Whenever you sustain an injury, your body begins to heal itself in minutes of the trauma. However, the speed by which your wound heals depends on individual factors such as the wound type and wound dressing used, among other lifestyle factors like exercise, diet, and general wellness. Thus, you may expect some patients’ wounds to heal faster than others, as well as necessitate different kinds of therapy. At Premier Vascular, Dr. Nirav Patel and his expert staff understand this, which is why they develop customized care plans for their patients. Nonetheless, if your wound is taking months or longer to heal, or if your wound healing is slowing down, it could be a symptom of a more serious concern that necessitates expert intervention. So, when should you consult a Yonkers wound care specialist? Watch out for these common signs of non-healing wounds.
1. Fever
Patients frequently experience a low-grade fever of less than 100 degrees Fahrenheit following surgery. Nonetheless, if the fever rises to 101 degrees or more and continues, it could signify wound infection. Patients with a fever may also experience headaches and a loss of appetite.
2. Foul Drainage
Typically, wounds drain clear or have a mildly yellow discharge. In the event of chronic or non-healing wounds, there might be an unpleasant or unusual odor from the wound that may suggest dead tissue. Patients must not use scent-masking products to eliminate the foul odor as it can obstruct the healing process or cause complications.
3. Increased Wound Pain
Patients recovering well from an injury or surgery should observe that their pain is lessening. Though patients may initially require pain medication, they should gradually reduce their dosage and eventually stop taking it. If the patient experiences increasing or continual discomfort, it could signify a wound infection requiring expert assessment.
4. Redness and Swelling Of The Wounded Area
To begin, the wounds seem slightly red or swollen due to the natural inflammatory process, but these concerns should fade in about 5-7 days. More intrinsic redness or swelling of the wounded area that continues to extend or worsen indicates wound infection. To examine the extent of your wound’s redness or swelling and track its progress, take photos or draw a line around the wounded region with a marker.
5. Warmer Skin Around The Wound Area
Though it is typical for the skin around a wound to feel warm, if the wounded area feels extremely warm to the touch and does not seem to cool down, it could suggest that the body is fighting an infection. The production of vasoactive substances causes ‘heat’, which increases blood flow to that region. Besides, the immune system also generates heat by deploying lymphocytes to manufacture antibodies to attack the phagocytes and pathogens to absorb the dead germs. Do not delay seeking expert care if this warmness persists for more than several days.
Even the tiniest wounds could quickly escalate into much more serious difficulties such as infection, hospitalization, or surgery for more serious illnesses if not properly handled. Therefore, look out for signs of wound infection as soon as your body warns that there might be a bigger concern at play. Dr. Patel will provide a professional evaluation of your wound and deliver the wound care you deserve. Make an appointment to discuss your concerns by calling the office of Premier Vascular or requesting online today.
