To think he might need to go to hospital? Don’t look at the image if you’re eating

[Anothernamechange38]

Long story short, DH ended up with this nasty graze after playing sport at the weekend.

It’s hot, he’s in agony, but we’re not sure whether to just let him ride it out. He covered it in Savlon this morning (which apparently you’re not supposed to do) and so it’s been wet and bandaged all day while he’s been at work. I tried one of those GP video call things but they’re closed now. Wondering whether it’s worth a trip to the hospital or just wait for it to heal? We don’t want to waste anyone’s time!

Not surprised it’s hot if you put Savlon on top of a nasty graze - going to be a google going inflammatory reaction going on! Unless your husband has a temperature or feels generally unwell I’d simply clean it with salty water (go light on the salt), pat dry and leave open to heal. It’s going to be sore but no need fir medical attention for a graze. Show a pharmacist if you’re feeling particularly excitable.

All part of playing sports, I would wash the affected area in a saline solution to clean away any debris and nasties and let nature take its course whilst checking for any signs of infection

Looks superficial, if hot & painful to touch most likely a skin infection & would ask GP for a prescription of antibiotics & collect from chemist. If he thinks anything might be broken go to A&E, otherwise no.

Another one for contacting your GP as soon as the open in the morning OP

Saw he got antibiotics which he could have got from GP not using A&E services. Also totally preventable if he had managed the graze properly at home in the first place.

How long has it been since he had a tetanus shot?

Saw he got antibiotics which he could have got from GP not using A&E services.

Are you serious? Have you tried getting a GP appointment recently?

@TrickyD

Saw he got antibiotics which he could have got from GP not using A&E services.

Are you serious? Have you tried getting a GP appointment recently?

Also the fact a problem turns out ok doesn't mean a&e wasn't the right place to go in case.

@Blueink

Saw he got antibiotics which he could have got from GP not using A&E services. Also totally preventable if he had managed the graze properly at home in the first place.

Yes, he could have got antibiotics from his GP - in a minimum of 2 weeks if he lived round here.

Hope he is doing ok. My dh had a bad grade like this all down his forearm when he fell off a toboggan at speed. It wasn’t hot or oozy but after trying dressings and just leaving it to air it wasn’t healing. He ended up being referred to a specialist dressings nurse at a local clinic and had to get it all dressed properly. I can’t remember what the dressings were called but they sound like the ones mentioned upthread, the sticky side had a sort of jelly coating on them to stop them peeling off the healing skin when removed. He was sent home with a few of them and I had to replace them for him every couple of days and then he went back again after a week or so to be checked. Took ages to heal properly. Might be worth finding out from your gp if there is a similar service near you if it doesn’t seem to be healing. It’s so hard when it’s big, weeping etc as clothes stick to it and pull off the scabs.

@Blueink

Saw he got antibiotics which he could have got from GP not using A&E services. Also totally preventable if he had managed the graze properly at home in the first place.

How was he supposed to know in advance what treatment he would need?

You don't know that this was totally preventable. If an infection got into the wound at the time of the injury, no amount of home management would make it disappear.

I would have tried a pharmacist in the first place. I had a similar thing and went to local pharmacist and was sorted. A pharmacist will help if relevant but tell you to contact emergency services if need be.

Increase the protein and vitamin c in his diet which will facilitate the healing process. Keep it clean. Don't use cotton wool for cleaning as the fibres can get trapped in the wound. Use N/a gauze.

If its hot it is likely to be infected and needs looking at. Don't wait for it to get worse.

This is exactly the problem. 50 replies with 50 ideas. Wound treatment changes all the time. What you did for your graze 10 years ago won't be advised now. So always seek medical opinion, if only to make yourself feel better/safer.

@Sosigsandwich

Howling at "Poo to a pharmacist"

Me too, chuckling like a kid to myself!

Scrub it with warm soapy water, there could still be grit in it. My brother came of his bike as a kid, my auntie who was a first aider did that & then told my mum to bathe it in hot salt water 3 times a day. His wound looked very much the same except he had taken the skin on his elbow nearly down to the bone. My mum did as instructed & within a couple of weeks it was nearly healed except for his elbow which took a bit longer. Keep it covered with a lint free dressing & once it starts healing massage it with a simple moisturiser to get the skin supple again.

Scrub it??? Not a good idea, will damage the skin even more.

Scrub a wound like that? You would have to be actively insane. Or a sadist.