An abscess develops when there is an infection in your body, usually the skin.
An abscess forms as a result of the body’s immune response to infection – out of the body’s attempt to isolate and eradicate the infection.
The immune system is trying to protect the system, but is only providing a temporary solution.
The situation becomes dire in the absence of treatment.
Consequences of Untreated Abscess
Your immune system creates a barrier around the infection. This contains it for a while. But it’s only buying time.
The longer an abscess sits untreated, the more it grows. Pressure builds. Pain increases. And eventually, the infection can break through.
Here’s what delayed treatment risks:
- Sepsis: Bacteria enter your bloodstream and spread throughout your body
- Tissue damage: The infection destroys healthy tissue around it
- Chronic Pain: Infection pain is always present and leads to sleep deprivation and loss of daily functionality. Abscesses are capable of invading and damaging other parts in the body.
- Recurrent Occurrences: Once an abscess is improperly dealt with, it is only a matter of time before it returns.
An untreated infection causes operational stress on the body, leading to fatigue, a decrease in focus, and difficulty sleeping.
It does this by trying to combat an infection that it cannot overcome on its own.
How Are Stress and Pain Related Here?
Accompanying pain, there are additional physiological and psychological dimensions that are often interconnected, including the experience of your brain creating mental associations that process the pain, including the emotional weight of it.
You may experience apprehension about the “what ifs” in your treatment plan.
Such apprehension often results in “avoidance behavior” where you delay, if not completely skip, necessary medical visits.
Stress and chronic pain can be compounding factors in damaging your mental health.
Stress can worsen the perception of pain leading to a destructive cycle of increased pain and stress.
Indicators That You Need to Seek Medical Attention
People often struggle to know when to get medical care. These symptoms mean that you need care right away.
- Fever and chills: Your body is having an infection that can be serious.
- a: Abscesses can develop quickly.
- Red streaks: Lines extending from the infection site are indicative of lymphatic system involvement.
- Throbbing pain: Pressure is building inside the abscess and throbbing pain may indicate that the abscess is located deeper.
- Limited mobility: Pain may be so severe that it is difficult to move normally.
- Pus or drainage: Active abscesses will have visible discharge.
Each of these symptoms is concerning enough to warrant medical evaluation and treatment!
Delay makes treatment more difficult when it could actually be simple and less painful.
How Doctors Treat Abscesses
Incision and drainage both are essential steps in abscess management. The clinician will make an incision in the abscess and drain the purulent material to relieve the pressure.
Patients typically feel instant relief.
This procedure is not something that individuals should attempt to do on their own. Otherwise, abscesses can refill and become even more serious.
Antibiotics are simultaneously prescribed by most physicians, which will be ineffective unless the underlying drainage is performed manually.
They can only work on bacteria that are present beyond the abscess and won’t work on the bacteria that are present inside the abscess.
Once a wound has been drained, it has to heal from the bottom up. Some doctors might fill it with gauze.
The patient must maintain cleanliness and monitor the wound for signs of recurrence.
The Importance of Prompt Treatment
Postponing wound care might seem a bit convenient for the time being, circumventing the medical discomfort of a procedure, and lining up with your calendar.
Unfortunately, the abscess worsens, making treatment more involved, and recovery times extend.
Abscess care is provided at Honeycomb Clinic. Simple care to get your abscess taken care of, and get you back to your normal routine.
Get Treatment Now
Without treatment, an abscess will worsen. At Honeycomb Clinic in Houston, we will take the time to thoroughly assess and care for your abscess.
Get your appointment today. You can also give us a call at (346) 330-9906. This problem may get worse if you don’t address it.
FAQs
When should I get treatment?
Signs should be present for no more than twenty four to forty eight hours.
Can an abscess heal without a doctor?
Professionals offer the best chance of proper healing. Small abscesses can occasionally drain on their own. Taking the risk is unwise.
Should I try to drain it myself?
No. Home drainage is inadvisable. You can introduce more bacteria, and infection can be made worse by an unprofessional drainage attempt.