More Swelling: Similar to redness around the wound, swelling in the affected area indicates that the body's immune system is working. But if the swelling continues even after 3-5 days, with no signs of it reducing, it indicates an infection.
Inflammation is important to wound healing because it helps control the bleeding and prevent infection. But if you continue to experience inflammation for more than a couple weeks, it may be a sign that something is getting in the way of the healing process and you should talk to a doctor.
Indicators of wound infection include redness, swelling, purulent exudate, smell, pain, and systemic illness in the absence of other foci. Subtle signs of local wound infection include unhealthy “foamy” granulation tissue, contact bleeding, tissue breakdown, and epithelial bridging.
When swelling occurs, the body requests reinforcements to speed up recovery. Without swelling, the body would have difficulty determining what areas need repairing and the extent to which they do. Even so, swelling can become excessive, last for too long, or lead to other complications.
Most swelling peaks within one to three days and stays swollen for a period of time before it starts to dissipate. The exact timeline varies from person to person. If your injury continues to swell for more than a few days, it might be best to call a medical professional.
“Some bacterial infections get better on their own, but that's rare,” Dr. Price said. Most of the time, your doctor will prescribe an antibiotic. If that's the case, it's essential to take the entire course—even if you feel better, you need to take all of your medication to make sure you clear the infection.
While some minor wound infections can heal on their own, untreated infected wounds can leave a scar, at best, or lead to more serious complications — including death — at worst.
Wounds need to be covered so that they can heal properly. When a wound is left uncovered, the new surface cells that are being created can easily dry out. When these important cells dry out, it tends to slow down the healing process. A wound should be covered using a clean bandage.
When to Seek Care for Swelling. You should seek emergency care if you have sudden, unexplained swelling in just one limb or if it occurs along with chest pain, trouble breathing, coughing up blood, fever, or skin that is red and warm to the touch.
Your healthcare provider may prescribe oral antibiotics to help fight bacteria. Your provider may also clean the wound with an antibiotic solution or apply an antibiotic ointment. Sometimes a pocket of pus (abscess) may form. In that case, the abscess will be opened and the fluid drained.
Swelling is the result of the increased movement of fluid and white blood cells into the injured area. The release of chemicals and the compression of nerves in the area of injury cause pain. The pain and swelling can keep the athlete from using the injured part, serving to protect it from further injury.
Prolonged accumulation of fluid in the tissues impairs healing as the excess fluid impacts blood supply and oxygen delivery, contains detrimental metabolic waste products and causes inhibition or suppression of essential cellular activity for healing.
Often used interchangeably, “swelling” and “inflammation” are in fact two distinct terms. While inflammation is classified as a protective response from the immune system to injury, infection, or irritation; swelling is caused by the accumulation of fluid in tissues in a specific region, or throughout the body.
Never apply heat to a swollen body part in the first 72 hours after injury, as this will make the swelling worse. Compression can also help reduce swelling.
Too much swelling or large amounts of swelling for a long duration can become detrimental to healing. Prolonged inflammation and pain can lead to decreased ability to activate the muscles and eventual weakness or muscle atrophy.
"Acute inflammation is how your body fights invaders that may cause infection, as well as being a part of the healing process," says Dr. Luster. "In this way, inflammation is a good thing, because it protects the body."
Signs of a wound infection
The skin around your wound is red or sore, or feels hot and swollen. Your wound has liquid (often green or yellow pus) coming out of it. Your wound opens. You feel generally unwell or have a temperature (fever).
As the wound begins to dry, a crust starts to form in the outer layer. If the crust is yellowish and if there is a formation of pimples on or near the wound, it could be septic. Sores that look like blisters. If there is a formation of sores which look like pockets of fluid around the area, they could be septic.
The classic signs of infection are heat, redness, swelling, and pain. Additional signs of wound infection include increased exudate, delayed healing, contact bleeding, odour, and abnormal granulation tissue.