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Healing complications!!

Posted , 7 users are following.

kim42248
kim42248

Both of my incisions have not healed since bilateral surgery, in fact, the one is partly closed at normal level, but the other one is completely open end to end. I have had extreme pain starting about a week after the first surgery, that's when the second hand was done. When the stitches were removed in the first hand, with one end still being open (the stitches were in 23 days and were pulling terribly), the nurse said it was fine. It's not fine. The stitches are now out of my second hand, (I did this myself after 19 days because the stitches were giving me extreme pain and were not helping) having not ever closed, and the incision remains open. I have had to put steri strips on myself. Quite accidentally, and because of my own insisting,  I have just found out that I have an infection of some kind, that's in my body, after I asked my family doc to check for diabetes, because I am not healing. So now, I am on antibiotics.

I know this will heal in time, but I'm worried that the wound will not fill in and I will be left with a crevace. Has anyone had this happen? And, how did it turn out for you? Thank you.

0 likes, 16 replies

16 Replies

  • elaine02726
    elaine02726 kim42248

    Posted

    If you are in the UK ask to be referred to the district nurses dressing clinic. They are the experts on wound care and will help you get. The best possible scar. There are all sorts of dressings like 'Granuflex' that help difficulty in healing

    good luck Elaine

    • kim42248
      kim42248 elaine02726

      Posted

      I am Canadian and our doctors consistently do not do any investigation unless asked to, do not follow up, or even offer any advice. None of them seem to have any time for being a doctor!!

      We are left diaqnosing ourselves half the time. It's unreal! But thanks for the suggestion.

    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 kim42248

      Posted

      Hi Kim

      i have just checked a pack of Granuflex I had open in the first aid kit. Sadly it is well out of date and no longer sterile, else I would have sent it to you.

      it is a Hydrocolloid dressing and is worn undisturbed for 7 days and is very effective. It may be worth asking your pharmacist if they have it or something similar. Do you have anyone to apply it for you?

      we are so lucky in the UK with our NHS. Everyone moans about it but I am a great supporter having worked for 42 years in lots of jobs but always in the NHS

      regards Elaine

    • kim42248
      kim42248 elaine02726

      Posted

      Well thank you anyways smile The doc said it will heal eventually. I actually did have a really good doctor today for a second opinion. 
  • nicola34310
    nicola34310 kim42248

    Posted

    Hi Kim

    I had CTS surgery dec 2014 I have not been as severe as yours I'm sorry you have had such a crap time, I went to see my consultant couple if weeks ago he is not happy how my scar us healing as still very raw and angry looking and feeling numb is worse than before surgery, he said he will see me again in 8 weeks time for more nerve tests but CTS did not show up last time but diagnosed while in surgery so unsure what they will do my little finger which has apparently nothing to do with CTS is so numb I could prob snap it and not feel it so like you in the dark if what going to happen x I hope you get some news soon keep in touch

    Nic

    • kim42248
      kim42248 nicola34310

      Posted

      Hmmm, yes it's the healing or lack of that's got me. The numbness is odd. Do you have arthritis? The little finger is controlled by a completely different nerve, but I'm sure they've told you this? Good luck with that I'm sorry you still have numbness?
  • avril3004
    avril3004 kim42248

    Posted

    im Curious too why you had to have the stitches in for over 3 weeks. mine were meant to be in for 2 weeks and after about a week they started coming out themselves and the first hand took 2 of the 3 out my self as they untied and all 3 of the 3 on the second hand as they again untied after about a week. are you're wounds wet at all ? any odor from them ?
    • kim42248
      kim42248 avril3004

      Posted

      My incisions were not healing.  I kept them clean and dry I completely kept to instruction. Today, after 19 days I took the stitches out of the second hand myself and to my horror, it opened right up. The edges did not meld together at all. I went to the hospital to see why I wasn't healing and they did tests, and my blood work came back problematic. All my cell counts in my blood are high. I'm being referred to a hematologist? I think that;s what he said...a blood specialist. I'm a little nervous as to why the results are abnormal. I'm hoping it's just an infection they said they saw in my lung.  Anyhow that seems to be why I havent healed and I will keep you posted.
    • kim42248
      kim42248

      Posted

      I should have also said that I do not recommend you taking your own stitches out, but in my own circumstace I had excruciating pain for two weeks since the surgery but the doc said everything was "fine". It wasn't fine, clearly, but that's the only reason I couldn't stand the stitches in anymore I constantly had this razorblade cutting my hand sensation, feeling like lemon juice was being squeezed into the cuts, and it was very obvious they hadn't sealed togetther.
  • glenn06752
    glenn06752 kim42248

    Posted

    after reading your entry, I think you should consult a good mal-practice attorney.      It appears you had a botched surgery and should be compensated. I feel bad that you are going through this and certainly this is the exception more than the rule on CTS surgery.. I recently went through bi-lateral surgery, two weeks apart. Although I have some regrets and wish I had waited a while longer, it's all behind me and my scars are almost invisible. Although I'm still in some pain, I'm hoping  in a few more weeks I can just forget about this surgery.

    I wish you the very best and keep us posted.

     

    • kim42248
      kim42248 glenn06752

      Posted

      Thanks for your advice. I hope you continue to recover well smile I'm going to think about it. I will keep you guys posted.
  • Janet1973
    Janet1973 kim42248

    Posted

    Hi Kim,

    im 4 weeks into carpal surgery right hand, the wound opened up immediately when the stitches were removed after 10 days, it was steri stripped on 3 separate occasions and its still not healed, I go back on Wednesday, steri strips still I place but I can feel it's still stinging, and open,  nobody knows why it's not healed but I'm at my wits end with it!

    i think the healing process is so long now because it's healing from this inside and that takes for ever.

    im sure I shall be referred back to the consultant whom performed it, I can't be left like this! 

    Good luck with your recovery!

    janet

    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 Janet1973

      Posted

      Hi Janet

      sorry to hear of your problem.

      if you live in the UK ask to see the District nurses, they are the experts in wound care. There are lots of products on the market which promote healing. One I know of is Grafuflex but I am sure there will be more up to date now, I am a retired nurse, and know you should get better help than steri strips.

      good luck

       Elaine 

    • Janet1973
      Janet1973 elaine02726

      Posted

      Thank you elaine, I've been seeing the distric nurses for 4 weeks, they just say I have to be patient and it will eventually heal, when the stitches came out and it opened up completely you could see the fat layer, so it's had to secondary heal apparently, I was there again yesterday and it's just more steri strips to keep it together....frustrating for sure!!

      thank you for trying to advice me

      best wishes Janet 

    • kim42248
      kim42248 Janet1973

      Posted

      Hi Janet. I have an update for you. My wounds have completely healed, and its been 7 weeks on one, and 6 on the other. They have filled in also, and Im doing a lot of self massage for the scars, maybe that is helping. The carpal tunnel pain is all gone now, but I do have a lot of incision pain. tightness and itching. I go back to work in 4 days. I think this is just going to take time to heal. I still have swelling too, in my hands and wrists. I hope this helps.
    • elaine02726
      elaine02726 Janet1973

      Posted

      Hi Janet

      things must have changed since my day, sorry!

      Regards Elaine 

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