Wound Care

Lipedema is chronic health issue causing the fatty tissue mainly in the arms and legs to increasein size and swell (Lipedema Foundation). However, it does occur in other parts of the body, such as lower belly also known as apron or pannus. Lidedema can be very painful due toexcessive swelling and possible bruising. Unfortunately, lipedema has minimal publicawareness and is  misdiagnosed frequently.Lipedema occurs mainly in women, but can affect men as well. This condition affects bothextremities beginning at the upper hip down to ankles, never affecting the feet (Scheiman, 2020).

Treatment for lipedema consist of: resolve or improve edema, pain and disproportion, preventdisease progression. Decongestion of the fatty tissue is done with wraps, manual lymphaticdrainage and/or pneumatic compression. Liposuction can be very helpful to reduce fatty tissue,but has other health concerns. In addition, weight management that includes caloric reduction aswell as quantity of food is a lifestyle change that should begin immediately.Our clinic is trained in lipedema and can help with pain, manual decompression therapy andcompression wraps.

References

Lipedema Foundation. (n.d.). What is Lipedema. https://lipedema.org

Scheiman, N. E. (2020, June 16). Edema Bootcamp [PDF]. https://www.summit-education.com

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a long lasting and sometimes life time skin disease that causes relentless painful draining abscesses (Medlineplus, 2019).  The abscesses can erupt anywhere on the body, but usually they erupt in the most sensitive areas of the body, such as armpits, breast and genitals. In most cases, the boils start out small and gradually get bigger and begin to drain foul puss drainage that take months to heal (Grant, 2019). Hiradenitis Suppurative is not contagious. However, it can be exacerbated by heat, stress, obesity, imbalance in hormones and  heavy sweating, but these do not cause the initial onset of HS (Grant, 2019).

HS has been around since the 1830’s and there is very little, if any, information in medical books. Most physicians don’t know anything about HS until they get out of medical school and are practicing for years. Public awareness is inadequate because most people just do not want to talk about their HS, probably because they’re too embarrassed and / or frustrated with the health care they’ve received . In addition, there is no standardized care to treat HS either.

Sometimes antibiotics help if an infection is present and sometimes surgery is needed to. There is hope though for HS patients. New medical research is reviling that Hidradenitis Suppurativa is an autoimmune disease and can be treated successfully with a life style change in food and activity (Grant, 2019). I encourage all patients and family members who suffer with HS to read The Hidden Plague by Tara Grant. This book is great at explaining HS and how an autoimmune diet protocol can put your Hiradenitis Suppurative in remission. Our staff at Yukon Wound Care & Rehab in Oklahoma has been very successful over the years healing patients with HS. However, we can only help that particular lesion or wound, but you can put your HS into remission by taking full control of food that triggers an inflammatory response that cause that HS. Please call us with questions or to schedule appointments. 405-265-2255.

References

Grant, T. (2019, January). The Hidden Plague.

Hidradenitis Suppurativa | Acne Inversa | MedlinePlus. (n.d.). MedlinePlus – Health Information from the National Library of Medicine. https://medlineplus.gov/hidradenitissuppurativa.html#

Sunshine is abundant in Oklahoma right now! And so are sunburns! CDC recommends, choosing a broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Wear protective clothing such as light weight long sleeves, wide brimmed hats and sunglasses and stay in the shade. It is important to re-apply as directed on bottle. Blistering can occur causing damage to underlying tissue. Yukon Wound Care & Rehab is trained to help remove dead tissue and soothe surrounding areas. Make us your first choice in care! We have immediate openings available!

As the seasons change in Oklahoma, so do the increase reports of spider bites. Seasonal changes cause spiders to look for desired climates within our homes and offices.

The most common Oklahoma spiders are the brown recluse, black widow, jumping spiders, wolf spiders and tarantulas. Brown recluse and black widows being the only poisonous of the species in Oklahoma. Wolf spiders can commonly be mistaken as brown recluse and vice versa.

Signs of a bite can be redness, swelling, burning, itching, small bump or blistering. Sometimes with a black widow bite double fang marks can be visible. A brown recluse bite can present with a discoloration surrounding the bite, forming into a fluid filled blister and then sloughing off into a deep ulcer with black dying tissue.

If someone suspects they have been bitten by a spider, they should wash the area with soap and water. Apply a cool compress over the area and take an over-the-counter pain reliever to reduce symptoms. If suspecting a black widow or brown recluse spider bite, contact your primary care physician or an urgent care clinic for appropriate treatment. If a wound area appears, Yukon Wound Care and Rehabilitation has immediate openings with trained professionals to assist with management and wound healing.