Road Rash Complications - Options Now?

[RolliePollie]

Ouch! I sure hope your leg heals quickly! It looks very painful!!!!!!!

Cortisone Cream or Ointment just on the blistered part might help. Not sure I'd put it on the open wound area though. You poor thing. A trip to Urgent Care may not be a bad idea...they could probably give you something stronger than just an over-the-counter cream and it might do the trick.

Good luck!

[SouthernBelle]

Man that looks crappy. Is it hot too?

I'll third the suggestion of soaking in a lukewarm salt bath, 2-3 times a day.

Are you sure it's a reaction to the ointment and not infection?

If you have allergies to certain antibiotics, may be worthwhile to get an injection.

Feel better!

[RoadRaven]

MrS
I wonder about your woollen suits you allluded to in another thread irritating the rash...

When my son crashed a few weeks ago, the nurse recommended Vasoline petroleum jelly to prevent scabs from going hard - but that was NOT for deep road rash.

When I had my first major crash a couple of years ago, the doctor put some sticky dressing on - it sounds a bit like the secondSkin Withm describes.

I don't know its medical name as I buy it from the chemist by the half metre, and not in a labeled box.

I've described it here before, and someone knew the name for it in America...

But its like breathable, extra-wide tape. You stick it over the whole rash area and it stays there - through sleep, through showers. The scab forms and heals underneath and in a coupe of weeks you take it off - using baby oil to ensure it doesn't undo the healing. The brand new skin will be very sensitive to sun initially, so be careful you don't burn it.
No scarring... it was amazing (hence why I always keep it in the house now and use it for all grazes and scratches my sons bring home!)

Good healing, MrS

[Tri Girl]

No advice to give, but I just had to say OUCHIE MOMMA!!!
Read about your wipeout the other day, and felt so bad for you. Now having seen what it's morphed into has taken me to a whole new level of sympathy!
I hope you heal quickly!!!!

[Dianyla]

In addition to the aforementioned Spenco Second Skin, also look for Tegaderm by 3M, it's a fairly good occlusive dressing. Hopefully you won't have any allergic reaction to the dressing material.

And, seconding the suggestions for sea salt soaks. Add non-iodized sea salt to water at a ratio of 1 teaspoon per quart of water.

[ChickWithBrains]

I know you're likely healed by now, but...

You *had* other topical antibiotic choices. Silvadene, usually used for burns, can't be used on the face.

Bactroban (mupirocin), safe even with bacitracin allergy.

Topical benadryl is absorbed systemically, so if you're taking it orally be careful -- if you're putting the cream/ointment over a large area the cumulative dose can be hefty and make you pretty drowsy.

Keeping these clean and covered helps with cosmetic results. How'd it turn out?

[Mr. Bloom]

Thanks for the late advice...I'm sure I'll have other opportunities to apply wisdom to road rash!

How did it turn out?

Today - nearly 3 weeks later - it's totally healed. The injury actually healed quickly. The allergic reaction took nearly two weeks to heal and even spread to other parts of my body...including the same places on the other leg!

What finally got me over the top on the itchy rash?

Well, besides removing the allergen (bacitracin and the bandage adhesives), I used:

Coal Tar Shampoo...Yep, I got high concentration coal tar shampoo - the kind that's used for dandruff and seborrheic dematitis - applied it straight to the allergic rash with a Q-Tip for about 10 minutes at a time (avoiding the new skin at first). This caused an effoliation that really relieved the itching and scaling and gave me relief almost immediately.

For the future, I'm going to have a couple of tubes of brave soldier on hand. In reviewing the ingredients, the base of tea tree oil (which definitely helped me in this one) makes be willing to drop a few $ in preparation for the next incident.

[Hammer]

I didn't look at your picture either... I have my own roadrash to admire. And wounds with stitches. But, 3 weeks to heal... even with your allergic reaction? That's not too bad. That's great that you're healing so well!!

I have a cracked clavicle, I can't reach my itchy scratches. I was thinking that eventually when it heals a little more, I might try using a little aloe.

My stitches come out next Friday. We'll see how it goes then.

I hope that you continue to heal and I hope that you never need to worry about this again!!!

Though, if you crash again... I'm on #2... My friends suggest a safer hobby like skateboarding or the rollerderby.

[Mr. Bloom]

withm: The closest Brave Soldier retailer is 150 miles away...but, I've accumulated an arsenal of similar ingredients. So, it might be easier for me to find Tim Tams than Brave Soldier

We went to the organic grocery and got Tea Tree Oil (the first ingredient in Brave Soldier). I've used this before and it has a natural antiseptic quality, albeit, a bit smelly.

I also purchased Califlora Calendula Gel.

The jury is out on these homeopathic remedies, but I'll let you know tomorrow.

I'm not inclined to go to the doctor...there's no sign of infection, no fever, and frankly, it's been my experience that most generalist docs don't understand skin afflictions well - particularly the ones related to allergic reactions.

Everyone, thanks for the great advice.

[smilingcat]

Mr. Silver,

Finally someone mentioned about tea tree oil. Before you go wild over the stuff use just a small amount to make sure you are not alergic to it. Also check for the concentration.

Mildly antiseptic?? My personal experience with tea tree oil was I healed much faster and mild infection cleared up much quicker.

I'm a firm believer in tea tree oil.

smilingcat

[crazycanuck]

Roadraven..are you talking about Fixomull? (spelling might be off..) If it's the type of item i'm thinking of, i put it on any blisters & biking related cuts and it works.

Not sure if they sell it in the US ?

C

[Mr. Bloom]

Finally someone mentioned about tea tree oil. Before you go wild over the stuff use just a small amount to make sure you are not alergic to it. Also check for the concentration.

The good news is that I know I'm not allergic based on prior use. The only problem is the lingering camphor smell and its oiliness

I can't say that the califlora did much overnight. The dressings stuck to the wound, so I had to carefully wash them off this morning. I suspect that I'll be going with benadryl ointment and no dressings for the morning ride.

Overall, the allergic symptoms have subsided a bit, but I can't say it's for any reason other than removing the offensive ointment.

[withm]

CVS sells the Spenco 2nd skin dressings. They will not stick to the wounds, and will keep the wounds moist, and you can wear them on your ride. You've got to keep it clean, moist, and covered if you want it to heal properly. If it dries, and scabs over it will be very painful, scar, and you'll be tempted to be picking at it as it heals. That;'s gonna hurt.

[SouthernBelle]

I've never used teatree oil for something like that but do use it for saddle achies. Did you get the oil? You can get it in a cream and soap too.

Love that stuff. Let me know how it works for the rash since I always have it on hand.

[LBTC]

Mr - sending healing green and yellow butterflies so your road rash heals quickly and completely.

I admit it, I'm a fraidy cat and didn't look at the picture!

Be careful with tea tree oil, at full strength it will burn your skin. If it is a dilute mix that you have, the oiliness is probably from the oil it was mixed with.

For abrasions I used a product by Jason called Tea Tree Gel that contains tea tree oil, arnica, witch hazel, chamomile, all in an aloe vera gel. Not sure if this is appropriate for the nastiness of your rash!

Hugs and butterflies,
~T~