advice needed asap

[PatL20]

hi all,

im just wondering if anyone knows of any device or such that could help me out?

my grandad has recently been diagnosed with cancer on his spine etc and is therefore bed stricken - problem is his lower back and bum area is getting red raw and the cream etc doesnt help much....

.... what im wondering is - does anyone know of a device or anything that could help?

much appreciated if helped - just at a loss atm

[badapple]

Sorry to hear about the bad news about your grandad m8.

One thing I can suggest is to get him a good quality soft memory foam mattress.

[tshirtman]

Pressure sores, can be difficult to treat, especially if someone is bed bound, normally the best treatment would be to regularly change positions(every 2 hours is the recommended period) to relieve pressure to the effected area, even if he can lie on his side every now and then, it will help,
in your grandads case this might not be possible, so it's imperative to make sure he doesn't get any infections, or ulcers,
have a look for Pressure Relief Cushions,
best to keep his feet raised,
plenty of fluids, but not before meal times as this will make him feel full, and not eat properly,
plenty of vitamin C, and zinc, as this will help with keeping his skin healthy,
analgesics for pain relief,

if it was me, I would be contacting his GP and ask for a district/practice nurse to come and visit him to assess the severity of the sores, they are best placed to offer the best treatment plan, pain relief, and products, to help.
they can also help with dressings where needed, like hydrocolloid or alginate dressings, to prevent infections, if he has already got an infection he would need a course of antibiotics, and stronger pain killers.

[portbhoy]

In hospitals they use a system similar to this BOS Pressure Relief Bubble Pad Mattress System :: Sports Supports | Mobility | Healthcare Products which can be either air or water fed, a lambswool mat can also help as a drawpad when moving or turning you just move the pad aswell to provide relief. Speak to Macmillan nurses to see what services they provide.