How do you prevent bed sores with someone who's paralyzed?

I have an identical twin sister who was in an accident and became paralyzed from the neck down. She's completely helpless and we have to change her diapers and tube feed her and suction her lungs, etc...We're 17 and I take care of her a lot. Just recently my mother and I noticed she's getting a type of red sore on her upper thigh. We take her out in her wheelchair a lot and rotate her position too but she's still developing a sore. Does anyone who's knowledgeable know how you would properly treat a bed sore and prevent further sores and rashes? How often should we change her diaper (specifically during the night)?How do you prevent bed sores with someone who's paralyzed?
Put some vaseline on the sore and keep her off of it.. Turn her often and take your time to put lotion on her and move her legs for her twice a day. I had a cousin who was born a vegetable. Move her legs and arms like exercise them for her in a 15 minute session twice a day to help the blood circulate to those parts of her body. That will promote healing and help prevent clots as well. Change her diaper before bed and when you first wake up. Then check it throughout the day as well.How do you prevent bed sores with someone who's paralyzed?
http://www.ehow.com/how_13176_prevent-be



http://www.ehow.com/how_2179273_sores-he



http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Ato



How to stimulate the body

http://video.google.com/videosearch?hl=e



Can someone hold your sister while in the tub so she can soak? or is there some way of putting her safely into the bath? A salt and soda bath is always a GREAT way to heal, repair and clean a body. That is 1/4Cup of baking soda, !/4cup of sea salt, soak for 10-15 minutes.

After soaking, wash body softly, drain water, and then rinse body off.

A hand held massaging shower head is great for rinsing off.

After wards take a gentle, non-abrasive lotion. Suave Skin Therapy Exhale Lotion Sandalwood and Cinnamon, is a very good lotion, stimulates the senses while soothing the skin.

Briskly rub that into the skin. Best to start at the feet, apply a lot of it, take your time to rub it in. The massage will help encourage relaxation of stiff muscles and also a better blood flow.

Make sure that clean and non-abrasive sheets and covers are on the bed. Linen is especially useful with burns and sensitive skin but it is a bit more expensive than other types of fabrics.

Also helpful is sheepskin though it is quite pricey.

This might sound nuts but it helps A heap! Buy sheets of bubble wrap and lay that under the sheets, the bubbles should help keep her supported and comfortable while protecting the matress as well.

Since she is on tube feeding she probably doesn't poo much, and urine is especially damaging to the human body, she should be changed very quickly after each pee.

Also buy some chamomile tea, prepare it 6 ounces of hot water, 4 tea bags of it, brew 10-15 minutes, allow to cool, wipe over the entire body. The chamomile will ease all sorts of skin conditions. It also smells great so it is a great aromatherapy tool as well.

Don't forget the most important part of a parapalegic is to stimulate thier minds. It is hell being stuffed into a non working body, but her brain should be fine. Read to her news and ask her what she thinks about it. Take down notes for her.

I know how difficult it is being with a parapalegic, I am sorry you and your family is having to do that. I hope that you take the time to care for your self as well as your sister.

Maybe make a yahoo answers account for her and ask her to answer some of the questions or to ask her, her own questions?

Even with a broken body she needs to feel like she's got a purpose.

I will pray for all of you.

God bless you and yours.
She should be moved at least every two hours if she is completely immobile, preferably more often if conditions allow.



Check her wheelchair to see if there is something that is specifically causing pressue in the area that you are noticing the redness. People with poor skin condition, this can be as simple as a bar underneath the material. If there seems to be pressure from one area, consider a Sherpa, sheepskin or similar padding over the area to help reduce the pressue. Air pillows can help as well. If it's positional only, which may happen if the skin is already breaking down, try to avoid that position until skin healing occurs.



For a sore, I would recommend assessment by a physician first in order to assess the amount of damage. Some sores occur under the skin and are not very visible, so the wrong kind of treatment can cause further damage and injury. The treatment as well will depend on the depth, placement and extent of the injury and may include special dressings, irrigation, etc. Not something someone can easily prescribe or describe over the internet.



During the night, you should aim to change her diaper probably once every four hours, especially if she in known to wet or soil through the night. This is especially the case if she already has skin breakdown. Depending on the extent and degree of skin problems, you may want to forgo a diaper and use a pad underneath, which will draw away from the area more.



There are some things you should watch for as well, like a full bladder, that can become a medical emergency because some of the nerve pathways become messed up.



It sounds like you guys are really doing a great job, but may benefit from a visit from a community nurse who has experience with quadraplegics, skin care, wound care, etc. Many communities have brain injury or similar organizations that can help you with this. It's very important that you get some support and assistance one-on-one, tailored to your sister's condition.



Good luck..

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