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Signs Your Wound Isn't Healing
Wounds and injuries are common, and anyone can get one. While many types of wounds heal on their own within a few weeks, some types of wounds heal slower — or not at all.
In fact, about 6.5 million Americans have chronic wounds. These wounds don’t start healing on their own. They can be painful, and often, they don’t respond to at-home care.
Medical Associates Of North Texas offers comprehensive wound care in Fort Worth, Texas. If you have a wound that isn’t getting better, it’s time to learn the signs of a chronic wound.
Identifying a non-healing wound
Your body has the natural ability to heal itself. But some types of wounds and certain health conditions can affect your body’s ability to heal like it should.
Diabetic ulcers and pressure sores are two common types of slow-healing wounds. Some health conditions that interfere with your chronic disease or circulation problems, can also affect your body’s ability to heal like it should.
Time
How long have you had your wound? Most of the time, wounds start healing on their own within 1-2 weeks and heal significantly by six weeks.
If your wound looks the same or worse after a couple of weeks, that’s a sign that it isn’t healing like it should be. If it still isn’t healing in six weeks, you may have a slow- or non-healing wound.
Pain
How does the area feel? It’s normal to feel some pain, swelling, and heat around a wound as it starts to heal. But if the pain doesn’t go away, it might indicate a non-healing wound.
Non-healing wounds can cause worsening pain over time. You may notice increasing swelling, redness, and even develop a fever if infection occurs.
Odor
Do you notice any unusual odors? A healing wound shouldn’t have a noticeable odor, but a foul odor could be a sign of a non-healing wound. Dead and dying tissue, along with discharge from infection may give off distinct, bad-smelling odors.
Appearance
What does the wound look like? Properly healing wounds form scabs, and you might even see new tissue growth as the scab disappears.
If you have a slow-healing wound, you won’t see these signs of healing. Instead, you might notice drainage or pus, swelling, redness, and darkening skin around the edges of the wound.
Size
Is your wound changing in size? Wounds that are healing properly will get smaller over time. Slow- or non-healing wounds may stay the same size or get larger.
Don’t wait to get wound care
If you have a wound that isn’t getting better, don’t wait to make a doctor’s appointment. Slow-healing wounds can increase your risk of serious complications like infection and gangrene.
Untreated wounds could eventually necessitate amputation of the affected limb, but professional wound care helps promote healing and prevent these serious complications. Our team at Medical Associates Of North Texas specializes in comprehensive wound care.
We start by examining your wound and your symptoms. We review your medical history to identify any underlying conditions that could be affecting your body’s ability to heal, and we begin the wound care process.
We carefully clean your wound and remove any dead tissue in a procedure called debridement. We apply specialized dressings and prescribe antibiotic medication if necessary.
Wound care is an ongoing treatment. We help you learn how to care for your wound at home, and we regularly monitor your condition to avoid health complications.
Do you think you have a slow-healing wound? Now is the time to start getting professional wound care. Contact our team online or call us at 972-695-8053 to request your first appointment.
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