Treatment for a 'pressure sore' on buttock

[Mobi]

I think I have a stage 1 pressure sore on my right buttock. I am an overweight, insulin dependent diabetic and will be 70 next year, which means I am vulnerable to this kind of problem.

I spend many hours every day sitting at my computer - maybe at least 7 hours, sometimes much longer.

For some time, I have felt a slight pain in my right buttock, but when I looked, there was nothing to see. Today there is some skin discolouration and the skin area of the pain is sort of prominent and rough.

Please don’t tell me to go and see a doctor - I will if I have to - but I'm trying to save money, so I was wondering if anyone knew of a suitable cream I can apply before it gets any worse.

I will, of course, try to change my sitting positions.

Thanks for any expert advice.

Mobi

[expatbrit]

Pressure sores are caused by *pressure" !

Ointment / cream will not cure the problem but relieving the pressure will.

You should seek medical advice as theses "sores" can prove to be very deep involving subcutaneous tissues and muscle.

[Issangeorge]

I don't know where you live, but the government hospitals are very inexpensive, you have to wait awhile, but if you are retired the time doesn't really matter, and usually it's only a couple of hours, the cost for a consultation would be almost nothing, and at a government hospital the medicine is inexpensive.

[colinneil]

I have serious pressure sores, had the problem for nearly 2 years.

Forget doctors they talk a load of b...it most of the time.

Recently a friend of the wifes said try pure natural honey !!WOW !! WHAT A DIFFERENCE !!

My sores are slowly now shrinking.

[Mobi]

As I have already stated, I will go and see a doctor if it gets worse.

I understand that ointment will not cure the problem, but the affected skin needs treatment. Apparently, it needs to be kept damp and some kind of anti-fungal cream applied, I was hoping someone might give me a name - if not I will ask at Fascinos.

I have been in countless hospitals in Thailand, from the most up-market private ones to the most lowly provincial, and just about everything in between. Over the years, I've probably spent millions of baht on my health care here.

I'm sorry, but for me doctors in Thailand are a total lottery - the ones in the big hospitals are only interested in making money, and the ones in the government hospitals are usually only there because they're not much good - and that has been my experience.

It was only last year that a leading specialist at a top private hospital told me I had chronic pancreatitis - and this after exhaustive tests. It turns out I have IBS and I was spending a small fortune on drugs for my pancreas. I could go on and on. Of course, there are exceptions at every level, but you need to have a good personal recommendation for your particular problem.

[Sheryl]

I very much doubt you have a pressure sore. These occur when circulation is cut off, which will not occur in someone able to freely move about as discomfort would lead you to shift position (often unconsciously) well before that. It is a problem in people with paralysis or health problems which make them unable to change position spontaneously without help. It is also more likely in thin than obese people.

If the skin is discolored and raised then you have some sort of skin lesion, which could be any number of things. A picture would help.

Note that it is also very common for people who spend too much time sitting to develop pain in the buttocks due to a tightening and spasm of muscles - goolge "piriformis syndrome". This is best dealt with through stretches and exercises.

[cyberfarang]

As I have already stated, I will go and see a doctor if it gets worse.

I understand that ointment will not cure the problem, but the affected skin needs treatment. Apparently, it needs to be kept damp and some kind of anti-fungal cream applied, I was hoping someone might give me a name - if not I will ask at Fascinos.

I have been in countless hospitals in Thailand, from the most up-market private ones to the most lowly provincial, and just about everything in between. Over the years, I've probably spent millions of baht on my health care here.

I'm sorry, but for me doctors in Thailand are a total lottery - the ones in the big hospitals are only interested in making money, and the ones in the government hospitals are usually only there because they're not much good - and that has been my experience.

It was only last year that a leading specialist at a top private hospital told me I had chronic pancreatitis - and this after exhaustive tests. It turns out I have IBS and I was spending a small fortune on drugs for my pancreas. I could go on and on. Of course, there are exceptions at every level, but you need to have a good personal recommendation for your particular problem.

Ha, ha, ha. Why I`m laughing is because I have exactly the same problem as you only on my left buttock. Rough broken cracked skin and very sore. If feels as if someone has been over it with a sheet of sandpaper. I also sit too long on my tokhis at the computer. I suppose it`s similar to a bed sore that elderly patients suffer from if bed ridden too long.

I have a soft padded cushion that I sit on. It helps a bit but the problem is getting worse. Creams are not going to work except give temporary relief because I am sitting on the same spot for several hours a day. I too am open to any suggestions.

[Lampang2]

Blood circulation.

There are "air mattress" that shifts pressure back and forth within different cells to move the pressure around.

Never saw any for chairs, but a brilliant idea for a but.

[NancyL]

Just get up and walk around from time-to-time. I found it helps a lot if I drink a lot of liquids when I'm using the computer. Usually keep a nice tall glass of cool water on the desk. Then I get some exercise by walking to the toilet every hour.

[Mobi]

As I have already stated, I will go and see a doctor if it gets worse.

I understand that ointment will not cure the problem, but the affected skin needs treatment. Apparently, it needs to be kept damp and some kind of anti-fungal cream applied, I was hoping someone might give me a name - if not I will ask at Fascinos.

I have been in countless hospitals in Thailand, from the most up-market private ones to the most lowly provincial, and just about everything in between. Over the years, I've probably spent millions of baht on my health care here.

I'm sorry, but for me doctors in Thailand are a total lottery - the ones in the big hospitals are only interested in making money, and the ones in the government hospitals are usually only there because they're not much good - and that has been my experience.

It was only last year that a leading specialist at a top private hospital told me I had chronic pancreatitis - and this after exhaustive tests. It turns out I have IBS and I was spending a small fortune on drugs for my pancreas. I could go on and on. Of course, there are exceptions at every level, but you need to have a good personal recommendation for your particular problem.

Ha, ha, ha. Why I`m laughing is because I have exactly the same problem as you only on my left buttock. Rough broken cracked skin and very sore. If feels as if someone has been over it with a sheet of sandpaper. I also sit too long on my tokhis at the computer. I suppose it`s similar to a bed sore that elderly patients suffer from if bed ridden too long.

I have a soft padded cushion that I sit on. It helps a bit but the problem is getting worse. Creams are not going to work except give temporary relief because I am sitting on the same spot for several hours a day. I too am open to any suggestions.

Nice to hear from a fellow sufferer....

I've got no less than three cushions on my chair - not to alleviate my problem but because the chair is too low and the raising mechanism is broken.

Sheryl may be right that it's not pressure sore, but it seems to fit all the symptoms and according to Mayo and NHS websites they can be caused by sitting too long in one spot - also age and diabetes is a factor as the circulation is not too good.

My wife did take a photo but it was so disgusting that she deleted it, but it did look like a pressure sore, stage one. I can feel it with my fingers it's a long rough sort of ridge.

There's no pain when I touch it, the pain only occurs from 'within' when I sit on it for a long period. I'm really reluctant to post a pic of my buttock on Thai Visa... Maybe I can crop it to delete the disgusting bit...

I am trying to change positions and take frequent breaks. The air cushion sound like a good idea - I'll look for one.

I can actually feel the pain now as I'm typing this.....

[h90]

What about trying to reduce the sitting time on it? Reducing the hours and reducing the time sitting on one spot

Say every hour walk a bit around.

If not all is intense work...like you read the newspaper in the computer, you could do it lying on the bad or sofa. Or after some time switch chair to one with a total different position (that may cause you other problems like in the back, but not if you use it just 1 hour per day).

Just anything that reduces the siting time on that spot.

(I am sure you are aware that being overweight isn't helpful).

[Mobi]

It looks like I do have an early stage pressure sore.

here is a not so disgusting pic of my buttock....

... and here a pic I took off the web of an early stage pressure sore

The discolouration is very similar in both photos.

One kind member has suggested I apply honey.... any thoughts on this?

Yes, I am aware that being overweight is not helping, which is why I mentioned it. I'm not massively overweight, maybe about 8-10 kilos above my ideal weight.

thanks for the advice so far...

[dddave]

My father lived with ALS (Lou Gerhigs Disease) for 5 years before passing away. Our family received a lot of assistance from the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and one of the first things they provided for us was a natural sheepskin. Since my dad was confined to a chair for most of the day, he was prone to pressure sores and they explained that a sheepskin chair cover was the most effective way to prevent them and it worked very well. He was fortunate that his wife at the time (not my Mom) was an RN and was able to care for him very well, getting him out of the chair as often as possible but he still spent the majority of his days seated and he never developed pressure sores.

Probably not easy to find a properly processed one here in Thailand but there are sheep raised and slaughtered here so one should be available. Maybe you can find a Halal butcher who will know a source. You might need to do a bit of Googling to find out how to properly care for it. Take note that a lot of "Sheepskin" auto upholstery covers are synthetic and will not do the job but a high end auto accessory supplier might sell genuine ones.

[Sheryl]

It may look the same to you, but if certainly doesn't to me and I have seen thousands of actual pressure sores in the flesh.

Incidentally the location of the sore in the picture you got from the web would be from someone who was bedridden, not due to sitting in a chair as too high up.

[Mobi]

It may look the same to you, but if certainly doesn't to me and I have seen thousands of actual pressure sores in the flesh.

Incidentally the location of the sore in the picture you got from the web would be from someone who was bedridden, not due to sitting in a chair as too high up.

I bow to your greater knowledge - if not a pressure sore, what do you think it is?

The first time I felt the pain there were no marks on the skin at all, but now some discolouration and 'rough' areas are starting to appear.

It's not nerve pain, it's the kind of pain you might feel if your buttock was inflamed in some way. I would rate the pain at about 3 out of 10 in the pain stakes, so it doesn't bother me much, but I want to do something before it does start to really hurt.

I didn't mean to suggest that the pic from the web was caused by someone sitting - I just wanted to compare a normal 'stage 1' pressure sore with what I have got.

Thanks.

Mobi

[Sheryl]

I can't be sure but it might be an early varicosity (enlarged superficial veins) which would indeed be related to sitting for too long.

There is also a small area with what looks like possible insect bites.

Suggest making a point of getting up an moving around hourly and also lying down briefly each hour (just a few minutes) An air cushion may relieve the discomfort but if these are varicosities it won't stop them from getting worse, the problem is gravity.

[Jessi]

My father lived with ALS (Lou Gerhigs Disease) for 5 years before passing away. Our family received a lot of assistance from the Muscular Dystrophy Assn. and one of the first things they provided for us was a natural sheepskin. Since my dad was confined to a chair for most of the day, he was prone to pressure sores and they explained that a sheepskin chair cover was the most effective way to prevent them and it worked very well. He was fortunate that his wife at the time (not my Mom) was an RN and was able to care for him very well, getting him out of the chair as often as possible but he still spent the majority of his days seated and he never developed pressure sores.

Probably not easy to find a properly processed one here in Thailand but there are sheep raised and slaughtered here so one should be available. Maybe you can find a Halal butcher who will know a source. You might need to do a bit of Googling to find out how to properly care for it. Take note that a lot of "Sheepskin" auto upholstery covers are synthetic and will not do the job but a high end auto accessory supplier might sell genuine ones.

I had real sheep skin seat covers in my car they are fantastic. Make sure they are real & not fake. Try EBay they are not expensive in NZ or Australia. Look for the throw over type not the fitted.

http://www.ebay.com/bhp/sheepskin-seat-cover

[Jessi]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1PC-Genuine-Sheepskin-Long-Wool-Car-Seat-Covers-Chair-cushion-18-18-BLACK-/331650006586

This is ideal. Only about 750B.

[chubby]

or induration related to dermatitis ; you have feeling in your buttocks I presume , no history of spinal cord or peripheral nerve injury?

anyway, try getting some 'barrier cream' and every 30 minutes lean to one side to allow re-circulation and soap and water 2-3 times / day if hot ; unless its 'stage II" , then you want moist but not wet(maceration), and a dressing of some sort , not gauze, telpha .......etc

[Cobragold]

Get a Swimming tube or something similar to Ensure that there is no sitting on the same spot for long