Blister on Mom’s foot; is there anything I can do to speed up the healing?
Mom had a stroke 3.5 years ago with limited use of the leg and foot. During this time her foot wants to turn inward. So after trying 2-3 braces online, we went to the Prosthetic location near us and they specialize in custom braces. It worked wonderfully! And mom loved it. We never thought to look at the bottom of moms foot, but 4 days after we had an adjustment to bring the foot more level, a blister appeared below her pinky toe and the bottom of her foot where she puts the most pressure now.
Well that was a month ago and the blister is about dime size and still red. If the bandage slips up off the sore, she turns with her foot on the floor making the sore split. This usually happens when the RAs give her a shower (bagging the foot) then putting her sock back in, pushing the whole bandage up to her ankle. The next time she stands and rotates with that foot down, there’s blood.
Since it’s been 30 days, the assisted living is now saying if if doesn’t heal in 90, she will have to move brocade she has a wound that won’t heal. Which is crap. If they would use common sense, it would have by now.
I go by and run her foot to keep extra swelling down and it’s a good day if she gets her support hose on for swelling.
A care nurse comes by once a day to redress the wound, but if the shower incident happens, she’s in a damp bandage on her ankle and only a sock covering the wound all day.
Is there anything I can do to speed up the healing so she can get back to walking (won’t let her walk or put pressure on the foot) and rid us of these threats?
I have considered asking the doctor to pop her into rehab where it can be cared for better.
This is is a blister, thank goodness, not an all out deep wound. I am hoping this heals quickly for the OP so his mother can stay where she is now.
you only need a little bit each morning and night place a little bit on a sterile gauze pad and affix it to the blister. This should work. Also good for ulcers
Yes, home health nurse comes daily to wrap her foot. The problem is they are all doing it differently. One will tell me no band-aid, yet the next day I go, they have a make shift band-aid with gauze and tape. So since I didn’t hear from wound care yesterday, I’ll let the doctor know. Really hoping to get in ASAP.
The doctor did write ulnthat it’s a non-infectious wound and such so we have that on our side as the facility mentioned they could make us move in 60 more days if it’s not healed. They have had diabetes patients with foot wraps for months on end and they were not forced to move, and this dime sized aggravation isn’t that.
We have 20 months and mom will be clear by the POA of any land she owned if anything BAD happens and she has to go to the nursing home. This blister or sore is not on that level.
Maybe that info will help someone else who’s parent has decided to be vegan. :)
Sounds like you’ve already used a protein powder; is the powder whey protein? -that can be sprinkled over her food to provide protein supplement. It’s supposed to be tasteless. Many caregivers use this. Protein intake is very important for wound healing and tissue regeneration. Eggs are a good protein source. I encourage you to goggle protein sources for more info.
Re: woundcare there are so many types of wounds and dressings. They will determine what kind of dressing for her blister and assess the wound at least once per week until it’s almost healed. My guess is they will provide a boot for her to wear with the goal of non weigh bearing to the effected foot.
Diabetics take a long time to heal.
Keep us posted
If Mom has diabetes, any wound will take a while. I think you have made a good choice to get a wound care pro involved. They know what to look for.
My daughter is a wound care nurse. She recommends when ur trying to keep a dressing dry to wrap it in Glad Press and peal. I have done it and its works. You start wrapping above the bandage. It sticks but won't hurt the skin when removing. Wrap the whole bandage. It sticks to itself and seals. When done, it comes off easily.
The protein thing- we have been going over this for a while. She will hardly ever eat meat now! I think the way they cook it at her facility grosses her out now. I bought protein powder, and mixed it with pudding. She wouldn’t take but 2 bites. It won’t blend well with her coffee or I would be set. She loves her Cofee.
She refuses Ensure.
She has even cut back the number of chicken wings when I bring her those. I’m stumped on that!
any ideas would be great- and if anyone knows a powder protein that will dissolve in coffee!
Do they make protein powder in a capsule they can give with meds?
Crossing fingers we get in to the wound care today. Every nurse that wraps her foot doesnit differently and they balk and how many times over once a day they need to come by. I suggested the rehab up the road for better treatment and I’m borderline - if they refuse to treat her wound like advised, that may pass with Medicare and get us in. Of course she hates it and it scares her since they are connected to the nursing home. Dad told her for years I’d dump her there and leave her. I could whoop his butt for that, but he’s dead, so that’s that. (He was a narcissist).
There is a boot like device that helps keep weight bearing off the effected foot. It’s bulky however but has Velcro straps for easy on and off. Maybe she can wear this?
I can understand what a position you are in because it’s a tough one.
I would try as much as you can to keep her off that foot to promote healing. The wound dressing needs to be clean and dry always as if a wet dressing stays on for a long time the skin will macerate underneath and will split and bleed more easily.
Also her diet is a high factor- make sure she eats plenty of protein or offer a supplement like Ensure. Our body needs protein to make new tissue.
And of course the chance for infection exists so her CGs should be super vigilant and observe that wound daily and report any s/s of infection.
Good luck! I hope her wound heals quickly