Not everyone is familiar with the concept of a chronic wound. Essentially, it’s any type of wound that remains unhealed after a period of three months. For some reason, possibly due to the nature of an ongoing illness, the wound does not heal in the stages normally associated with any type of open sore or wound. This makes it necessary to undergo a series of Chronic Wound Treatments in Joliet IL. Here are some of the reasons why special care is needed.
Preventing Infection
Any type of open wound increases the potential for infection. When the wound is not healing in the usual manner, making sure it is kept clean becomes more important than ever. A professional will want to change the dressing more frequently. If any type of drainage tube is used to remove residue from the open wound, it must also be cleaned or changed on a regular basis. Chronic Wound Treatments in Joliet IL of this type will minimize the potential for infection to develop and create even more problems for the patient.
Easing Discomfort
Anyone who has sustained any type of open wound understands the pain involved. During a normal healing process, the level of discomfort will decrease as the wound begins to close. When the wound isn’t closing, additional care must be taken to ensure that the patient is in as little pain as possible. This often means providing some type of ointment that can be applied to the inflamed tissue, and possibly some sort of oral medication that will not cause the blood to thin. While the focus is still on promoting healing, pain management becomes an important part of helping the patient deal with the situation. Click here for more details.
Managing the Underlying Cause
Since many chronic wounds are sustained by people with ongoing health issues, it pays to do whatever it takes to manage that underlying health problem. For example, the wound may in fact be an open sore that is related to the patient’s type 2 diabetes. In order to move past whatever is keeping the wound from healing, more attention to controlling blood glucose levels becomes a priority.
Remember that Chronic Wound Treatments in Joliet IL will vary based on the circumstances of the patient. Talk with the team at Suburban Foot & Ankle Associates in Joliet IL today. Doing so will be the first step toward resolving the problem.
