Burn - Not Hurting? How?

[Deleted User]

I was daft enough today to fill a hot water bottle (aching back, old problem) and spill the boiling water on my stomach. It blistered immediately, hurt tremendously for a while. I bought some mepilex dressings (someone got them for me fortunately) and applied one within an hour. Immediately the burn occurred I soaked a clean tea towel in cold water and applied it to cool the burn down and reduce damage (not a good area to apply running water to lol, no hose pipe available lol)

The burns are several skin layers thick (10x15cm area) so not serious but not superficial either. But I can't understand why its not hurting at all? Is it the dressing (no pain killing ingredients as far as I can tell, its just to keep the wound moist and clean) - the write up for it says its just a polyurethane foam designed to contain moisture and prevent further skin trauma.

Just posting out of curiosity really. Like everyone I've had the odd minor oven burn etc that's been quite painful. This one isn't and I can't understand why. I'd have thought there'd still be nerve endings available. Not that I'm ungrateful, but wondering how.

The funny thing is, my back stopped hurting for a while! However I wouldn't recommend this as a treatment for muscle spasms lol. It did return unfortunately.

While they are not cheap, I'm going to be keeping the dressings in the house, I should imagine they'd be good for any injury involving damage to skin layers.

sheramber

I burnt my wrist on our wood burning stove. It didn't hurt when I did it or afterwards. I reckon it was because it was so hot and so deep a burn as opposed to a surface burn. The area went white, not red and then a deep wound opened up.

teddysmum

Perhaps the nerve endings have been destroyed and as the wound is fairly widespread, I would have it checked by a medic.


I have back problems and find a heated pad more effective,comfortable and safe than a hot water bottle.


Lidl often have heated pads or cushions, at half the price charged online for the same product and with a three year warranty.

[Deleted User]

I tried a heated pad, it didn't get hot enough unfortunately, didn't really help. I don't want to burn my back obviously (or my tum lol) but the only thing that gets rid of the back pain is something as hot as I can stand it.., warm doesn't help.

I am prescribed paracetamol and codeine tablets (30mg of codeine) but scared of getting addicted so limit myself to one dose of two a day.., however bad it gets. They don't always work anyway. So I rely on hot water bottles when its bad otherwise I would be in agony. It really does get bad.

Dressings still working, some discomfort due to the burn but not much thank goodness. Will keep a close eye on it.

I had been gardening and really wanted to finish so I could put some grass seed down (been turning the soil over and removing weed roots), so did a bit more than I should have. In pain by then so wasn't as co-ordinated as I could have been, and messed up filling the hot water bottle. Will be very careful in future obviously.

Had a social worker round this morning and we had to laugh. My body definitely needs a return. Was not well, reacting perhaps although it seems a bit OTT for a burn less than the size of my hand, asthma not good, back not good, and had problems getting off the sofa cause arthritis not good. BTW I'm 50 not 90.

savingfortomorrow

Please get it checked out by a doctor- the lack of pain could be indicative of deep damage to nerves. Please get medical attention for it.

jenniewb

I've burnt myself by mis-directing water from a just-boiled-kettle more times than I can count!

I can say that when it's happened to me, I've not burnt myself that seriously (just red skin) and even when I've leant or fallen on the iron (on) I've not managed to acquire more than a blister, you must be really unlucky! It does sound like you knew what to do and treated it well though so OP as the damage is several layers through your skin I'd really recommend getting it checked out by a nurse- GP surgeries have them and they can apply a dressing when they take off your dressing.


Just to note though- your covering it with a cool towel wasn't far off- it's actually recommended to use cling film because it's sterile and keeps the dust out but keeping the area cool is obviously initially important because as with most burns, the skin is still burning even when you've taken it away from what burnt it because the skin is still hot and this causes additional damage until it's cooled down. So cooling down the area is important then keeping it sterile once cooled down. I'm sure you don't need instructions on how to take care though as you sound pretty clued up on that already.


If you were curious on the pain, the pain killers you take may have taken the bulk of the pain away- heavy pain killers can stick around in your body a few hours after they've been taken, I'm on codeine and paracetamol at a pretty high dose too and also try not to take it for similar reasons to you- it's odd that for some things it helps and others it seems to have no impact!

[Deleted User]

Thank you so much.

It was a bit sore for a couple of days so did go to minor injuries a couple of days after. They were very kind (did feel I'd done it to myself lol), used old fashioned paraffin wax gauze and a dressing. Its a lot better. I've tried to buy some more and couldn't, not even from my local boots so reverted back to the dressings I bought. Just covered it with one of the gauze layers and used some tape I have so the dressing stays in place..

The good news is its healing nicely.., I did train to be a nurse (almost) and its granulating nicely (looks sort of lumpy), no sign of infection. I've been lucky.

Dying for a bath though lol (minor injuries said no). I'm being a lot more careful with the hot water bottle, stand it against the microwave now when filling it rather than holding it too close lol.

Just posted this so if anyone is daft enough to burn themselves, they'll know what happens lol.

Anoneemoose

Glad it's healing and I know you will probably be extra careful in future, but please be careful with hot water bottles.

My son pulled a cup of tea on him one Christmas day (I still get chills at the thought) and he had to go to get his wounds dressed every day - we saw a man in the dressing clinic whose hot water bottle had exploded on his hand and it was awful. It nearly made me sick it was that bad 😷😷

nouveaunutrition

I can't help but suggest some natural burn solutions:

• Aloe vera gel - straight from the plant onto burns - it's amazing.
• Frankincense oil diluted in coconut oil or other carrier oil to reduce scarring after burn

But if all you have is a little virgin coconut oil, that'll help too due to its anti-inflammatory properties

[Deleted User]

All very well if the burn is not an open wound. I'm not taking any risks with infection. Fortunately its healing well, even starting to itch (grrrh) lol.

teddysmum

The Lidl heat ads get quite hot on the top setting and I sometimes have to lower the setting on mine or put a blanket between it and my back.


I find a hot water bottle uncomfortable as,when leaned, on other parts of it cause pressure and pain.