Experiencing Pain from Pressure Ulcers
People often describe pressure ulcers as ‘painful wounds’, but this is often difficult to comprehend for those that are not suffering. So, what does this mean for the cared for? How bad can this pain be?
Kinds of Pain due to Pressure Ulcers
For those experiencing pressure ulcers, the pain can be periodic to coincide with repetitive movement or treatment, sporadic due to a particular event, or maybe continuous, with constant background pain that varies in severity¹. A sufferer may also experience neuropathic pain, as pressure ulcers can damage the nervous system².
As pain is subjective, it is difficult to measure, so to understand we must draw on the experiences of those that have suffered a pressure ulcer. This can help us appreciate what they’re going through and how it impacts their quality of life. Several studies have tried this approach to evaluate and assess this ‘pain’ using a range of measurement methods. The key points of these studies suggest that:
- Nearly all patients with a pressure ulcer feel pain³, regardless of the severity.
- The pain experienced can range from irritating to unbearable².
- The intensity, duration, location and spread of the pain varies from patient to patient².
- Pain can be brought on or exacerbated through pressure from clothes or contact with the floor, seating or bed².
- Pain is exacerbated by dressing changes to the wound and this pain can last for many hours after the procedure³.
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