What Are Some of the Most Common Causes of Bedsores?

Bedsores are also commonly referred to as pressure ulcers. They are injuries that occur on the skin and the tissue underneath it due to prolonged pressure. Bedsores can happen anywhere, but they tend to occur most frequently on areas of the body that are quite bony, such as heels, ankles, and hips. 

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You tend to find that people who develop bedsores often have medical conditions that make it so they are less able to change positions or they spend elongated periods in bed. They can take days or hours to occur; it all comes down to the individual. 

Common Symptoms of Bedsores

If you think you or your loved one might have bedsores, you should be able to tell by looking out for some of the more common symptoms. These include, but are not limited to, some of the following: 

- Strange changes in both the texture and the color of the skin

- Unusual swelling 

- Draining which looks pus-like 

- Having an area of skin that feels a lot cooler or warmer to the touch as opposed to other areas 

- Tender areas of skin 

Bedsores tend to fall into one of several stages depending on the depth of them as well as their severity and other characteristics. The severity of skin and tissue damage tends to range depending on the changes in skin color, muscle, and bone. 

Common Places Where Pressure Ulcers Are Found 

There are a few different places where it’s common to see a pressure ulcer. As previously mentioned, they can occur everywhere, but there are certain places that are a lot more common than others. These include but are not limited to some of the following sites.

When the person involved uses a wheelchair or spends large proportions of their time in a chair: 

- Your tailbone or buttocks 

- On the shoulder blades or near the spine 

- On the back of the arms and legs (specifically where they have been rested against the chair)

When the person involved stays in bed a lot and is unable to move: 

- On the back or on the side of the head 

- On the shoulder blades 

- The hips, lower back, and even on the tailbone 

- On the heels, ankles, and the skin behind the knees 

What Are the Common Causes of Bedsores? 

As previously stated, bedsores tend to be caused when someone needs to stay in the same position over an elongated period of time. They can also be the result of negligence in a hospital or a care home. Nurses should be aware of the risk of bedsores, and, as such, they should be prevalent in making sure a patient is not in a position to get them. If you or your loved one has been subject to such negligence, then be sure to reach out to bed sores attorneys who will be able to help you pursue a claim for compensation. 

Bedsores are incredibly common, and they are not anything to be embarrassed about. If you notice any occurring and they do not heal, you should reach out to your doctor for treatment to help them heal.