11 Oct Should You Wait It Out? Signs An Injury Needs Medical Attention

Photo by Yogendra Singh on Unsplash

You’ll unlikely need medical attention when you get a small paper cut or bruise, but exceptions can occur even with minor injuries. Sometimes, cuts require stitches or professional cleaning. Germs or bacteria can also enter a seemingly small cut, leading to a more extensive infection. It can be difficult to tell at times when to seek professional medical care when you get hurt. There are some telltale signs from your body indicate whether you should head to the hospital or urgent care. This list is not all-inclusive, but a guide to some of the more common injuries.

Remember if you are unsure about the seriousness of an injury, it is better to seek medical care than wait.

Prolonged Bleeding

When you receive a cut or scrape, bleeding is normal. After about ten minutes, most of the bleeding should stop, though some small blood trickles can continue for up to an hour. After this time frame, additional bleeding should cause concern, especially if the bleeding is excessive, even after applying pressure for at least twenty minutes. If there is any debris in the cut, this can make bleeding worse; if you can’t remove it yourself, you’ll also need medical attention.

Deep Wounds

Deep wounds will likely require medical sutures or skin adhesive at the minimum. If you can see any fat, muscle, or bone in your wound, it’s likely deep enough to warrant a trip to urgent care or the emergency room. If the edges of the cut or wound gape open, you’ll also need medical intervention. If a wound is deep enough to sever nerves or joints, it’s time to see the doctor.

Unbearable Pain

When you receive an injury, pain is normal. The severity of the pain will depend on the type of injury, but even intense pain usually subsides after a few minutes or hours. For example, stubbing your toe can present intense pain, but the intensity subsides after just a few minutes. If you receive an injury that results in unbearable pain that doesn’t subside or gets worse, you may need to get it looked at. Some injuries may seem harmless, such as a bump to the head, but brain swelling can be fatal and cause intense pain. Organ damage can also lead to intense pain, as well as nerve damage, torn joints, and more.

Fever or Chills

If you have unexplained fever or chills after a wound or injury, it is a likely sign of infection. Fever is the body’s response to an infection, raising body temperature to flush out bacteria and viruses. While the body can handle an infection alone in many cases, it can also worsen or lead to conditions like sepsis. Sepsis is the body’s overreaction to a severe infection, and it can be highly fatal when untreated. Sepsis can even lead to septic shock, which lowers the blood pressure to deadly levels and causes organ failure. How long does it take to die from septic shock?

Untreated, it can take only a few hours. Medical treatment is best if a wound or cut presents with a fever.

Excessive Warmth

Localized wounds will be warm to the touch. Our bodies are naturally warm, and as the body heals, it sends blood cells to the area to help repair and fight infection, leading to increased warmth. However, this warmth is typically mild and will subside within a few days. Increasing warmth can signal that the body is having trouble healing or fighting off foreign invaders, which can lead to complications or infections. Pay attention to the warmth around your wound; if it increases in temperature or size, it’s best to err on the side of caution.

Increasing Redness

Similar to warmth, redness indicates that red blood cells are working on repairing a wound. After 24 hours, the wound generally gets about as red as it would in normal circumstances. If redness in the area increases in vibrancy or size, seek medical attention.

Major Swelling

Swelling typically accompanies redness and warmth when the body tries to repair a wound or fight foreign invaders. A small amount of swelling is expected during the healing process, even if it is painful. Over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medication can help with these symptoms. However, if swelling makes it difficult to function, increases in intensity, or doesn’t subside, it may be a sign of infection.

Tingling or Numbness

Tingling or numbness may indicate an injury to the nervous system. You may have severed or damaged a nerve. You should seek medical attention to prevent permanent or severe damage.

Foul Odor

A foul odor from a cut or wound can signify a severe infection. Bacteria and dead tissue present with foul smells, and medical attention would be wise. The infection may spread or worsen, causing fatal consequences.

Nausea or Vomiting

If you’ve sustained a head injury, nausea or vomiting may indicate a concussion, which can be deadly if you don’t receive proper care. These symptoms can also indicate organ damage, so a thorough check-up is wise.

Intense Headache

Similar to vomiting, intense headaches after sustaining an injury can indicate brain bleeding, swelling, or damage. Medical intervention can help mitigate the consequences of head injuries.

Excessive Drainage

Many cuts or scrapes become wet and drain during the healing process; a moderate amount of drainage, such as pus or plasma, is normal. However, if the drainage becomes excessive, unmanageable, or extremely painful, you’ll likely want to get it checked out by the doctor. Toughing it out isn’t worth it!

Conclusion

Seemingly minor injuries may present with concerning symptoms. Excessive pain, fever, redness, warmth, or swelling may indicate an infection. Headaches, nausea, or tingling may present after complications to the nervous system or head injuries. It’s always best to be cautious and seek medical intervention whenever you’re in doubt.

Editor’s notes:

If you have contact with a potentially rabid animal or pierced by an object that may carry tetanus, you should seek emergent care.

Medlineplus.com lists the following as conditions requiring emergency attention:

Call 911 or the local emergency number to have the emergency team come to you right away if you cannot wait, such as for:

• Choking
• Stopped breathing
• Head injury with passing out, fainting, or confusion
• Injury to neck or spine, particularly if there is loss of feeling or inability to move
• Electric shock or lightning strike
• Severe burn
• Severe chest pain or pressure
• Seizure that lasted more than 1 minute or from which the person does not rapidly awaken

Go to an emergency department or call 911 or the local emergency number for help for problems such as:

• Trouble breathing
• Passing out, fainting
• Pain in the arm or jaw
• Unusual or bad headache, particularly if it started suddenly
• Suddenly not able to speak, see, walk, or move
• Suddenly weak or drooping on one side of the body
• Dizziness or weakness that does not go away
• Inhaled smoke or poisonous fumes
• Sudden confusion
• Heavy bleeding
• Possible broken bone, loss of movement, particularly if the bone is pushing through the skin
• Deep wound
• Serious burn
• Coughing or throwing up blood
• Severe pain anywhere on the body
• Severe allergic reaction with trouble breathing, swelling, hives
• High fever with headache and stiff neck
• High fever that does not get better with medicine
• Throwing up or loose stools that does not stop
• Poisoning or overdose of drug or alcohol
• Seizures

—————–

The information on MedicalResearch.com is provided for educational purposes only, and is in no way intended to diagnose, cure, or treat any medical or other condition.

Some links may be sponsored. Products are not tested, warranted or endorsed.

Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health and ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. In addition to all other limitations and disclaimers in this agreement, service provider and its third party providers disclaim any liability or loss in connection with the content provided on this website.

Last Updated on October 11, 2024 by Marie Benz MD FAAD