Wound pain is an important warning signal to alert to disorders and diseases that can be dangerous to the body. Therefore, injuries, whether from surgery or accidents, are always associated with pain. They may even persist beyond the actual healing.
What is wound pain?
Wound pain includes not only pain, from the injury itself, but also pain from the healing process. As an umbrella term, wound pain refers to all pain that occurs in connection with wounds. In addition to the pain caused by the injury itself, this also includes the pain caused by the healing process. In addition, there is the pain that occurs as a result of healing, e.g. due to proliferating scar tissue. If a wound also radiates pain over the damaged area, it too counts as wound pain. Their character is usually sharp-burning, which is perceived as very painful. In general, it is also true that smaller injuries are associated with less wound pain than large ones.
Causes
Causes of wound pain are always tissue injuries that set in motion a complex biochemical process. Depending on the severity of the injury, bleeding occurs to varying degrees. At the same time, the body produces pain-triggering substances at the affected sites. They activate the nerve cells located in the injured tissue, which in turn transmit impulses via nerve pathways to the brain, where the pain is processed. The triggers for wound pain are manifold. In particular, they include injuries caused by cuts, bruises, stitches, impalements, bites and bullet wounds. Extreme cold (frostbite) or heat (burns, scalds) also cause painful injuries. Wound pain is also caused by pressure and friction in prostheses. Phantom limb pain is also a special form of pain or wound pain. They occur after the amputation of limbs, although the body part perceived as painful is no longer present.
Diseases with this symptom
- Bruising
- Phantom pain
- Laceration
- Hypothermia
- Burn wound
- Burn
Diagnosis and course
If an injury has occurred, the first step is to determine its severity. Before any treatment, it must be clarified whether it is superficial skin abrasions with rather minor wound pain or deeper wounds. These include severing of the skin, injury to other tissue layers in the body, or even the most severe injuries in body cavities such as the skull, chest and abdomen. However, it should be noted that the severity of the injury does not automatically correlate with the intensity of the wound pain. Because the sensation of pain depends on a variety of factors, there are large individual differences in how patients process pain. They sometimes experience desirable pain after accidents and surgeries even more intensely than it actually is, research has shown.
Complications
Wound pain does not need to be treated in every case. If they occur after a minor accident or bruise, they usually heal relatively quickly and leave no scars. In this case, they also do not need to be treated and do not lead to further complications. However, if the wound pain occurs after a major accident and the wound bleeds, a doctor must be consulted in any case. It is advisable to cover the wound with a bandage so that no infection can develop there due to dirt. In order to avoid wound pain, the wound should be covered with a pressure bandage or a plaster immediately after it is made. Treatment by a doctor must take place if the wound is very painful and thus restricts everyday life. It usually takes the form of surgical intervention or medication. Painkillers can be used to relieve the pain. However, permanent use should be avoided, as painkillers attack the stomach. Complications occur only in rare cases. In most cases, the wound pain disappears after a short time and does not need to be treated by a doctor.
When should you go to the doctor?
Wound pain does not always require medical treatment. Pain that occurs after minor bruises or accidents usually disappears after a few days and does not require further clarification.However, if the complaints persist longer than usual, a doctor must be consulted. This is especially true if the pain is associated with an infection of the wound or a disturbed healing process. Wound pain after a serious injury must always be treated by a doctor. The same applies to pain that occurs after an operation and appears unusually severe. The attending physician must then ensure that the wound heals without further complications and, for example, that no inflammation or scarring occurs. In addition, wound pain should be clarified if it is particularly intense or restricts everyday life. Infants and toddlers who complain of pain after an operation or a fall should be taken to a pediatrician or hospital. If the pain is nerve pain, a neurologist should be consulted in consultation with the family physician.
Treatment and therapy
The primary goal in the treatment of wounds is to avoid infections. They not only jeopardize the healing process, but can also permanently increase wound pain. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent bacteria, viruses, or other substances from entering the wound. Therefore, wound care is of fundamental importance for the entire healing process. It should also be noted that injuries heal differently depending on their severity. Cut wounds usually have little destroyed tissue with smooth edges. Good conditions, therefore, for bringing the edges of the wound back together. This is done by suturing or a plaster dressing. Cut wounds usually close within 6 to 8 days after a superficial scab has previously formed. For contusions, all destroyed tissue must be removed as soon as possible. The aim is to create smooth and, above all, well perfused wound edges everywhere. They are also brought back together. Stab wounds and wounds caused by impalements must be closely controlled over the entire stab canal. This often even has to be widened. Only in this way can it be determined with certainty whether organs are injured in the depth of the body that cause wound pain.
Outlook and prognosis
In wound pain, the prognosis depends on the type and severity of the injury, the size of the wound, and other factors. If the wound pain is normal, the prognosis is usually good. However, if the wound pain is exceptionally severe and accompanied by redness, pus formation, or fever, the prognosis worsens. This is especially true if prompt treatment is not received. There is a difference between someone getting wound pain because of an abrasion and after an amputation, for example. Acute wound pain is normal. They can occur after falls, cuts, from surgery or tooth extractions. After a few days, however, the wound pain should improve. On the other hand, the healing phase does not begin if sepsis or inflammation has occurred in the wound. In this case, the prognosis is improved only if the inflammation is treated immediately. Tetanus injections or antibiotics may be necessary. In addition, chronic wound pain may occur. In this case, a wound has healed, but the wound pain remains. The best-known example is phantom limb pain after an amputation. The prognosis for such wound pain is difficult because in this case the pain memory is affected. Severed nerve endings suggest to the affected person that the amputated limb is still there. By means of special pain therapy immediately after surgery, the prognosis can be improved.
Prevention
Numerous measures have proven effective in preventing wound pain. For example, in the acute phase, i.e., immediately after surgery or the appearance of swelling, cooling compresses (ice packs) almost always alleviate pain development. Similar results can often be achieved by ointments applied to the skin. In the case of larger wounds, pressure bandages and plasters can be used to stop bleeding. Finally, with medication, wound pain can be sustainably relieved or eliminated altogether.
What you can do yourself
In the case of wound pain, a doctor does not necessarily have to be consulted. Minor injuries or cuts can be treated yourself with the help of some home remedies and measures. First, it is advisable to apply a plaster or bandage to the wound to prevent bacteria or viruses from entering.In the case of bruises and major injuries, the treatment should be discussed with the doctor beforehand, as it may be necessary to remove the dead tissue first. Cooling compresses such as cold packs reduce swelling and prevent wound pain. If the wound is already very painful, various wound ointments and homeopathic remedies can be used. Among others, the anti-inflammatory devil’s claw and the healing-promoting arnica have proven their worth. Frankincense and ginger can be applied in the form of warm compresses and help especially with wound pain resulting from a sports injury. In cases of severe discomfort, cannabis can sometimes be used as a painkiller. In addition, pain-relieving herbal teas made from chamomile, peppermint or caraway help. In addition, general measures can relieve the pain and improve the general condition. Regular walks stimulate blood circulation and contribute to rapid healing of the wound, while relaxation exercises distract from the discomfort. If this does not reduce the wound pain, the primary care physician may suggest other treatment options.
