Wound Care

If you have an infected wound, it’s crucial to prevent it from worsening. At Advanced Ankle & Foot Center, podiatrist, diabetic foot and wound care specialist John Schoppe, DPM, provides prompt wound treatment using advanced techniques. Dr. Schoppe treats each patient as valued and develops personalized treatment plans emphasizing preventive care and healthy lifestyle changes. To learn more about wound care and the treatments available, call the office in Columbus, Georgia, or request an appointment online today.

What Can Cause a Non-Healing Wound?

Chronic and non-healing wounds can result from a number of factors, including diabetes, poor circulation, trauma, vascular disease, and immobility (which can lead to pressure ulcers, commonly known as "bed sores"). Wounds come from a variety of different medical conditions, and they resist healing for many different reasons.

How Do I Know if my Wound Requires Specialized Care?

Patients who have an open wound that does not appear to be healing in a timely fashion -- especially if they have been diagnosed with diabetes or poor circulation -- should obtain a prompt evaluation at Advanced Ankle & Foot Center. Very often chronic wounds can fail to achieve an adequate response to infection and inflammation. If a wound has not improved significantly in four weeks, or if it has not healed completely in eight weeks, it is considered a chronic, non-healing wound.

Is amputation inevitable with chronic wounds?

Amputation is not an inevitable outcome of a chronic wound. In many cases amputation can be avoided with the appropriate treatment plan that addresses all issues preventing the wound from healing.

Why Should I -- or my Doctor -- Consider Advanced Ankle & Foot Center?

Patients who have non-healing wounds require aggressive and specialized care. Patients may not receive the interdisciplinary attention that chronic wounds require in a traditional medical setting. For these patients, minor lesions can unfortunately lead to chronic, non-healing wounds with serious infection, gangrene and possible amputation. Specialized care can make sure patients heal and return to their regular activities as soon as possible.

Does Insurance Cover Wound Care Treatments?

Many health plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover Wound Healing Center treatments. Feel free to call us at (706) 221-2082 to determine what your specific insurance plan covers.

What Advice Would You Give to Someone with a Non-Healing Wound?

Poor health choices may negatively impact healing. Cigarette smoking, alcohol abuse, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and noncompliance with recommended daily care can all result in poor healing outcomes. Recognizing and correcting poor health choices is an integral part of successful wound care therapy.

How Quickly Can I Expect My Wound to Heal?

There is no definite answer for how long it will take a wound to heal. You need to be aware that certain diseases - diabetes, venous deficiencies, or other medical conditions - may make healing time slower. It is also important that you maintain your wound healing process at home and follow the instructions we give you so that your wound will heal successfully (and quickly!).

What Things Should I be Concerned About?

Please inform your doctor of any of the following:

• Pain from your wound
• Increase in drainage from your wound
• High blood sugar if you are diabetic
• Redness in the skin around your wound
• Bleeding from your wound
• Changes in your body temperature, blood pressure or mental orientation
• Need for dressing supplies
• Any new wounds you find on your body
• Any changes in your medications
• Difficulty in completing prescribed dressing changes
• Any and all questions or concerns you have about your wound care!