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Original poster

What happens when a leg ulcer gets this bad? Warning, photo attached

78 replies

Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:01

I have posted before about my Dads leg.

He is 69, has stage 4 cancer and was receiving end of life care in his own home. Since Covid-19 he has not allowed any carers or district nurses into his home as he is terrified of catching it. His leg has gotten steadily worse and I'm worried what will happen. They have tried compression, debrisoft lolly, manuka wraps and packing the wound. He is alone, I am on the other side of the UK and I have two young dc, he won't let me visit or move in with him for lockdown. He chainsmokes in the house also and my DD has asthma so it's not ideal.

Is there an effective treatment for an ulcer this big? The black part is on the outside of his ankle and it's huge. The photo only shows part of the top. The other photo is the inside of the same leg. He uses a wheelchair but can take a few steps with help.

OP posts:
Ponoka7 · 24/04/2020 13:07

When was the last time he was seen by a Nurse?

How is he feeding himself etc?

Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:09

Since before lockdown.

He cooks soups, supernoodles, frozen meals for himself. He has a neighbour that brings his cigarettes, food and supplies.

OP posts:
Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:10

His home has been adapted. He has a lift, wet room, and riser recliner chair.

OP posts:

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GirlsInGreen · 24/04/2020 13:13

I'm not a medic - but I remember a few years ago a nurse at my local hospital was treating leg ulcers with plain sugar. He was from an African country and sugar was the only thing they had in his home town.
The drs were going to start a proper study. It was at the Q E in Birmingham & the article was in the Bham Evening Mail.
Worth a try? Desperate times and all that....
Best wishes to your DadFlowers

123bananas · 24/04/2020 13:14

You need to contact his nursing team so that they can can advise on the best course of action (and try and persuade him to accept help).

DonLewis · 24/04/2020 13:17

That needs to be seen. Is there no way he could get a mask on, get the district nurses to wear a mask and let them in?

We had the movie phone number for the district nurses when my mum had end of life care at home. Can you ring them and speak to them? Maybe even send the photos. Because they could drop a dressing kit through the door potentially?

Ponoka7 · 24/04/2020 13:19

He needs to get that looked at, he shouldn't try or be advised to do any home treatments. The community nurses and GPs will now have PPE. He could have any of the types of blood poisoning.

As said soeak to someone on his behalf. It may get to a point were you have to make a referral for him as a vulnerable adult who is refusing care.

How long is he planning on not letting them in for? Can't you reassure him that they now have testing etc?

TwinsTrollsAndHunz · 24/04/2020 13:20

Not a home treatment, no. He needs proper medical & nursing care. Was he in compression before lockdown?

He probably already knows this and of course as he’s receiving end of life care he may not feel this is relevant to him but smoking really effects healing and will not be helping.

At the very least he needs a proper wound assessment, debridement and clean dressings. He may well need IV antibiotics to treat it. Your poor dad. I can understand his fear but he must be in agony.

noavailablename · 24/04/2020 13:20

That looks bad enough to need a surgical assessment.
I agree with pp re sending the photos to the nurses or GP.
My GP practice has been good with phone/ email consults.

Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:20

@123bananas He won't let them in. Before lockdown they were coming to visit without ppe and had already been to multiple patients homes and care homes. He asked about ppe and the nurses said they had requested some, but it never appeared.

He has a huge fear of death, never went to his mums or my mums funeral. He has been stage 4 for over 3 years now (which is amazing in itself) but is still convinced he can beat it.

OP posts:
TwinsTrollsAndHunz · 24/04/2020 13:21

I’m sorry you’re in this situation, @Fedupandpoor. It must be very worrying for you Flowers

Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:23

He was seeing district nurses, tissue viability nurse, and gp. They would come, dress it in compression bandage for a few days then repeat. It just keeps ettimg worse and worse Sad

OP posts:
HappyHammy · 24/04/2020 13:23

He really needs to see a nurse, do not put sugar on it or recommends he does that. With his permission I would post that pic to his surgery but they cannot force him to seek help. The black areas need to be removed before any healing can take place. Smoking doesnt help but that's his choice. Is it causing him any pain.

TinnedPearsForPudding · 24/04/2020 13:23

The large one looks as if there may be necrotic (dead) tissue and the small one looks infected. Really needs to be seen ASAP
What has he been covering them with whilst no nurses are going in

Devlesko · 24/04/2020 13:23

OMG that needs seeing to asap. It could become cellulitis and/ or sepsis.
You can't mess around with leg ulcers, you will just have to go behind his back, I think.

Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:24

I'm not blaming the nurses, sorry if it sounded like that. It's so difficult to treat plus he doesn't help himself with the smoking and limited diet.

OP posts:
SeasonallySnowyPeasant · 24/04/2020 13:25

He really needs to get this looked at. It must be so painful.

LadyEloise · 24/04/2020 13:25

Can you contact his GP ?

TwinsTrollsAndHunz · 24/04/2020 13:26

They can be absolute devils to treat once they get past a certain point or are in patients with other conditions that compromise their healing (such as diabetes).

itbemay1 · 24/04/2020 13:27

Is it quite wet? He really needs to see the nurse but if he really won't then it needs something to soak up the wetness then bandaging from toe to knee. Could you ask the nurse at the surgery to prescribe some dressings and would you be able to help if he won't get seen.

HappyHammy · 24/04/2020 13:29

Would he agree to see a nurse outside in the garden

Quartz2208 · 24/04/2020 13:30

Oh OP I am so sorry but is there anyway of convincing your Dad that the greatest threat to his life at the moment is not CV but his leg because that is infected. The only way that is going is if it is properly treated

This is the problem with CV people worry about the risks of catching it they actually ignore things that at this moment pose a far greater risk

Original poster
Fedupandpoor · 24/04/2020 13:30

Thank you for all the advice.

The nurses drop off the dressings on his doorstep. He cleans the wound with prontosan wound wash then bandages it up himself. He keeps it elevated and he had some sort of vibrating foot plate but I'm not sure if he's still using that.

OP posts:
Zootastic · 24/04/2020 13:30

The thing is your dad has to make the decisions and he is saying no to help. Continue to try and maybe be cheeky enough to ask a nurse to visit anyway, he might change his mind when she/he is at the door? Defiantly don’t try home remedies (sugar - NO). At the end of the day you may have to accept that these are your dads choices and don’t feel bad it’s not your fault x

TwinsTrollsAndHunz · 24/04/2020 13:32

It didn’t sound like you were blaming the healthcare team, @Fedupandpoor Smile. You must be at the end of your tether with all this.

Have you spoken to the district and TV team? Have they been able to offer you/your Dad any practical advice as to how he can manage the ulcers at home? Obviously there is very little they can say/do, especially if he isn’t particularly compliant in terms of diet and lifestyle but offering him practical advice in terms of cleaning and covering to reduce his risk of infection might be helpful?

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