infection?

Spoons · 25-04-2008, 09:36 PM

Ok so i had stitches put in on sunday.

basic facts, it got sewn up late for various reasons, open for about 6hrs.

arm slightly swollen, but its bright red and radiating heat.
theres no gunk or anything, but i get stitches regularly and my arm has never gone like this.

is it infected?
do i need to get it seen to before monday?

any suggestions?

l'il esky · 25-04-2008, 09:50 PM

i would advice going to a walk in centre/minor injuries etc to get it checked out. dont always have to have gunk for infection. you get a localised imflammation when a wound is healing but 5 days later it shoulnt still be hot. xx

Animad · 25-04-2008, 10:16 PM

That does sound like an infection. How long ago was it stitched up?

Animad · 25-04-2008, 10:18 PM

Sorry, just read... By now you're unlikely to see any discharge as a lot of the surface will have healed. As its swollen/red I'd get it looked at by a doctor ASAP as it will have little/no ways of drainage if it is infected and will just worsen -->abscess/ septicaemia.

Have you got the wound dirty?

Have you knocked it/ been playing with the stitches/ is it near a joint and which you've been using a lot?

Spoons · 25-04-2008, 10:34 PM

it is on the top side of my arm. so if i place my hand straight out, palm down it is splat bang in between my wrist and my elbow.

wound got damp in the shower.
getting slightly more painful, feels like stitches are being pulled.

Animad · 25-04-2008, 10:50 PM

Does sound like its an early infection. The reason why i asked where it was was just so i knew whether you your skin was constantly pulling apart the stitches/edges of the wound but being there that shouldn't be too much of a factor. If I was you I'd get it looked at. It might be a good idea to go to a walk-in centre over the weekend. If not then try and get in to your local practice on monday, if you can't see a doctor then see a nurse. It's just a bit worrying if there is an infection grumbling away and no pus can escape as the only way for the toxins to go then is into your bloodstream. If it does look like it is getting worse then see a doctor ASAP especially if it has spread into your blood. Signs of this are red lines going from the wound in the direction of your heart (so going up your arm) and you start to feel ill; lethargy, tired, weak, headache, dizziness. Also, if your wound swells up a lot (and this could be pretty quickly) then see a doctor ASAP as this may be an abscess forming under the stitches were placed and this will need to be drained sooner rather than later as if it isn't it could burst internally

Spoons · 25-04-2008, 11:04 PM

the redness is mainly from wound to my elbow that direction, its not really present the other side of wound. Spans out about 1.5 to 2 inches at present, the redness that is.

i dont know if this is relevant, but tendons were visible when i cut it originally, and as said above left open 6hrs or so.

arm is heavy

i think i might go to minor injuries unit 2moro morning, especially if it gets worse.

should i cover it, or leave it to the air?

Spoons · 25-04-2008, 11:34 PM

bruising is coming out even more, havent noticed it until i held up to the light.

yellowy line down my arm.

Animad · 26-04-2008, 08:26 AM

I'd get yourself down to the Minor Injuries Unit ASAP, see if they'll see you. Hopefully you won't be waiting long if you go there, I know the one near me say people should be seen within about 15mins of getting there. It sounds like the infection is bad and it will be trapped under your skin so it needs to get looked at.