Emotional Impact of Chronic Wounds & Lacerations
Individuals dealing with chronic wounds face several challenges that those without wounds simply do not. Put simply, a patient with chronic wounds will not only face physical hurdles due to their wounds, but they will also suffer from some psychological impacts of those wounds as well. Therefore, it is important to understand how chronic wounds impact your quality of life and what you can do to take control of them.
Understanding Chronic Wounds
The impacts of a chronic wound can be felt for weeks, months, or even for a lifetime, depending on the severity of the wound and its location on the body. These impacts are prolonged when the patient does not seek immediate medical treatment for their wounds.
Holland Hospital explains the definition of a chronic wound like this:
Wounds that linger for weeks or months and won’t properly heal without medical intervention are called chronic wounds. A wound is considered chronic if it hasn’t significantly healed by three months or decreased at least 50% in size in four weeks.
Patients can suffer less severe wounds at times that don’t fall into the chronic category. However, for those who are suffering from chronic wounds, it can be a devastating thing to go through.
Impact on Quality of Life
There are so many impacts from chronic wounds that are not discussed nearly enough. Among the impacts on one’s quality of life are the physical manifestations of the wound itself. However, there are also psychological impacts associated with chronic wounds. Some of the potential psychological impacts experienced by people battling chronic wounds include:
- Anxiety and Depression – Patients can experience anxiety about how long they should expect their wounds to heal. They might also fall into a state of depression about it as their thoughts linger on what their life was like before they experienced this chronic injury to begin with. Patients might be concerned that they may need to have a limb amputated in order to reduce the harm that might otherwise come their way. All of these things are potential triggers for symptoms of anxiety and depression.
- Social Isolation – Sadly, the appearance of chronic wounds can lead some people to stay away from patients who are undergoing this. As such, the patient may begin to feel as if they are experiencing social isolation, and this can contribute to a psychological feeling of being unwell.
These are just some of the impacts that a patient dealing with a chronic wound might experience. It is a truly challenging experience that no one should have to go through alone, and it can be devastating for those who are going through it to figure out their next steps.
Advanced Treatment Options
There are specialized medical professionals who can offer the latest treatments and solutions for wound care out there. From specialized bandaging procedures to individualized treatment plans, there are steps that one can take to put themselves in a better position to receive the care that they deserve. It is important to explore these options rather than continue to suffer needlessly.
Contact us at United Wound Care Centers of Rockwall to learn more about how to care for your chronic wounds
Reach out to our team at United Wound Care Centers of Rockwall to learn more about how we can assist you and about which treatment options make sense for your situation. We are glad to share our expert-level knowledge on the topic and offer you the advice that you need to receive the care that you deserve. We believe that everyone should have the opportunity to get their wounds treated properly, and our team is more than happy to step up and assist with that.
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