Patient Stories
Chronic Wounds: The Human Toll
Chronic wounds are a silent epidemic in the United States, with nearly 8.2 million people suffering from painful non-healing wounds. As the U.S. population ages, that prevalence and economic burden of wounds will likely increase – made worse by the growing incidences of diabetes and obesity in the aging population. Chronic wounds themselves are often the physical symptom of a broader illness: ischemia, impaired circulation, neuropathy, and other conditions that can impair immune system functions and diminish circulation (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, arthrosclerosis, obesity, etc.).
Nearly 8.2 million people in the U.S. suffer from a chronic, non-healing wound. |
These wounds cause patients severe emotional and physical stress. Patients with chronic wounds don’t just suffer through the pain of a nonhealing wound, they also often experience trouble walking and moving - as chronic wounds are commonly in the leg and foot area. Healing these wounds can help patients regain mobility and independence. Advanced wound care can help patients heal quicker, avoid infection, experience less pain, and prevent amputation/loss of limbs. Most importantly, advanced wound care can help patients return to jobs, to parenting or grandparenting, and to living life more fully. Read the stories of several patients who share their experiences and the impact of treatments.
Patient stories:
Stories of advanced wound care interventions
Patients share stories of how treatments ranging from compression therapy, radiofrequency ablation, hyberbaric oxygen therapy, negative pressure and Vacuum Assisted Closure (VAC) therapy helped heal their wounds, save their limbs, and get them back to living their lives. Read their stories on the Grand Lake Wound Care Center website.Read their Stories
Life long educator learns first hand the benefits of wound care
A life long teacher, Phyllis stood at the head of a classroom for 35 years. When the small bumps and scabs Phyllis had developed on her foot were not healing, she knew it was time to get help. Her care team investigated the factors were making it difficult for Phyllis’ wound to heal and created a targeted management plan including specialized dressings and synthetic skin. Uncovering Phyllis’ barriers to healing helped her physicians choose which of their advanced methods to use and informed their recommendations for at-home care. Now that “that wound is no longer in my way,” Phyllis is going on trips and is active in church. Read Phyllis’s story on the Doctors Community Hospital website.Read Phyllis's Story
Compression therapy, bioengineered skin and nutrition hastened healing
This 30 year old suffered from poor circulation that resulted from an accident in his youth, and blisters from outdoor sports progressed into large ulcers. These wounds that occurred because of poor functioning veins in his legs benefited from compression therapy using a multilayer bandage system for edema control, antibiotic treatment, a diet optimized for healing and the application of bioengineered human skin to hasten skin regeneration. Zachary is able to keep up with his kids now and “spend time with them outside, and not just watching them.” Read Zachary’s story on the Cleveland Clinic’s website.Read Zachary's Story
