Nerve Damage Due to Bed Sores
Bed sores are tough to treat. The longer you have them, the more likely they are to cause serious problems like nerve damage and infection. About one out of every four nursing home patients gets them, according to Merck's Manual online.
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Bed Sore Facts
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Bed sores (pressure ulcers) can develop for a variety of reasons like excess friction, humidity, poor circulation, being wheelchair bound and pressure on the skin near the bone. They can develop in a relatively short time-- as little as two to six hours.
Bed Sore Complications
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Bed sores not only affect the skin, but underlying tissue, muscle, bone and nerves. If blood is not able to circulate to certain areas, the tissue will eventually die. According to Medical News Today, the skin near bones like on your heels, hips, elbows, knees and buttocks is more vulnerable to pressure ulcers.
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Nerve Damage from Bed Sores
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According to a study about bed sore pain published in the journal Wounds, the lessening of pain as bed sores get worse could be due to sensory nerve ending damage inhibiting pain signals from being sent to the brain. When individuals do not feel pain, the bed sores can worsen and eventually require surgery to remove dead tissue.
Nerve Damage Prevention
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It is common practice to keep patients moving to prevent bed sores. To eliminate the possibility for nerve damage, check the skin often to spot any potential ulcers. Change sheets and keep them clean and dry. Use sheepskin on beds to keep friction to a minimum.
Nerve Damage Prognosis
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Once nerve damage has occurred, it is difficult to reverse. Those with nerve damage are more likely to get bed sores and once nerve damage occurs, more bed sores can appear. It is a vicious cycle. A nerve graft transplant is a promising procedure performed by plastic surgeons that may restore sensation in those who are deeply affected by bed sores, according to Enhanced Online News.
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References
Resources
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