Injuries in the garden use caution to remove plas... - PMRGCAuk

PMRGCAuk

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Injuries in the garden use caution to remove plasters/dressings!

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45
β€’27 Replies

Someone posted a great post and recommended arm protection the other day - I bought the arm protection but hadn't opened it yet! I managed to carve a chunk out of my arm on the gate latch while mowing. I used an adhesive dressing similar to those used on abscesses etc. All well really until I came to remove it - and decided for the quick pull. NOT a good idea I now have an ugly red mark the length of the dressing. So I advise gently peeling off any first aid plasters you have had to use! :)

This is the link to the post mentioned above:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

with other tips for items for protection

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Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45
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27 Replies
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PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassador

I am leaving your other reply and adding the link to that thread:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

And asking if anyone has any tips or recommendations for dealing with skin injuries once they have happened and there is no going back!

agingfeminist profile image
agingfeministβ€’ in reply toPMRpro

I am not generally someone who reaches for herbal remedies but I have found that calendula really helped skin tears that would not heal.

I have also successfully used arnica on bruises.

😱

It really is a case of getting these things off gently.

My view is if it is in a place that can be bandaged, then use a non adhesive dressing pad. A covering of cotton bandage, then a quick wrap with cohesive bandage which can be taken off when sitting still, but adds protection when moving and banging it.

I have been allergic to Elastoplast all my life so always used micropore. But when I had a carbuncle near my armpit leading up to PMR, the micro pore even cause an allergic reaction. Hence bandages all the way for me.

Mefix seems to be reasonably well tolerated by my skin at the moment, but in softer , more tender parts it's still harsh to get off unless thoroughly wet round the edges.

The less glue/sticky factor the better. Zero stickiness even better.

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45β€’ in reply to

I think I would have been more careful with Elastoplast but it was one of those light white dressing things - lesson learned :)

β€’ in reply toPippah45

My dad's skin was awful towards the end and he had been on a nebuliser and iral steroids on and off for years. He took warfarin an cut himself a lot. She was never s very gentle man and caused as much damage pulling dressing off as cuts and bumps do. I banned him from having sticky stuff and dressed with non adherent. Even those low adhesive aren't good. And having strated my golfers elbow up overnight last week I found the tender bits had got caught in the sticky.

You have to treat what are usually considered robust skin areas like you do those tender bits. Pretend you are always pulling them off on the inside of your arms or legs. I literally pulled a block of skin 4 inches square off under my arm and just had a 6x6 pad over it stuck on with cream!

jinasc profile image
jinascβ€’ in reply to

First of all the Flexiseq came today - thank you for the heads up.

I use Microporous Surgical Tape. I have a dispenser just like the selloptape ones - so you don't struggle to get the length you want.

I also use a Hypo-allergic wound dressing, they are individually, each piece is packed separately. The Practice Nurse, when early on in my GCA travel, I really damaged the arm and had to go to see her after three days of struggling to cope with it. She prescribed them - but after that first go - I found I could buy them at the Pharmacy.

Arnica tablets for bruising and arnica cream for the outside bruise. The tablet breaks up the internal clots the cream aids from the outside. Used these from being a kid - the whole family did. However before you try it - check with the Chemist, which you should always do when buying of filling a new prescription (compatibility).

I do not go out, even just to sit for a coffee, without my arm protectors (fingerless just beyond elbow - like old fashioned long evening gloves). ,,,,,,,,,,,,I do not put them on straight away, they are fore when I sit and notice weeds etc if the protectors are out of sight - I forget to use them and bingo.

β€’ in reply tojinasc

Yes. The nurse often empties the drawer to give me pads and micropore. But I can't even tolerate micropore now. They may have change the glue a tiny bit or my allergy has developed further. May if o try it again I need to take an anti histamine as well!

Side law if you don't protect yourself, that's the day you will see something that will only take a minute.

Yes my fexiseq came too. Was going to pm you to say expect yours. πŸ‘πŸ˜˜

jinasc profile image
jinasc

Oh Pippah, I washed the poly packaging , dried it with a hairdryer - and bingo 30 minutes later, on and pruning - no cuts or bruises..........wish I had known about them forever and I love them so much I have decided to order a second pair - as a just in case.

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply tojinasc

What is 'poly packaging'? I may need something to protect myself due to this annoying weak skin side effect.

I am now chasing my GP for Doublebase Dayleve Gel and checking with my Rheumatologist that it is safe for me. It may have been your suggestion from a few years ago that I found?

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45β€’ in reply toignatz

Bubble wrap?

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply toPippah45

Maybe. Can one dry bubblewrap with a hairdryer???

I am musing on motorcycle armour as my next step- seems a bit drastic!

β€’ in reply toignatz

To be honest modern day football/soccer shin pads could be a good defence too. They are often built into socks without heels and toes so could be worn on your arms.

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply to

But I can't go out to try them as I'm in lockdown.....sigh. Back to the bubblewrap- if that is what is being suggested.

β€’ in reply toignatz

Very warm.

jinasc profile image
jinascβ€’ in reply toignatz

Link to a photo - I bought mine over the net - I have been 'locked down' now for 8 weeks. My Cousin who is 90 has dementia and Lupus. So no going out from this house and no-one in either.

scottsofstow.co.uk/search/s...

You can look for them elsewhere of course.

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply tojinasc

Many thanks..."Sorry, this item is temporarily out of stock. Reserve yours now. We expect to deliver this to you within 7 weeks." Looks like I may chop up some socks!

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45β€’ in reply toignatz

I have adapted those fell walking gaiters for my arms before - very heavy duty canvas type - not as heavy as canvas - but good strong things - available from sports/country stores I should think.

jinasc profile image
jinascβ€’ in reply toignatz

Yes, but only on the lowest setting and anyway parcel's don't come wrapped in bubble wrap, it is only used in inner packaging.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toignatz

Have you looked at the other thread? With recommendations for protective items? The link is in my reply above.

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply toPMRpro

Yes, found your other recommendations....including Kevlar!!! Wow. Many thanks.

jinasc profile image
jinascβ€’ in reply toignatz

1) polythene bag - black.

2) If you need to, you can ask your Pharmacist about compatibility - but in 14 years I have come across no-one who cannot use it. BTW you can buy it OTC.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toignatz

I suspect (I might be wrong) that you are at cross purposes with jinasc: she washes all items coming in the house during shielding but normally would leave parcels outside for a day or two to reduce the amount of potential Covid-19 hanging around. But for this item she was in too much hurry and did a wash and dry action so she could use the arm protectors immediately ...

As I say - may be wrong, if so, ignore me ...

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45β€’ in reply toPMRpro

Yes I realised I was a bit out somehow! I too wash etc anything that is coming in the house. I also use the hand held bit of my steam cleaner on things that wouldn't damage. Wretched politician said this morning that no one self isolating would catch CV - which I think is tosh - the virus was still alive in laundry/rubbish taken off one of those cruise ships. Unless of course you are like the person I saw interviewed a while ago and they were allowing nothing into the house. My daughter in law was brought up Mormon in the US and they apparently are expected to keep 6 months of food for emergencies! I have quite a lot in the house but I would get a bit bored of tinned stuff etc after a while.

PMRpro profile image
PMRproAmbassadorβ€’ in reply toPippah45

The wonder of a freezer! I'd have been fine in the UK but I shop every day here usually - under the guise of exercise ;) and the selection of frozen goodies is not that good. So I have a tiny freezer section! I think it is pretty unlikely - but some of their assertions are crackers - why shouldn't children pass on CV? Why should it take 15 mins in close proximity to someone? If that were so then it would be fine to go out wearing masks as long as you keep 2m away from anyone - so why the fuss? Although it is blatantly obvious that people have very short memories ...

ignatz profile image
ignatzβ€’ in reply toPMRpro

Cross purposes- aha...it all begins to make sense now.

Pippah45 profile image
Pippah45

I will wash mine now and keep them handy. I have to mow past a lot of rose bushes that seem to want to embrace me!

Also a great idea to use bandage instead of sticky stuff!

SheffieldJane profile image
SheffieldJane

Ouch! So sorry.

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