After being sent home from the hospital with repeated instructions to 'give it time' and 'be patient' there was a sudden change in attitude this week. According to the physiotherapist I should have seen a consultant 2 months ago but no one had told me! I'd discussed steroid injections with the physiotherapists who thought I should wait as my scars are still changing. They issued me with silicone sheets in the meantime and I waited patiently for the elusive specialist to make his appearance. When his schedule finally permitted the consultant strode in, took one cursory look and barked 'start her on a course of steroid injections and laser!' Then he turned and strode out again taking the air from the room with him. The physio and the side-kick mini-me consultant started huffing and puffing over the instructions. 'I'll get the steroids...' Side-kick headed for the door.
Whaaaat? One short moment ago I was being advised that steroid injections were a bad idea because of a possibility of depressing my scars and all of a sudden, on one recommendation, mini-me was happy to stick a needle in my shoulder? Stop right there...
I rearranged for next Friday with the excuse that I was driving to work after the appointment and if they hurt me (which in my experience they usually do) then I wouldn't be in the best frame of my mind for greeting 30 shouting teenagers. Really, I wanted to get my head around the treatment and do a little research...
Steroids - what are they?
Steroids can be used for a range of problems and generally reduce inflammation in the cells. They are commonly used to control joint pain and can be used to flatten types of raised scarring. General consensus says they are usually uncomfortable when administered into scar tissue and a course is normally recommended. Side effects can include the scar becoming depressed, changes in skin pigment and something called telangiectasia which is small dilated blood vessels appearing.
I'm fairly nervous about having the injections because of the pain factor and the depressed scar side-effect but the possible positive results such as a flatter, paler scar are very desirable! Here's to next Friday...fingers crossed!
Silicone
The other treatment I have embarked upon is wearing silicone sheets under my compression vest. In the early days I used kelo-cote, a silicone gel, on my facial injuries and I have been left with flat, almost invisible scars even on the third degree burn areas. However, the success of silicone is debatable subject. Some people claim there is little evidence that silicone sheets work yet others claim they are a miracle treatment. The way I see it is they are one of the easier things to work with and so are worth a go. They aren't uncomfortable, invasive or time-consuming like most other things on offer.
I've struggled to find out the science of how silicone works to reduce scarring. Theories include the bizarre claim that they create an electro-static field, hydration, increased blood flow and increased oxygen flow. One concept that sounds more likely was occlusion. When the skin is damaged, it struggles to stay hydrated as the outer-layer has been compromised. This dehydration is thought to stimulate an increase in certain proteins that can contribute to scarring. So silicone sheeting is thought to correct occlusion which restores the water balance in the skin and scar tissue.
Here I am, all strapped up and awaiting scary things like injections and lasers (to be continued.) It's all part of the quest for the arm I had before.
