When she was 21, Uschi – now 60 – had a serious accident which she narrowly survived. Her lower left leg was cut off 99% of below the knee and then dramatically reattached. Many operations were necessary. A miracle for Uschi. And yet, restrictions remained that have accompanied her throughout her life. These includes the permanent wearing of a shoe elevation and a compression stockings as well as regular visits to manual lymphatic drainage. But unfortunately also frequently occurring, poorly healing wounds on the operated leg, due to the damaged lymphatic system after the operation. The mother of two adult children lives in the countryside with her husband and two cats, eats vegan and has always abstained from alcohol and nicotine. Her passion is above all the large, largely wild and natural garden. She loves nature, is enthusiastic about handicrafts and is a passionate motorcyclist. All in all, Uschi is an optimistic, happy woman. But there are moments that cloud her everyday life. Always when the smallest injuries tear open the thin skin of the scar tissue, inflammations develop or even germs take hold. “I remember – to name just one example – the bite of a blackfly,” Uschi reports. “The particularly thin skin on my leg was probably a particularly attractive, easily penetrated victim for them. In no time at all, this spot developed into a wound that the doctor treating me thought I had been bitten by a sharp dog. I can’t believe what that looked like! The fact that this deep flesh wound also turned blue scared me to death!” It took more than half a year until the wound was halfway closed again. There were countless of these serious, painful wounds, some lasting for several years and limiting Uschi’s quality of life enormously. Fear and shame, especially in public, are enormous. The worry that the wound might get soaked, that other people might discover the wound or that there is no opportunity to change the dressing is always present. Uschi explains, “You feel kind of dirty. Gloomy thoughts have not been foreign to me at such times. The idea of being even more of a burden to your family and husband makes you think of death as very friendly at some point! And I know it’s the same for many who have to endure such wounds.” In addition, there are constant antibiotic treatments, with the fear that even antibiotics will no longer have any effect at some point. And on top of all the wound problems, her skin was dry, flaky and cracked, and she was recommended everything from simple skin care creams to permanent cortisone ointment.
How PlasmaDerm helped Uschi
A small fold of skin, about 2 cm long, caused by scar tissue has been Uschi’s problem area for years. For years it has been a recurring entry point for bacteria. Until now, the wound could only be treated sterilely, but not closed. An article in a medical journal brought PlasmaDerm to Uschi’s attention. Uschi has been using PlasmaDerm for several months now. “At the beginning I could not imagine the positive effect of the plasma,” says Uschi. The wound is now closed and Uschi also treats the surrounding tissue with PlasmaDerm, so that the thin scar skin on the leg is now no longer dry and blue discoloured. Uschi does not need any more creams at the moment, the skin is pleasantly pink and feels better. Uschi will always be careful not to injure herself or get any wounds. “But if I do, I can now make sure myself that it doesn’t get that bad in the first place.” Uschi smiles. “I wish for myself and other sufferers that cold plasma becomes part of the wound treatments that you can get from the doctor or that you can be prescribed by the doctor. It would save so much pain worry and anxiety.” The 4 most important criteria that led Uschi to test and then buy the plasma device: Prevention, Self-help, Control and Support. PlasmaDerm therapy is offered in clinics, doctors’ practices and wound centres. The therapy is prescribed by your doctor. As an innovative product, PlasmaDerm is not yet listed in the general reimbursement by the health insurance companies. However, PlasmaDerm therapy can be settled with the statutory and private health insurances as well as the professional associations after careful examination in individual cases. Wound patients then receive a PlasmaDerm loaner device and the necessary consumables for the therapy period of two months. Of course, PlasmaDerm treatment can be carried out at one’s own expense at any time, as in Uschi ‘s case. Uschi would like to inform other sufferers and advises them to share, talk about it and be patient, but also to follow new impulses. [Editor’s note: @ Uschi, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your open, trusting feedback and the courage and desire to publish your story to make others aware of the issue].