Being a quadriplegic is hard. Not only because it's tough not to be able to scratch where itches, but also in so many other instances. For example: Due to my impossibility of turning or even shifting my weight a little, I can no longer spend six hours in bed; I hardly make it to four hours before the pain in my hip becomes unbearable because lying for hours in the same position causes pressure points. Pressure points if left unattended turn into 'bedsores' (decubitus ulcer):https://www.healthline.com/health/pressure-ulcer).
Bedsores easily become infected. A bedsore develops when blood supply to the skin is cut off for more than 2 to 3
hours. As the skin dies, the bedsore first starts as a red, painful area, which
eventually turns purple. Left untreated, the skin can break open and the area become infected:https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/bedsores
The same thing happens when I sit in my wheelchair. After three hours, I feel as if someone is setting my ass on fire. I told my doctor that I must be getting sores and asked him to check my butt for advice on what to do, what cream I could use to prevent that from happening.
He told me that since I was not able to climb or be lifted to an
examining bed, not even to stand up and have my pants pulled down, he could not
examine me at his office but he could request the visit of a Home Health
Service. Medicare covers that type of visit. I begged him to do it ASAP.
