wendi Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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