Wound Care
Call Us At 210-265-5920
A skin wound that doesn’t heal, heals slowly, or heals but tends to recur is known as a chronic wound. Some of the many causes of chronic (ongoing) skin wounds can include trauma, burns, skin cancers, infection, or underlying medical conditions such as diabetes. Wounds that take a long time to heal need special care. Our medical experts at Injury Health and Urgent Care in Castle Hills are available to provide you with the wound care you need. CLICK HERE to fill out a contact form or give us a call at 210-757-4930.
A wound is considered chronic if it has not healed significantly in four weeks or entirely in eight weeks. If you’re suffering from an injury or sore that isn’t showing any signs of healing, please call us immediately at 210-757-4930. If left untreated, chronic wounds can cause dangerous complications.
A fresh wound is usually red, irritated, and possibly swollen, whereas a chronic wound has distinctive symptoms, including:
- No signs of healing within a 30-day period, such as scabs or new tissue
- Numbness around the wound area
- A change in color
- A foul odor
- Discharge from the wound
- Noticeable swelling
Infection
Your skin is your body’s first line of defense against infection. When the skin breaks, it allows bacteria to enter the body through an open wound. Infections in a wound can all but halt the healing process. The body fights the infection, instead of healing the wound.
If a wound gets infected, you may notice redness, swelling, pain around the site, and puss or foul-smelling fluid. Antibiotic treatment may be used to fight the infection.
Poor Circulation
During the healing process, your body’s red blood cells carry new cells to the site to begin rebuilding tissue. Poor blood circulation can slow down this process, making the wound that much longer to heal. Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and obesity, can cause poor blood circulation. Exercising or elevating the wound can help improve circulation.
Poor Nutrition
The body needs an adequate supply of protein to build new tissue, as much as three times the normal daily requirement. Proper hydration is also key in helping wounds heal.
Unfortunately, poor nutrition is often overlooked as a reason for wounds that won’t heal.
Diabetes
Elevated blood sugar can slow down a diabetic’s blood circulation and negatively impact his immune system, putting him at a higher risk of infection.
In addition, a person with diabetes can have nerve damage, so he may not feel when something is hurting, causing a wound to go unnoticed.
Excessive Swelling
Excessive swelling is caused by fluid accumulating in the skin and can impair the body’s ability to heal a wound by restricting oxygen to the skin.
A variety of compression therapies can be used to remove the fluid. Once the swelling goes down, proper wound healing can begin.
Repetitive Trauma
When a person doesn’t change positions often and a wound is subject to repetitive trauma or pressure, it can lengthen or even stop the healing process due to a slowdown of blood circulation. Paraplegics, spinal cord injury patients, or those on bed rest are at a greater risk for repetitive trauma.
Continuous moving or repositioning can relieve the pressure and allow proper circulation to the area so the wound can heal.
Wounds that will not heal should be taken seriously. If you are dealing with any type of wound condition please do not hesitate to call us at 210-757-4930 for a consultation.
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS?
What is an Urgent Care Center?
An urgent care provides the appropriate medical care without the wait for an appointment with your physician or the long wait times and high priced medical bills typical of most hospital emergency rooms.
What types of Insurance do you accept?
All commercial insurances, workers compensation insurances, Department of Labor, Medicare, and Car Insurances.
What types of payment do you accept?
Insurance payments, credit/debit card, and cash payments.
Do you accept walk-ins?
Yes, we accept walk-ins!
Do I need to visit Urgent Care the same as Emergency Room?
No, you can expect a shorter wait time without the high cost of the emergency room visit.
What age range of patients do you treat?
We see patients 5 years old and up.
Can you help me find an attorney?
Yes, we can recommend several attorneys who we’ve worked with in the past that have proven, ethical backgrounds, and who yield positive results!