Treatments for road rash

[limey]

Just back from holidays in France where the wife had a crash and has severe road rash on her elbow and knee.

She's on the mend slowly using techniques I used to use when I was racing and road rash was a frequent event!....make sure the wound is clean and then whenever possible leave the wound uncovered so it drys with lots of fresh air and sunshine on the wound, only covering it for sleep and then gently soaking off the dressing in the morning if it's stuck to the wound with warm saline solution.

I'd like to hear what methods others are using to see if there is a better option for the ol' gal!

Cheers, limey

[Vorpal]

The biggest problem with road rash sores, if they are scabbed over is when the scabs crack. I would recommend putting some cream on them to prevent cracking. Ask at the chemists for something made specifically for sores, or just use something like aqueous cream.

p.s. I wouldn't cover it, even during sleep, unless it's needed to prevent scratching.

[Tangled Metal]

Clean out well. A biker guy I know has had gravel left in his knee from a misspent youth. Apparently it leaves a black stain under the skin when healed up.

Check with your pharmacist as I think you can get wound cream.

For some reason the best wound dressings are only available from specialist suppliers and you have to be in the health trade to buy them. There are however some very good dressings that hospitals can have access to but private individuals and gp surgeries cannot. I was lucky once being sent home with some of the better dressings. They do not stick at all to wounds and allow for breathing but you can keep the wound clean and the scabs intact without cracking.

I hope she heals quickly and the wounds didn't stop her enjoyment of your trip.

[freeflow]

You actually want a large version of the gel plasters. These prevent the scab from forming BUT, and this is a very important but, they keep the wound moist so that the skin can regenerate easily. The rate of healing with this type of dressing is much faster and much more comfortable then allowing scabs to form. It also makes cleaning the wound much easier as you might need to replace the gel plaster several times if there is too much exudate.

Many years ago I came off my bike and landed in a pile of grit with my knee. The treatment at A&E was by a special kit for motor bike riders. It consisted of an aneasthetic gel which was spread liberally over the wound area and a sterile scrubbing brush which was applied with vim and vigour to remove the gravel embedded in my knee. I couldn't feel a thing but some of the trainee nurses went a bit green about the gills at the sight of copious amounts of red froth generated by the scrubbing.

[Paulatic]

Make a tea of Rosemary and witch hazel.
Bathe 2 or 3 times a day. It will heal quickly and reduce that itching feeling.
We've used it for 40 yrs on family and pets. Vets have always been astounded by speed of wound healing in our animals.

[axel_knutt]

a sterile scrubbing brush which was applied with vim and vigour to remove the gravel embedded in my knee.

I did that in the kitchen with a non-sterile nail brush, it was easier to grit my teeth and get on with it than going "ooh, aah" as I picked the gravel out one bit at a time.

witch hazel

That reminds me of my father's pile ointment.

[531colin]

Wound dressing called INADINE....Google it.
Very old-fashioned, contains iodine for its antiseptic effect, and its greasy so you don't get the dressing sticking, or cracking scabs. (you have to cover it, otherwise everything you touch goes brown)
Absolutely marvellous stuff....most pharmacies won't have heard of it and will try to sell you something modern, expansive, and useless.

[limey]

Thanks for everybodies input......Mrs. Limey also wriggled a bit with the vigorous brushing and red froth!

She went to our pet sports physio this afternoon as her shoulder on her impact side is very painful and movement is difficult.......he's suspecting a fractured humeral joint head.....blimey!.....so it's a phone call to the doc's tomorrow and try and get an X-Ray organised pdq.....fair play to to her, she's 61, came to cycling late in life but is still game to get out there for a blast, cheers, Limey

[Vorpal]

That's too bad. I hope that whatever the diagnosis is, she has a quick recovery.