Road Rash Question

Sorry if I'm posting in wrong place. Wasn't sure if I should be here or in health section. In any case, I have road rash on right arm and right leg. Arm, not that bad and I'm not covering it (except for liquid bandage). Leg is another story. I used some Johnson and Johnson pads (I think called compeed, like Tegaderm). Put on last night by this afternoon were leaking all of the place (in this case onto my dress pants--thankfully they are lined). Went home at lunch and applied Tegaderm patches. Wrapped guaze around very loosely, twice, in case they leak. Is that okay? Also, can I exercise like this or should I let this heal more? I wanted to spin or do eliptical tonight. I am still in pain, but was hoping for a light cardio workout.

if they are leaking, i would be concerned about infection. are they warm?
have you been to a health clinic?

If you search on "road rash treatment" there are a couple of threads on the topic. Plus this article from Arnie Baker. I didn't reread it thoroughly but I remember it being a fairly thorough piece.

http://www.arniebakercycling.com/pub...Rash%20ABC.pdf

First off- make *sure* you get all the debris out of it. Debris is just about *guaranteed* to contribute to infection.

2nd- use a triple antibiotic like neosporin. These things love to get gooey and infected.

3rd- you're doing a good thing by wrapping it- keeping it moist (with the natural lymph secretions and antibiotic) will help reduce scarring.

I think as long as it's not on a knee or joint or some such, you should be fine to exercise... but I'm not a doctor.

This thread probably had the most extensive info

http://forums.teamestrogen.com/showt...rash+treatment

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

if they are leaking, i would be concerned about infection. are they warm?
have you been to a health clinic?

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Unfortunately its the nature of road rash to ooze - even if its as clean as can be.
It sounds like you are doing a good job treating it - it will leak and ooze. If its really bothersome, as long as there is no infection you can use an occlusive dressing (too nasty for my tastes...) that stays on and holds everything in, but you may want to just take some supplies to work and change it once or twice during the day so that you don't get leakage on your clothes. I've also heard that Silvadine (its a burn cream) is really great for road rash too - it is antibiotic and supposedly reduces scarring. Never fear the it probably will heal up enough to stop being so weepy in a week or so.

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Originally Posted by Eden

Unfortunately its the nature of road rash to ooze - even if its as clean as can be.
It sounds like you are doing a good job treating it - it will leak and ooze. If its really bothersome, as long as there is no infection you can use an occlusive dressing (too nasty for my tastes...) that stays on and holds everything in, but you may want to just take some supplies to work and change it once or twice during the day so that you don't get leakage on your clothes. I've also heard that Silvadine (its a burn cream) is really great for road rash too - it is antibiotic and supposedly reduces scarring. Never fear the it probably will heal up enough to stop being so weepy in a week or so.

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Thx. I don't think it feels unusually warm -- I mean it was warm when I removed the dressing, but the fluid is clear. I've heard about Silvadine, but don't know if this is worth trip to doctor. I'm tryin to let it heal from the inside out versus letting it scab.

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Originally Posted by Derf

Thx. I don't think it feels unusually warm -- I mean it was warm when I removed the dressing, but the fluid is clear. I've heard about Silvadine, but don't know if this is worth trip to doctor. I'm tryin to let it heal from the inside out versus letting it scab.

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That's very smart - if it scabs over there is more chance of infection, scars and it will hurt more!

I used Silvadine on a very bad road rash on my face. My doctor compared it to a 2nd-3rd degree burn. I had almost no scarring. Only one little spot and even that is hardly noticeable. Was it the Silvadine? IDK, but I would think that it helped. I also used Vit E Oil once there was more healing and no oozing.

Annie

It has been proven that wounds kept moist do heal more quickly than the "dry 'em out, scab over" solution..

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Originally Posted by mimitabby

It has been proven that wounds kept moist do heal more quickly than the "dry 'em out, scab over" solution..

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Yeah, I probably should have done the same for the one on my arm, but didn't. It's not that bad though -- there will be some scabs, but not awful.

Bacatracin works very well on the wounds. If they're oozing keep them covered. Good luck!

Derf, I just wen't down that road last Tuesday. A week into all the road rash down my right side it is still leaking and oozing. When I wen't to the E.R. because it was getting hot, red and swollen and cellulitis was setting in they put me on a MEGA anitbiotic and debrided the wounds, plus a tetanus shot...OUCH. Anyway, I've used the Tegaderm with a triple antibiotic ointment. The DR. said to leave it open with the ointment during the day if possible and wrap them at night. They are healing, but it such a SLOW
painful process. I had a puncture would to my knee also, so it was REALLY deep that is really oozing.
Anyway, it sounds like what you are doing is good, just watch out for signs of infection, with road rash, it can start fast, mine only took 2 days even though I rinsed them out right away and started all the treatment immediately.
Good luck, heal fast, and hope you feel better soon!
Jenn

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Originally Posted by Jenn

Derf, I just wen't down that road last Tuesday. A week into all the road rash down my right side it is still leaking and oozing. When I wen't to the E.R. because it was getting hot, red and swollen and cellulitis was setting in they put me on a MEGA anitbiotic and debrided the wounds, plus a tetanus shot...OUCH. Anyway, I've used the Tegaderm with a triple antibiotic ointment. The DR. said to leave it open with the ointment during the day if possible and wrap them at night. They are healing, but it such a SLOW
painful process. I had a puncture would to my knee also, so it was REALLY deep that is really oozing.
Anyway, it sounds like what you are doing is good, just watch out for signs of infection, with road rash, it can start fast, mine only took 2 days even though I rinsed them out right away and started all the treatment immediately.
Good luck, heal fast, and hope you feel better soon!
Jenn

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Thanks and I'm sorry to hear about your accident and hope that you are feeling better with each passing day. The one on my leg is still oozing, but not quite as bad as yesterday. I also decided to cover the one on my arm. The Tegaderm patches I got have a strip of guaze in the middle so that is helping with the oozing. I just hope they heal fast!

OMG, I don't know WHAT happened but my elbow and knee oozed so bad last night that the bandages STUCK!! I was in the shower, trying to wet them to get them off........wheewwwwww.....I'd almost would have rather gone through the crash again, talk about HURT!!! They also started bleeding again, I'm sooo sick of this.
I did find though that buying the self sticking ace bandages and using those over the Tegaderm then the sterile bandage it helped ALOT. Buying that wrap gets sooo expensive, at $2 a wrap and I only get enough for my leg and arm....Anyway wore the bandages to class last night and it was nice and hidden:rolleyes: and FINALLY my face has almost healed, I just have a bruise over my right eye that looks like I put on some REALLY JACKED UP eyeshadow!:D

OMG, I don't know WHAT happened but my elbow and knee oozed so bad last night that the bandages STUCK!! I was in the shower, trying to wet them to get them off........wheewwwwww.....I'd almost would have rather gone through the crash again, talk about HURT!!! They also started bleeding again, I'm sooo sick of this.
I did find though that buying the self sticking ace bandages and using those over the Tegaderm then the sterile bandage it helped ALOT. Buying that wrap gets sooo expensive, at $2 a wrap and I only get enough for my leg and arm....Anyway wore the bandages to class last night and it was nice and hidden:rolleyes: and FINALLY my face has almost healed, I just have a bruise over my right eye that looks like I put on some REALLY JACKED UP eyeshadow!:D