Husband leg infection being almost ignored (disgusting pics included)

[NOTSUREWHATIMDOINHERE]

Hello

So been at nurse 3 weeks in row. Had leg infection for 2 weeks antibiotics not working and it's now worse. Smells. Pain so severe he cant walk so will be off work now! Nurse just dressing it and sending him away after asking gp to prescribe 2nd set of different antibiotics after 1st set that was supposed to be the right ones for that infection did absolutely nothing to help him.

What would you do ? We are worried, he can't get about its horrible. He had a venous ulcer but this was due to that part of the leg getting bumped and all of sudden this infection gets worse , he was hiding it from me !

Wrong thread apologies.

No problem 😊

Given he's got to stay at home for the foreseeable, could he take over the home ed whilst you take a temporary job? Not ideal, but could you set your home ed child up working near where your DH is sat with his leg elevated?

Hello another update, looking for feedback. The place been useless.

So I have been looking after his leg well, it's healing well, today before his doppler appointment he was walking really well round the shop, I even commented on it. He then goes for the doppler and im just sick that he is now not walking and in all that pain again like a couple weeks back . This is week 3 off work, he got go back next week, hope it's a temporary blip and we are really upset, they put a stupid compression bandage on that made him unable to move leg ! I took it off as I have had him in compression for a while now, class 2 , that was his prescription ones. They are idiots ! They completely disabled him again with the treatment! They said his leg pressure is excellent.

Point I'm making is that he is healing well, and has been in his compression (thanks yo you guys on here advice) so this was a box ticking exercise as we told them already it's venous, he has had 2 dopplers before, class 2 was the compression. The whole place has been hopeless, since we moved areas, they wouldn't even contact last place to verify anything, just made him go through that today ! We are so mad. They even put on a dressing that stuck even though he told them he only found 1 type that didn't! And they have stopped using it. So we need pay a fortune for them. It's all wrong . They wanted him keep that on for 1 week yhag disabling bandage with all the pus under it ( that im washing off every night to stave infection off ) how are they " experts " it's crazy

I didn't mean to quote you, sorry lol

Do you mean you have had him in compression stockings? That isnt the correct treatment for an active ulcer, stockings are preventative, or when its almost healed, compression bandaging are the treatment , they are toght, and painful initially, but the compression aids the healing process.

The yellow liquid is not always pus, and removing it isnt always best. the wound needs to be kept moist to promote healing, theres a period in the healing process, where more exudate is completely normal. If it as been assessed as weekly redressing, then thats a calculation based on the levels of moisture being produced. It is also very normal for exudate to leak through dressings.

I know you are doing your best to help your husband, but you have to listen to the nursing staff, it may seems alien to you, in may go against your instincts when caring for a wound, but it doesnt mean what they are doing is wrong.

Please, please read this slide show from the journal of community nursing about the healing process and exudate.

www.jcn.co.uk/uploads/resources/395a662b5649f5a583c86e5a2eb8f060.pdf

Yes , and thanks, but he was healing and walking well, this bandaging is hurting and disabling him again, it is just not possible for him to go through that again after getting him to a good stage of healing and pain control. He said this too. It's not really helpful to disable him again.

Good, well applied, high level compression IS painful initially though, which is why pain management should be considered at the same time as application.

Bainbridge, (2013) deliberates that pain and discomfort are the primary reasons most patients would visit an HCP. They continued to assert that pain not being relieved could lead to distrust in the HCP, which sequentially, could lead to noncompliance with the therapeutic compression care plan. Both Barnes (2023) and Bainbridge (2013) detail how early treatment of compression can lead to increased levels of pain. However, it is often not explained to patients that this is a possibility, and that pain will reduce once oedema and pressure is reduced with the treatment (Baines, 2023). This increased early pain without explanation can “disincentive continued treatment” (Bainbridge, 2013). Pain management and patient education on the possibility of elevated pain is an integral part of early continuation with treatment.

Enjoyed the link information , thanks again.

Don't take nurofen or any other NSAIDS they inhibit healing. We advise our ulcer patients to come off them. Codeine is better.

Think what is annoying me is that they had no staff to do it earlier , when he was still hobbling like that , and now he can walk better , it's set him back. The infection was long dealt with.

Oh didn't know that ,that's good advice. He is now switched on to codydramol. Was initially on ibuprofen and paracetamol combined and that wasn't touching the pain. This new one is not 100% either

Compression isnt for infection, its for the actual tissue to heal. Honestly, the compression bandaging, though painful, and difficult to live with in the short term, is for the best long term. Please listen to the HCPS.

I know I was just saying if they had had the staff and not " just 2 of us can do it " then he would have been through the pain part while he was still hobbling , hard to fo back to that . What is the difference between compression on a stocking and these bandages ?

the level of compression and where compression is directed. Compression bandaging comes in different levels, all higher than stockings, it gives a more directed pressure where wounds are. Compression starts at a different point on the leg too. Stockings are for prevention, or used after a wound is healed to stop them returning, bandaging is a treatment - the best treatment.

Ok , thank you for the information. I didn't understand the difference. They didn't explain it even when he went in with the stocking on today.

https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/leg-ulcer/treatment/#:~:text=Venous%20leg%20ulcers%20are%20often,will%20also%20help%20ease%20swelling.

This is a good explanation. Its shows that bandages are the treatment, and stockings are prevention after the wound has healed.

The application of a compression bandage is a skilled procedure and should only be done by trained healthcare staff.
The bandage is usually changed 1 to 3 times a week, when the dressing is changed.
When compression bandages are first applied to an unhealthy ulcer, it's usually painful.
Ideally, you should have paracetamol or an alternative painkiller prescribed by your GP.
The pain will lessen once the ulcer starts to heal.
It's important to wear your compression bandage exactly as instructed. If you have any problems, it's usually best to contact your nurse instead of trying to remove it yourself.

I don’t have any medical advice … sorry but just wanted to step in and say how amazing I think you are with your husband, continually advocating for him and caring for him so beautifully.

That’s great he’s switched meds. Chat to a pharmacist about something to help with reducing any constipation that comes with taking the new meds.

Aw that's nice of you to say and nice to hear. Thank you. Been a tough few weeks.

Hi OP,
I wanted to check in and see how DH is doing. I’m glad they finally did the Doppler and confirmed that he can have compression. He does need the bandages not stockings with an active ulcer.
It can be painful to be in tight compression and it will reduce his mobility. He just needs enough pain relief . This is just temporary and I’m afraid that he should suck it up and accept that he needs a period of not being on his feet much and just getting the leg up and healed.

Please don’t do dressings yourself and wash off the exudate . This very definitely needs professional wound care.
Has he been referred to a vascular surgeon for consideration of endogenous treatment? He may not meet the criteria if overweight unfortunately . Has he taken on board the need to lose weight?

I’m really cross on your behalf that the nurses spent so long delaying getting him into compression.