treatment 5-17-20276

Wound Care Instructions - Heel Wound

Wound Care Instructions

For Your Heel Wound

Date: [Insert Today's Date]

Your Wound Today

You have a wound on the bottom or side of your heel. It has:

  • A small yellowish spot in the middle (this is dead skin/debris that needs to clean out).
  • A healthy pink/red area around it (new healing tissue growing in).
  • A pale edge where new skin is starting to grow over the wound.

It is healing, but it needs your help to heal faster.

1. MOST IMPORTANT: Keep ALL Pressure Off the Heel

  • Do NOT walk on it or let it touch the bed or chair.
  • Use the special heel boot or pillow we gave you.
  • Stay off your foot as much as possible — use crutches or a walker if you need to move.
  • Check the heel every time you change position.

2. How to Change the Dressing (Usually every 3 days or when wet/dirty)

  1. Wash your hands well with soap and water.
  2. Gently rinse the wound with the saline (salt water) or wound cleanser we gave you. You can use a syringe to gently squirt it.
  3. Put a small amount of the clear gel (hydrogel) directly on the wound to keep it moist.
  4. Cover with the thick foam bandage.
  5. Secure it with tape or wrap — not too tight.
  6. Apply skin cream or zinc ointment around the healthy skin to protect it.

Do NOT use dry gauze, wet-to-dry bandages, or harsh cleaners like bleach water (Dakin’s). These can slow healing and damage the new pink tissue.

3. Watch for Problems — Call Your Doctor Right Away If You See:

  • More redness, swelling, warmth, or pus
  • Bad smell coming from the wound
  • Fever or chills
  • Increased pain
  • The wound gets bigger or bleeds a lot

4. Help Your Body Heal Faster

  • Eat plenty of protein (meat, eggs, beans, peanut butter, etc.).
  • Take any vitamins or supplements the doctor ordered.
  • Keep your blood sugar under control if you have diabetes.
  • Do not smoke.

Follow-Up

We will check the wound again in about 1 week. Take photos of the wound once a week (with a ruler next to it) to see progress.

You are doing the right things. Keep protecting the wound and it should keep improving!

Questions? Write them down and ask at your next visit or call the clinic.
Provider: [Your Name / Clinic Name] — [Phone Number]

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