Wound Care Specialist Q&A

Unfortunately, some wounds don’t heal as they should. Your wound is considered non-healing or chronic if normal healing doesn’t occur despite standard wound care. You may have a chronic wound if it:

• Has not started to heal in two weeks
• Has not completely healed in six weeks

At Reddy Urgent Care, we can treat chronic wounds and diagnose the underlying conditions that may be causing them. Chronic wounds remain inflamed, which means the injury continues to have swelling, redness, and pain. These non-healing wounds can become infected and lead to infection in the bloodstream or bone, which then can lead to the loss of a limb.

People who develop chronic wounds often have underlying conditions such as diabetes, poor circulation, vascular diseases, weakened immune system, or pressure ulcers. In addition to good wound care, it’s important to treat the underlying condition that contributed to the development of the wound.

Wound care clinics are specialized clinics that treat and care for wounds. They have specially trained experts to help you diagnose, treat and take care of your wound. Come to Reddy Urgent Care today to treat your wound!

Listed below are common signs and symptoms of an infection.

• Feelings of Malaise: Malaise is a common sign of a localized systemic infection. It is a feeling of tiredness and a lack of energy.
• Running a Fever: Running a fever can decrease your appetite and cause headaches. When following surgery, it is typical to run a low-grade fever of 100ºF or less. It may be indicative of a wound infection if your temperature reaches 101ºF or more. Consult your surgeon or physician immediately if this happens.
• Fluid Drainage: After surgery, it is normal to have some fluid drainage from the incision area. Oftentimes clear or slightly yellow-colored fluid will drain from your wound. It could be a sign that the wound is infected if the drainage fluid is cloudy, green, or foul-smelling.
• Continual or Increased Pain: While it should gradually subside as your body heals, pain is common after surgery. Pain medication can help, but you should be able to stop taking them comfortably over time. Follow your doctor’s wound care directions and avoid strenuous activities to prevent unwarranted pain. It may be a sign of infection if you continue to experience pain or suddenly have increased pain. Consult with your surgeon or physician if this happens.
• Redness and Swelling: At the wound site, some redness is normal, but it should diminish over time. A warning sign of wound infection is if your surgical incision or wound continues to be red or exhibit radiating streaks known as lymphangitis.
• Hot Incision Site: The body sends infection-fighting blood cells to the location when an infection develops in a wound or incision. This may cause your incision or wound to feel warm to the touch. The infection may cause you to develop other infection symptoms if the hot temperatures continue.

If you or someone you know has recently sustained a wound, come to Reddy Urgent Care for a diagnosis and treatment today! We have experienced specialists who can help you with all of your wound care needs. Contact our office today to get in touch with a specialist. To book an appointment, call us or visit us online! We serve patients from Downtown Long Beach CA, Bixby Knolls Long Beach CA, Paramount CA, East Side CA, and Los Altos CA.