Claudia Coates has more peace of mind since getting treatment for a painful wound.
For Claudia Coates, coping with a wound that could not be seen was affecting her physically and emotionally. She was experiencing pain regularly and was nervous and afraid about what was happening. After suffering on her own, she talked with her doctor who referred her to the Wound Healing Center at Doctors Hospital of Laredo.
“Many patients can suffer from the lasting effects of radiation injury and may not even be able to see any physical signs, but it’s important for people to know that they’re not alone and that effective medical treatments are available,” says Manuel Gonzalez, MD, Vascular Surgeon and Medical Director of the new Wound Healing Center.
Through a partnership with Healogics™, the nation’s leading wound care management company, the Wound Healing Center has access to a vast network of resources and advanced healing technologies, including two hyperbaric oxygen therapy chambers, which were instrumental in Claudia’s care.
"Hyperbaric oxygen therapy supports healing by allowing patients to use the body’s own natural healing mechanisms," explains Dr. Gonzalez. During the procedure, patients lie in a clear acrylic chamber that is pressurized to enable the lungs to take in more oxygen than they would under normal atmospheric conditions. This can promote the flow of oxygen-rich blood to areas of the body that the oxygen might not otherwise reach, and help not only speed, but complete the healing process. Other benefits may include decreased swelling, the formation of new micro blood vessels and increased protection against infection.
This type of treatment is not recommended in all cases, but for certain patients, it can be beneficial, Dr. Gonzalez notes.
By the second week of hyperbaric oxygen therapy, Claudia noticed a difference. Her pain lessened, and just as importantly, she felt more confident and assured about her health. “I had more peace of mind,” she recalls.
Since having the treatment, Claudia says she has been able to get back to exercising without pain, and the worry she used to feel has been relieved.
Today, she thanks God for the opportunity to go to the Wound Healing Center. She is also grateful to the staff at the center for their “professionalism, care and unity.” They went out of their way to make sure that she felt comfortable and secure, she notes. “I was in good hands,” she says.
Wound care tips
- Clean, clean, clean
- Wash your hands and wear protective gloves (latex or vinyl) when dealing with your wound. Keep or change those dressings just as you've been instructed. Keep surfaces where you'll be changing wound bandages or applying topical ointments clean and disinfected.
- Sleep
- Your body does most of its healing while you sleep. The average adult needs seven to nine hours of sleep each night.
- Nutrition
- Ask a nutritionist about the benefits of vitamins such as C, B and E, calcium and zinc, and the importance of a diet high in protein. Amino acids in protein help build muscles, skin, hormones and your immune system.
If you have a wound that is not getting better after four weeks or does not heal within eight weeks, it is considered a chronic or non-healing wound. Wounds treated at the Wound Healing Center include pressure sores (stages 1, 2, 3, and 4); ulcers (neuropathic and others); surgical incisions; burns; and ischemic wounds (caused by poor blood flow).