Yippee- at last signed off from weekly leg wound checks (cursed thin skin!)

[Obscureclouds]

Over 11 weeks of weekly visits to the nurse after stupidly walking into a concrete planter back in January my leg tear wounds are finally declared healed. I have had such good care from my surgery and am posting this because I know from joining into to previous posts that a lot of you also suffer from skin tears at the slightest knock, excessive bleeding and slow healing. I realise my injury to one leg must have gone a lot deeper than I first thought but it has been interesting observing the different types of healing aids & dressings applied at various stages of the healing process. Fortunately I’ve been given a few extras to add to my normal supply of sterile wipes and soft touch dressings I always carry with me. A few weeks ago I started seeing a different nurse who advised that leg wounds need some compression to aid healing and she prescribed 10mm-hg leg ulcer sleeves as these provide light compression and are easier to get on than normal compression stockings. I was given a set with feet and one without so that I could layer them in the first instance. As thin skin is likely to cause on going issues she also prescribed Dermol 500 lotion to use in the shower/bath. As well as being a good moisturiser & barrier protection it’s antibacterial properties help reduce those harmful germs that live on our skin and so I’m told it will greatly lower the risk of infection in the case of a future scratch or skin tear if cleaned and dressed promptly. From responses in a previous post generated by Countrykitten I took on board the advice to try Limbkeepers. I’ve had these for 7or 8 weeks now and although being very careful I have had a couple of knocks against the laundry basket, full carrier bag, etc - some bruising but at least the skin didn’t tear. Not sure how these will fair as the days get hotter but I have both leg and arm protectors so will definitely wear when tacking jobs in the garden so worth looking at if you are a fellow sufferer.

[Pinkcrocs]

Great news!Hope you don't get anymore bad bumps and wounds🤗

[Avadip12]

so pleased your all healed , always wear trousers to help protect your legs

[Obscureclouds in reply to Avadip12]

Thanks. My legs do look a bit like a battle field and I still have one mark from walking to close to a bush when gardening over 6 months ago. Despite wearing leggings under my jeans my skin still tore open though I didn’t know about it until I felt blood trickling down my leg. I’m told things should improve as I reduce my level of Pred so fingers crossed.

[Angelsmummy]

Glad you are nearly healed,such a worry when we explode like a peach at the slightest touch.I stupidly wore leggings when I went shopping last week and my lower legs look like I have been attacked by an ankle nipping dog.When I previously got to a lower dose of Pred,I started to heal quite quickly and also the slightest knock didn’t become a tear or gash,but now I am on a higher dose,I am back to the tears,etc.Doesnt help that only having sight in one eye makes me stupidly prone to walking into things.Just part of us being on Pred which does some weird things to our bodies !Take care .xx💐💐😜

[Obscureclouds in reply to Angelsmummy]

Thanks, reassuring about the Pred. I agree the sight issue doesn’t help - apart from a small bit of shadowy peripheral vision one of my eyes has no sight so it’s easy to misjudge and bump into things. Hope we’ll both soon be down to a dose that make things easier. 🤞

[Angelsmummy in reply to Obscureclouds]

I’ll drink to that!( maybe I won’t ,in case I fall over and hurt myself!)xxStay safe .xxx😜💐🤕

[Duncoding]

Hi, I felt for you, reading your post, as my skin is also incredibly fragile.

I have both Limbkeepers and Dermatuff protectors and find the latter much more effective and comfortable as they’re cushioned and don’t act like a pressure stocking.

At night I use an ordinary medical tubular bandage, doubled over, to protect my legs and arms, to avoid a stray finger or toe nail from opening my skin and covering the sheets with blood, as has happened.

I’ve tried several moisturising creams for my legs, which get very dry and flaky, and my doctor has given me Aproderm colloidal oat cream, which doesn’t have liquid paraffin.

I’m sure that, like me, you’ve adjusted your behaviour since ending up in A&E a few times …squeezing through doorways to avoid door handles, giving the foot of the bed a wide berth, avoiding shoppers with baskets or carrier bags, the list goes on!

I’m now down to 1.5mg and skin tears are less frequent, but I’m not sure whether that’s due to the skin improving or my behaviour changing..

[Obscureclouds in reply to Duncoding]

My how we suffer! Yes I do try to adjust my way of doing things but sadly that doesn’t stop the odd lapse of concentration. Thanks for sharing your experiences and for the suggestion of Durmatuff. I looked them up and intend to try a pair as a change from my Limbkeepers . Best wishes