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Original poster

Dressing stuck on open flesh wound. Leave it or take off?

39 replies

Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 16:26

Don't even remember when was last time I had to treat wound that's so bad. So no recollection about how to deal with the basic. 🙈

So it was put on yesterday morning on a fairly bad open flesh wound. All felt alright until this afternoon (I was able to walk fairly fast this morning without pain), now it started hurt/being pulled and all layers of the dressing seems to have pressed together and stuck.

What shall I do? Use saline water to soak and remove before replacing with a new one or just leave it be until tomorrow?

OP posts:
Floralnomad · 22/02/2023 16:27

I’d soak it off personally . Go to the chemist and get some non adherent dressings to redress it .

Ihatethenewlook · 22/02/2023 16:29

Soak it off. It’s dirty and causing more harm by the sounds of it. I’d go to the pharmacy and see what they recommend

DitzyDaffodils · 22/02/2023 16:29

Soak it off, if you leave it there festering it'll get infected

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Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 16:34

Sounds like a consensus ... I will remove it then. It hurts more now. Probably will get worse if I leave it . Thanks!

OP posts:
Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 16:49

Can someone tell me how often to replace the dressing? Can't go to the pharmacy, with two kids at the moment.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 16:56

Did you get it properly dressed at the time ? Can you ask them (phone call). If not GP practice nurse might help with phone advice.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 17:17

@OneFrenchEgg , I'm thinking to try the GP practice nurse tomorrow. But it's going to take probably half an hour tomorrow to get through on the phone, if I'm lucky.

I'm a bit afraid as it was quite badly grazed and really messy. I did run under the water for a while, but I don't think I was able to clean it properly before the first dressing...

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 17:19

I would soak it off in a shower or bath and then re clean carefully and gently (going by many sorts acquired injuries with teenagers). I would use a gauze pad, bandage to keep in place and tape to position the bandage.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 17:27

Got through the GP phone line within 10 minutes and then got told I need to go to a&e, because they DON'T TREAT WOUNDS 😂

So I'm not go to a&e because of a grazed knee wound (would be ashamed of I did so). So my only option is to see if I can avoid having an infection which would cost NHS more resources. What a laugh that the system has become!

OP posts:
Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 17:29

@OneFrenchEgg thanks, I think I'd probably better soak in water for a longer period time and clean it gently (try)... The best I can do...

I feel the need to faint with just the thought of fiddling the wound all by myself 😖

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 17:34

Can you wait for someone of a stronger disposition? I am wound care first aid person in our house.

OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 17:35

Minor injuries as well? Google to see if one local?

Datafan55 · 22/02/2023 17:40

There's no shame in going to A&E... Or rather, the Walk-In centre, who deal with minor wounds.

I went last spring when I had a burn blister that burst. Had various dressings at home but non worked/stayed on/were correct. Took them five minutes to stick a proper dressing on.

For info, I had to leave it on for five days without getting it wet.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 17:43

OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 17:35

Minor injuries as well? Google to see if one local?

@OneFrenchEgg , than you for reminding me. It's about 20 mins drive away, but probably worth giving it a try tomorrow. Thank you!

Will give it a wash now and re-dress for now.

OP posts:
Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 17:44

Datafan55 · 22/02/2023 17:40

There's no shame in going to A&E... Or rather, the Walk-In centre, who deal with minor wounds.

I went last spring when I had a burn blister that burst. Had various dressings at home but non worked/stayed on/were correct. Took them five minutes to stick a proper dressing on.

For info, I had to leave it on for five days without getting it wet.

Thanks! I forgot they are there without having to phone in. Will give it a try tomorrow.

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 17:46

Looks like you have a plan! Good luck, look out for signs of infection and don't fiddle with it.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes/

Letstaketotheskies · 22/02/2023 17:50

Is it a graze OP? So gross and painful but the skin is still there, just damaged with lots of tiny holes?
I’d wash it with lots of warm water and some soap, then rinse with water until it doesn’t sting anymore. Then dress it. Soap is good at killing bacteria and as long as it’s just a superficial wound (so a graze of the too layers of sking rather than a chunk of skin and flesh missing entirely) then soap is a reasonable thing to use.

Letstaketotheskies · 22/02/2023 17:53

www.nhs.uk/conditions/cuts-and-grazes/
NHS basically says the same - soap for skin around the wound but try not to get too much inside actual breaks in the skin.

Quartz2208 · 22/02/2023 17:54

How bad is it - infections from wounds can be awful getting treated now will avoid a lot ofissues

trust me - a dog once ran into my leg and her tooth took off the smallest layer of skin but the infection was awful

ReviewingTheSituation · 22/02/2023 17:59

It sounds like it does need dressing though. If you weren't able to clean it properly, does it need doing with something more than water? And if it hurts more now, maybe something is still stuck in it, or maybe there is infection.

Do you have a minor injuries at your hospital?

I had to phone 111 for a bad cut (knife) a couple of weeks ago - it was bleeding a LOT, and I just wanted an opinion about how long I should leave it to see if the bleeding stopped. They gave me a slot at the hospital and I was in and out in less than an hour (on a sat evening!)
They said it was right to go, for 'just a cut', as it needed glueing, and looking at to check for no nerve damage.

BurbageBrook · 22/02/2023 18:09

Do go to a walk in centre. I got really told off by the nurse at the walk in centre I attended as I'd treated my infected wound myself, which to me looked really minor, but she said I ought to have had stitches.

Original poster
Return2thebasic · 22/02/2023 18:18

Letstaketotheskies · 22/02/2023 17:50

Is it a graze OP? So gross and painful but the skin is still there, just damaged with lots of tiny holes?
I’d wash it with lots of warm water and some soap, then rinse with water until it doesn’t sting anymore. Then dress it. Soap is good at killing bacteria and as long as it’s just a superficial wound (so a graze of the too layers of sking rather than a chunk of skin and flesh missing entirely) then soap is a reasonable thing to use.

Does have a bit flesh grazed off (about 1.5 cm in length). I just ran under water again for 5 mins and try to re-dress it.

DH had a look and kept telling me stop fiddling with it and stop keep trying to clean it. The thing is , when he came back from Boots yesterday, he didn't even get any medical tape for dressing. Instead, he got a bandage for strained muscle for me to keep the dressing in place. 😂 Making me think his opinion is highly dubious...

OP posts:
OneFrenchEgg · 22/02/2023 18:54

I don't think you should run it under water you should soak it

Vitriolinsanity · 22/02/2023 19:04

I'd take a walk to the pharmacy. Ours is one with a little room where you can go and they'll look at things like this, apply a dressing and show you what you need to do it yourself.

ConfusedNT · 22/02/2023 19:07

I would highly recommend going to the walk in

However if you dont/can't then this stuff is amazing for lowering the risk of infection and helping quicker healing

www.amazon.co.uk/Algivon-Manuka-Alginate-Square-Dressing/dp/B00IQ8XDUC/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=32FSII7T09GJZ&keywords=manuka+honey+dressings+for+wounds&qid=1677092787&sprefix=honey+dressing%2Caps%2C269&sr=8-3

I've used it on a couple of wounds where I should have had stitches, and my DH is an engineer who get all sorts of injuries and he swears by it even though he thought I was bonkers when I bought it