What you do between visitsmatters as much as what we do here.
We've said it: you're the quarterback. Most of healing happens in the time between appointments — what you eat, how you offload, what you watch for. Here's what good home care looks like, plain and practical.
is healing — or not
check should take
"Is anything different today?"
A check-in habitthat saves wounds.
Once a day, give your wound — or the person you're caring for — a quick, structured look. Most healing problems show up first; we just need someone paying attention.
Look at the dressing
Is it dry, intact, secure? Or has something leaked, shifted, or come loose since last check?
Look around the wound
Any new redness, warmth, or swelling? Is the redness spreading from where it was yesterday?
Smell
Is there a new odor that wasn't there yesterday? Smell can change before anything else does.
Pain
Has it changed? Worse? Different in character? Showing up in a new spot? Any of these matter.
You
Fever, chills, feeling generally off? Sometimes the body says something's wrong before the wound does.
Keep it dry.keep it secure. keep it clean.
Your provider tells you when and how to change the dressing. Between changes, the goal is simple. The wound's job is to heal. Your job is to protect the conditions for it.
Dressings have come a long way. The one we sent you home with is doing more than just covering the wound — it's actively part of the treatment.
The most common reasons a dressing fails: it gets wet, it's changed too early or too late, or the technique is off. None of these is your fault if no one walked you through it. So we walk you through it. And if anything is unclear at home, call us.
- Don't get it wet unless we said the dressing is waterproof
- Change on the schedule we gave you, not earlier or later
- Wash your hands before and after every change
- If it falls off, don't panic — call us if you're not sure what to do
- No creams or solutions on the wound unless we said so — even ones that "worked last time"
What you eatshows up in the wound.
Wounds are made of protein, vitamin C, zinc, and a thousand other things your body needs. When you're healing a wound, your nutritional needs go up — sometimes a lot. The food you eat is part of your treatment plan.
Protein at every meal
Eggs, chicken, fish, beans, dairy, peanut butter. Wound healing burns through protein faster than baseline life does. If you're someone who skips breakfast or has small meals, this is the most important thing to fix.
Hydration
Water — not just coffee or sweetened drinks. Most adults need around eight cups a day, more if you're losing fluid through a draining wound. Tissue can't repair itself when it's dehydrated.
Tell us if appetite is off
Loss of appetite, weight loss, or eating much less than usual all slow healing. Don't wait until your next visit to mention it — nutritional shortfalls are fixable, but only if we know.
Pressure isthe enemy.
For most wounds — especially on the foot — keeping pressure off the area is one of the most powerful things you can do. The boot, the offloading device, the position changes — they all matter.
You'd be surprised how often a wound that won't close is being walked on every day. The boot lives by the door. The bandage gets pressed into the same spot on the chair every evening. The wound never gets a chance to repair itself because something is grinding against it.
Solving the offloading problem often solves the wound problem. If the offloading device we gave you is uncomfortable or hard to use, tell us — there's almost always an adjustment we can make.
- Wear the offloading device every time you walk, not just when you remember
- Change positions if you sit or lie a long time
- If you're a caregiver, reposition every two hours for someone who can't do it themselves
- Don't walk barefoot if you have a foot wound, even just to the bathroom
- Tell us if the device hurts — there's almost always an adjustment
Not next visit— today.
Some changes can't wait. If you see any of these, don't wait for your next appointment.
- Increasing pain, especially if it's pain in a numb area
- Spreading redness around the wound
- New drainage or a change in the smell
- Fever above 100.4°F, chills, or feeling unwell
- The dressing is wet, dirty, or off and you're not sure what to do
- You're worried — that's reason enough
Questions worth asking out loud.
Tap any question to expand. If yours isn't here, call us — we answer the phone.
What if my dressing falls off at home?
Don't panic. Cover the wound with a clean piece of gauze or one of the dressing supplies we sent home with you, secure it with tape, and call us. If it's outside business hours, our after-hours line connects you to clinical staff. The goal is keeping the wound clean and protected until we can address it — not perfect technique.
Can I shower with a wound dressing?
Depends on the dressing. Some are waterproof; many aren't. We'll tell you specifically at your visit. If you're not sure, a few minutes with a hand-held shower head and a quick towel-off keeps the dressing dry. Don't soak in a bath or swim with most dressings.
What foods help wounds heal faster?
Protein, hydration, vitamin C, and zinc are the heavy hitters. Eggs, chicken, fish, beans, dairy, and peanut butter bring protein. Leafy greens, citrus, and bell peppers bring vitamin C. Nuts, seeds, and whole grains bring zinc. Most importantly: eat regularly. Skipping meals or losing weight while healing a wound slows everything down.
When should I call you instead of waiting until my next visit?
Increasing pain, spreading redness, new drainage or odor, fever, or anything that worries you. We'd rather you call and find out it's nothing than wait two weeks and find out it's something. Our number is 605-743-0402.
How do I know if my wound is getting infected?
Early signs: new redness spreading from the wound margin, increased warmth, swelling, drainage that wasn't there before (especially yellow or green), a new odor, or pain that's getting worse instead of better. Whole-body signs — fever, chills, feeling unwell — are more serious and need a same-day call. When in doubt, call.
Home carelooks different by condition.
The basics here apply to every wound. The specifics — what to watch for, what's most important — depend on what's underneath.
Diabetes & Wound Healing
If you have diabetes, the daily check matters even more — and there are specific things to look for that healthier feet would feel before you'd see them.
Vascular Disease & Wound Healing
For vascular wounds, elevation, compression compliance, and walking are part of the treatment plan — not optional.
Why Specialized Wound Care
Home care works best when paired with the right clinical care. Here's how the practice approaches wound treatment.
Whatever stage you're at,
it's timeto make a plan.
Schedule a free 15-minute inquiry call. We'll listen, ask the right questions, and tell you honestly whether we're a fit. No pressure, no hour-long visit.