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Category: Recommendations

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Beware of Heating Pads During Treatment or Post Surgery

by Wound Care Clinic in Recommendations

Beware: The Danger of Heating Pads

Beware of heating pads – they should never be used near an open wound or after surgery. The temporary relief causes unseen damage. Many times burning under the skin can occur, without seeing the visible signs first.

Unfortunately, the staff at the Wound Care Clinic sees many patients who have burned themselves with heating pads. In many cases, the patient falls asleep because of the comfort of the warm heat. Other times, the patient cannot feel the skin burning because of neuropathy.

Second and third degree burns can be caused from heating pads, which not only will extend the healing process, but also further complicates the treatment needed. Electrical burns can damage the skin, extending to underlying deep tissue and cause even more pain. Reports of patients falling asleep all night with heating pads and ending up in the emergency room are true. This excessive heat your body does not need burns, leaving behind scars and pain.

Heat and Ice Packs

Extreme caution is extended for the heat/ice packs that can be microwaved. These plastic packs can cause immediate burning to the skin if overheated.

What We Recommend

We only recommend natural fiber products like cotton or wool to keep your feet warm (although wool does a better job). To keep your body warm, many fleece products provide well-insulated heat.

How Can We Help You?

If you have any questions about a chronic wound that is slow to heal, please contact our healthcare team. We will be glad to work with you with a referral from your primary care physician. Contact us.

Why do some wounds take so long to heal?

by Wound Care Clinic in Recommendations

There are many variables to consider when analyzing slow healing wounds such as age, status of health, lifestyle, nutrition, or post-surgery. Non-closing wounds are known as ulcers, and when located at the lower leg, feet, or ankles, even walking can extend the healing process due to frequent pressure.

Poor blood flow to the wound can also prevent sores from healing quickly and could be a signal of diabetes or another chronic disease. If a patient is a smoker this also slows down the healing process, since smoking keeps damaged cells in an inflammatory state, while being deprived of much needed oxygen.

Steps of the healing process

Natural wound healing involves several steps. Right after an injury, the body increases blood flow to the trauma area. This is when a wound becomes red and warm, while allowing white blood cells and platelets to get to the spot. Platelets activate blood clotting or coagulation and prevent further bleeding. At the same time, phagocytes, called scavenger cells remove damaged or dead cells.

Oxygen and other nutrients produce new skin, including new blood vessels. Connective tissue fibers or collagen are developed, and then small muscle cells are produced. At this stage the edges begin joining together so the wound can close.

Speeding up the healing of wounds

Barriers to wound healing include diet and poor nutrition. According to Wound Care Centers and Health News.org, protein is the most important part of your diet when trying to promote wound healing. Energy, or calories from carbohydrates and fats, amino acids, antioxidants and minerals – especially zinc are also important.

Protein helps repair the damaged tissue from your wound and adding more protein than usual to the diet has been proven to help the healing process. This means two to three servings of protein a day with each meal containing at least two to three ounces of meat. One cup of beans or two tablespoons of peanut butter are alternatives (but not too much peanut butter if weight is a problem because of the fat). On the other hand, when not enough daily calories are consumed, the body may convert more of the protein ingested to energy instead of healing.

In addition to lifestyle changes, The Woundcare Clinic of Savannah offers advanced therapies to help speed the healing process.

We recommend you consult your physician for specific nutritional recommendations based on your condition(s). If you live in the Savannah or Hilton Head area and have any questions about your wound care management, please contact us.

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