Wound Debridement: What to Expect at Home (2024)

• Rest when you feel tired. Getting enough sleep will help you recover.
• Avoid activities that put stress on the affected body part until your doctor says it's okay.
• Change positions often to keep pressure off your wound, and spread your body weight evenly with cushions, mattresses, foam wedges, or other pressure-relieving devices.
• If your wound is on your leg or foot, you may have to use crutches, a supportive boot, or a fitted shoe to keep pressure off your wound. If you need crutches, it may help to use a backpack or wear clothes with a lot of pockets to carry items.
• Do not shower for at least 24 hours after the procedure or for as long as your doctor tells you to. When you shower, keep your dressing and wound dry.
• Do not take a bath, swim, use a hot tub, or soak your affected body part until your wound has healed.

• You can eat your normal diet. If your stomach is upset, try bland, low-fat foods like plain rice, broiled chicken, toast, and yogurt.
• Eat a well-balanced diet with enough protein to help the wound heal. Protein is a key nutrient in helping to repair damaged tissue and promote new tissue growth. Good sources of protein are milk, yogurt, cheese, meat, and beans.

• Your doctor will tell you if and when you can restart your medicines. The doctor will also give you instructions about taking any new medicines.
• If you stopped taking aspirin or some other blood thinner, your doctor will tell you when to start taking it again.
• Take pain medicines exactly as directed.
  • If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
  • If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine.
• If you think your pain medicine is making you sick to your stomach:
  • Take your medicine after meals (unless your doctor has told you not to).
  • Ask your doctor for a different pain medicine.
• If your doctor prescribed antibiotics, take them as directed. Do not stop taking them just because you feel better. You need to take the full course of antibiotics.
• If your doctor prescribed an antibiotic ointment that you put on the wound, use it as directed.

• A moist dressing may cover your wound. A dressing helps the wound heal and protects it. Your doctor will tell you how to take care of this.
• If you had a skin graft, you may have a bandage that is stitched over the graft. Your doctor will remove the bandage and stitches.

• Don't smoke. Smoking dries out the skin, reduces blood flow to the skin, and slows healing. If you need help quitting, talk to your doctor about stop-smoking programs and medicines. These can increase your chances of quitting for good.

Call your doctor or nurse advice line now or seek immediate medical care if:

• You have pain that does not get better after you take pain medicine.
• You have signs of infection, such as:
  • Increased pain, swelling, warmth, or redness.
  • Red streaks leading from the wound.
  • Pus draining from the wound.
  • A fever.
• The wound starts to bleed, and blood soaks through the bandage. Oozing small amounts of blood is normal.
• You have loose stitches, or your skin graft comes loose.

Watch closely for any changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse advice line if:

• The wound is not getting better as expected.