Wound Care Treatments That May Help An Injury When You Have Poor Circulation
If you have diabetes or other medical condition that affects your circulation, you may experience complications when you have an injury. With a decrease in blood flow, it takes a wound much longer to heal than normal. This can allow infections to develop, and the wound can grow. Your doctor may refer you to a wound care clinic or specialist to help speed your recovery. Here are some treatments that might help.
Antibiotics
You may receive oral antibiotics, or you might have antibiotic ointment applied to the wound. This heals an infection in the wound so it doesn't spread deeper into your tissues. Infection is a real concern when you have poor circulation. What starts out as a small wound can develop into a deadly infection that requires surgery. That's why it is very important to get proper care for any injury you receive even if it seems minor.
Dressings
Keeping your wound covered is important for protecting it from infection. A dressing also holds medications on the wound so it can heal and keep from drying out. If the wound is in a place you can't reach, you may need to visit a wound clinic often, receive home care, or go into a hospital so the dressings can be changed as often as needed. There are several types of dressings for wounds. Some are premedicated and others may be treated with gels or ointments designed to protect your skin and promote healing. Bandages used for wound care usually have gentle adhesive so they can be removed easily without ripping your skin and causing more damage.
Tissue Removal
When your wound is serious, part of your healthy tissue may die off when it is destroyed by the infection and lack of circulation. The tissue may need to be removed. This clears out the wound so it can heal better and removing dead tissue helps control the infection. If your wound is deep, this could require surgery.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Treatments
Your wound care clinic might have a hyperbaric oxygen chamber to use as a treatment. For this treatment, you enter a chamber, which is like a small room. The pressure in the chamber is gradually increased in a way that's similar to the pressure changes you experience when deep sea diving. The increased pressure forces more oxygen into the tissues to help them heal more quickly.
Nutrition And Supplements
You may need to alter your diet and take supplements so your body receives the nutrients it needs to fight off the infection and build new tissue. Supplements are available for wound care. Some are similar to protein drinks that provide your body with the building blocks for strong tissue. Others contain vitamins and minerals that support healthy skin. You can get many of these important nutrients by eating a healthy diet. An even more important reason to control your diet is to control your blood sugar. Your wound is slower to heal when your blood sugar stays too high.
For more information, contact companies like Elkhorn Foot and Ankle Clinic PLLC.