Pressure Sores and Your Health

Pressure sores (wounds) are a serious health problem for people with spinal cord injuries. In fact, studies have shown that people with spinal cord injuries have a 50-80% chance of having a pressure sore in their lifetime.

Pressure sores are easier to prevent then treat. If you do find a red area, blister or open skin, don’t ignore it! Pressure sores can lead to serious problems:

Infections:

-  Pressure sores can get infected easily. This infection can spread to your skin, body tissues, blood and bones.

-  Infected pressure sores heal slowly.

-  In the worst cases, you may need an amputation or can even die from these infections.

Poor nutrition:

-  Protein and fluids drain out of wounds.

-  Pressure sores can make you malnourished and weak.

Scarring:

-  When wounds heal, you can get scar tissue.

-  Scar tissue is more fragile the normal skin. You are more likely to have another wound in the same place.

-  Blood doesn’t circulate well in scar tissue. Your skin needs good blood flow to stay healthy.

Bed rest:

-  You may have to spend days or even months in bed while your pressure sore heals.

-  When you have to spend a lot of time in bed, you can lose muscle strength and become weak.

Activity changes:

-  If you’re at GF Strong and get a pressure sore, this can slow down your rehabilitation program.

-  A pressure sore can keep you from doing things you want to do. You might not be able to go to work, school or go out with friends and family.

-  A pressure sore can affect your independence. You may need more help to get through your day.

Depression:

-  Pressure sores are a very serious health problem.

-  If you have a sore and have to spend months in bed, this may lead to depression.

-  You may feel lonely and cut off from your friends and family.

Surgery:

-  Sometimes, even when you deal with all the causes of the wound, your pressure sore might not be healing well.

-  Surgery may be the only way to manage the pressure sore and to close the open wound.

-  After surgery, it may be many months before you are back to your normal activities.

- The area where you had surgery is at a higher risk for wounds.

Want to know more about skin care? Read Chapter Two in the Spinal Cord Injury Reference Manual and/or talk to your team and the wound care nurses.

February 2008