If you are reading this, you have probably experienced a scraped knee, a cut finger, maybe even requiring sutures at one time or another in your life. These are acute wounds; they require some attention for a short time, the healing process takes hold, and they are forgotten. Some disease states however, are known to lead to chronic wounds, or put another way, wounds that do not heal too quickly. Weeks to months of treatment may be required to achieve resolution.
Some examples of what we're talking about here are:
- diabetic ulceration
- ulcer formation following chemotherapy
- pressure ulcers (bed sores)
At some point or other, these types of wounds will require treatment, maybe even amputation. It is not unusual for pain medications to be prescribed for relief of discomfort. But there are many things
that help to relieve the painful condition brought about by these conditions that don't involve medication at all. Hyperbaric oxygen chambers are one example of this. The choice of dressing that is applied to the wound is another thing that can make all the difference in the world. Wound debridement can be employed in various forms: mechanical, surgical, chemical, etc. Nutritional supplements such as Zinc and Vitamin C are employed on a short term basis to enhance healing. Some forms of physical therapy, such as whirlpool or ultrasound are also sometimes used for this purpose.
Chronic wounds are probably a bigger source of chronic pain than many people might realize. Diabetic ulceration often involves extended hospitalization and rehabilitation; the annual cost of wound care in the US alone can reach $25 billion!
Sources: wikipedia; mistherapy.com
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