What Are the Key Signs a Wound Needs Professional Care?

What Are the Key Signs of Wound Infection?

Even with diligent home care and attention, a wound can develop complications or be slow to heal. When this happens, it’s important to consult a physician or wound care specialist to develop a treatment plan that facilitates healing and reduces your risk of further complications. At BH Wound Care, we offer professional wound evaluations in Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Vancouver, WA; and Nashville, TN. Our certified wound care specialists can design a personalized wound treatment plan that addresses any underlying health issues or medical conditions that may be affecting your wound healing process. If you notice any of these chronic wound symptoms or signs of a wound infection, call us to schedule a professional wound evaluation and wound treatment.

Increasing Pain or Discomfort

After a week or two of home care, your wound should be showing signs of improvement. You should notice reduced pain and redness, reduced swelling and inflammation, improved movement, and a return to normal skin appearance. While you might experience some itching or skin tightness as the wound heals, you should not experience increasing pain or discomfort. If your wound is not showing signs of improvement or is getting worse, consult a physician or wound care specialist. If you experience increased pain or discomfort that isn’t manageable or doesn’t go away with over-the-counter pain medication, you may have an underlying issue that is affecting wound healing.

Swelling, Redness, Bruising, or Bleeding

A new wound may appear swollen, inflamed, red, or bruised. Even after you get stitches or professional wound care, you may still experience some minor bleeding or drainage. However, if your wound is getting more swollen or inflamed as it heals, or if bruising, redness, bleeding, or discharge increases, you should get a wound assessment from a professional. These symptoms could indicate infection or something that is preventing your wound from healing properly.

The Size and Depth of the Wound

The size and depth of your wound may necessitate a one-time or ongoing visits from a wound care specialist. If you have a large or deep wound or an open wound, you may need more specialized wound care than you could provide yourself at home. A wound that exposes bones, tendons, or joints will also require specialized care and ongoing wound treatment.

The Location and Cause of the Wound

The location and cause of your wound will also affect your wound treatment protocol. If you have a wound on your face, hands, or feet, you may need more specialized attention. The cause of your wound will also inform your need for care. Puncture wounds, particularly from rusted metal or dirty objects, require additional care and may necessitate a tetanus vaccination. Wounds caused by animal bites or scratches also require more specialized care.

Slow Healing or Non-Healing Wound

Some medical conditions increase your risk of slow-healing or non-healing wounds. Your wound may heal more slowly, and you may have an increased risk of complications if you have poor circulation, diabetes, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle, a heart condition, autoimmune disorder, cancer, HIV/AIDs, or a compromised immune system. Your wound may also be slow to heal if you have a condition that affects your ability to properly care for your wound, such as limited mobility or dexterity, poor eyesight, or paralysis. Consult with a physician or wound care specialist if you have chronic wound symptoms, such as a wound that is not healing after three weeks or is getting worse.

Reduced Range of Motion or Mobility

As your wound heals, you should find it easier to touch or use the affected area of your body without pain or discomfort. However, if your wound isn’t healing properly, you may experience increasing discomfort or reduced range of motion or mobility. If a week or two has passed and you still can’t touch the area without pain, put pressure on the area, or have increasing discomfort when trying to use the affected area, schedule a visit from a physician or wound care specialist. 

Signs of Wound Infection

One of the most common complications associated with at-home wound care is infection. Even a minor, small wound can become infected. If you notice any of these signs of a wound infection, make an appointment with a professional right away:

• Fever
• Redness or swelling at the site of the wound
• Pus, drainage, or foul-smelling discharge
• Increased pain and reduced mobility
• Red streaks spreading from the site of the wound
• Fatigue, body aches, joint aches, nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting
• Skin mottling or discoloration
• Changes in the color of the wound or a wound that appears white, green, yellow, or black

Schedule Professional Wound Evaluation With BH Wound Care

At BH Wound Care, we have a team of certified wound care specialists who can determine if your wound is not healing properly. We will do a full examination to assess you for signs of infection or underlying conditions that could be affecting your healing process. We will then design a personalized wound treatment plan using modern wound care innovation and state-of-the-art technology. Call us now or contact us online to schedule a professional wound evaluation in Portland, OR; Los Angeles, CA; Vancouver, WA; or Nashville, TN.