Any experience with 3rd degree burns?

[mommasita]

Having seen the Dr. Already, just wondering if anyone has anything firsthand.

TIA

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Plenty of burn experience here. I am sure you got the Silvadene, right? I have had plenty of 2nd degree burns but 3rd degree can be serious requiring skin grafting.

What do you want to know?

 

[mommasita]

Plenty of burn experience here. I am sure you got the Silvadene, right?

What do you want to know?

Yes, I do have the Silvadene. I have googled and read, but I think I was in almost shock at the time (emergency trip) to ask my standard 1001 questions.

So, here goes. Sorry in advance

How long does it take for at least "some" pain to slow down, to make it somewhat tolerable
What about showering and that?. I have bathed, but need to wash my hair today, and will DEFINITELY need help doing that
Anything else dangerous I should look for.

 

[mommasita]

oops. double post

 

[The Mystery Machine]

How bad is the burn? 3rd degree is very serious. Was your skin charred black?

The pain lasts for awhile. Keep it wrapped with a large slathering of silvadene at all times.

You cannot get it wet. Wrap it up for showering. Look for signs of infection. Go back to the doctor if you feel it is "not right".

When it begins to heal you will see greenish goo forming. That is pretty gross. You have to distinguish between new skin and infection.

 

[pls5286]

Please don't sit in bathwater with a severe burn. It is considered "dirty water" because the dirt off your body just sits in the water and can infect the burn.

 

[mommasita]

How bad is the burn? 3rd degree is very serious. Was your skin charred black?

The pain lasts for awhile. Keep it wrapped with a large slathering of silvadene at all times.

You cannot get it wet. Wrap it up for showering. Look for signs of infection. Go back to the doctor if you feel it is "not right".

When it begins to heal you will see greenish goo forming. That is pretty gross. You have to distinguish between new skin and infection.

Thank You

Yes it is charred, quite the bad burn. I see the Dr. again in a few days, so by then I should be in less 'shock' and able to understand more than I did.

It is my shoulder area and chest, so hard as this is constantly moved, and there is less fat on the bone, so this makes it hard with every movement, and to get washed.

 

[mommasita]

Please don't sit in bathwater with a severe burn. It is considered "dirty water" because the dirt off your body just sits in the water and can infect the burn.

This is what I was afraid of. It is on my shoulder and chest area, so I make SURE not to wet that area at all.

Is that ok? I just can not see myself showering for a bit, and it was off limits to me with the Dr.s orders.

 

[taximomfor4]

I had to work with 3rd degree burns a little over a year ago. The 3rd degree ones char black the layers of skin. The skin is dead and useless, and mostly won't ever heal. It has to be removed. Sometimes, if it's small, the edges can get sewn together after the dead skin is removed. For bigger areas, or visible areas, skin grafts are placed. I don't know which you had done.

The pain: the pain continues through the skin grafts (sometimes more than one). In my experience, depending how large an area was burned, dehydration is a risk as are other blood tests. I'd assume, if your burns were bad enough, you'd be in a burn unit to watch for that. Since you seem to be at home, I'd hope they gave you a prescription for a good pain killer.

Sorry this happened to you. I Hope you heal quickly, and that the painkiller is effective.

 

[mommasita]

I had to work with 3rd degree burns a little over a year ago. The 3rd degree ones char black the layers of skin. The skin is dead and useless, and mostly won't ever heal. It has to be removed. Sometimes, if it's small, the edges can get sewn together after the dead skin is removed. For bigger areas, or visible areas, skin grafts are placed. I don't know which you had done.

The pain: the pain continues through the skin grafts (sometimes more than one). In my experience, depending how large an area was burned, dehydration is a risk as are other blood tests. I'd assume, if your burns were bad enough, you'd be in a burn unit to watch for that. Since you seem to be at home, I'd hope they gave you a prescription for a good pain killer.

Sorry this happened to you. I Hope you heal quickly, and that the painkiller is effective.

I am at home with some great painkillers . I have to say without these I was losing my mind. I tried the wait it out method, as sometimes we never think it is as bad as it is.

I will re visit the burn unit soon to see what the next step is. I spent 18 hrs on a IV drip to replace lost fluids. I was not dehydrated, but it was given anyone.

Thanks.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Thank You

Yes it is charred, quite the bad burn. I see the Dr. again in a few days, so by then I should be in less 'shock' and able to understand more than I did.

It is my shoulder area and chest, so hard as this is constantly moved, and there is less fat on the bone, so this makes it hard with every movement, and to get washed.

OMG, that is serious. I have only had 2nd degree burns. I can't imagine the pain you must be in.

Just keep going to the doctor as necessary if you feel something is not right.

Infection is your biggest concern. Follow the burn units instructions. Call them if you need to.

I am so sorry....get well.

 

[taximomfor4]

I am at home with some great painkillers . I have to say without these I was losing my mind. I tried the wait it out method, as sometimes we never think it is as bad as it is.

I will re visit the burn unit soon to see what the next step is. I spent 18 hrs on a IV drip to replace lost fluids. I was not dehydrated, but it was given anyone.

Thanks.

Definitely never play "catch up" with the pain. Write out a schedule, like nurses do. Space the doses perfectly, and cross off the times as you take the meds. That way, you will get maximum pain control.

BTW the last time I did all this was for my CAT a year ago. She was ALL burnt up. Silvadene, and a narcotic pain reliever that was supposed to go UNDER HER TONGUE. I couldn't grab her to hold her, to get her mouth open, so I just grabbed her lampshade collar thingy, aimed at her mouth, squirted, and hoped for the best. But I followed a meds schedule perfectly (like a good nurse, hehe). She went in for several surgeries to remove the dead skin from the 3rd degree spots. If someone looks, I might have put a pic on here. She's got nerve damage today and a large scar from her right shoulder down her back and a little diagonal to her left thigh. She's a good cat, but hates me now (I took her to all vet appts, did all nursing care, etc).

Definitely call the burn unit if you have any questions, and follow their instructions TO THE LETTER. 3rd degree burns mean the skin is no longer a barrier to germs. Our bodies NEED that barrier. Protect yourself from infections by keeping it cared for properly. And good luck, it'll be a long, slow process but sounds like you're being well cared for so far.

Forgot to mention, I was taught that the actual 3rd degree burnt skin has its nerves ruined. So the 2nd degree areas (near the edges, etc) are more painful. Those nerves are FEELING the pain.

 

[hiwaygal]

I've had some 2nd and 3rd degree burns too. They do hurt for awhile. I don't remember the not getting wet thing, but definitely follow your doc's advice!

Hope you are feeling better soon!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

So how did you burn yourself? My last burn was from the steamer when I was working in the school cafeteria.

 

[pls5286]

The pp was correct, the pain you are feeling is from the second degree burn near the third deggree burn. A third degree burn burns the nerves and in itself is painless, but as you get away from the contact area, the burn lessens in severity. If the burn itself is not touching ANY water, you will be ok in the tub, but please dont let standing bathe water get on a burn, this is a quick route to infection. (I have been a paramedic for many years) As far as washing your hair goes you may have to either wait until the pain lessons and you become a little more flexible and enlist in someones help and use the sprayer over your kitchen sink. This method will keep you from getting your chest/shoulder area wet and will let you wash your hair as well. I would reccomend until your pain meds are working really good when you wash your hair the first time and don't wash it unless you absolutely have to because it is going to hurt. Sponge baths are probably going to be the best way to go for a while until your dr clears you to get the burns wet again. Please be careful.

 

[fourdaughters]

I had third degree burns as a teenager. My parents had to bathe me. Do you have someone to help you? I remember it took a long while. My memory has faded somewhat, but I do remember excruciating,nauseating pain. Do you have someone to help with the bandages/dressings? I hope you feel relief soon.

 

[KAMLEM]

I don't have any experience with burns, I just want to send some and well wishes your way. I hope you have a speedy recovery.

 

[DMickey28]

I don't have any experience with a 3rd degree burn but just wanted to send you a hug.

 

[momrek06]

OP, sorry to hear this.... I burned my thumb last week after reaching in the microwave and pulling the saran wrap off some veg's...dumb thing to do and the steam burned it bad AND I thought that was painful ....BUT wow, your shoulder and chest....I wish you a speedy recovery as well and am glad you have some intense meds for that pain. How did this happen?

 

[pigletgirl]

I was told that if you have a 3rd degree burn, then you technically would not feel any pain because your usually burned through the nerves.

So, with that in mind, could it just be a really bad 2nd degree?

I actually burned my hand with a car lighter and my skin was instantly black. But with some good care that black part scuffed away and I was left with a horrible blister. Hurt like the dickens. It wasn't a 3rd degree.