Does abscess hurt when it drains?

We have all had that feeling of pain and discomfort when we get a wound or sore that won’t seem to heal. One such condition is the abscess, which can be incredibly painful if not treated properly.

An abscess is an infected area filled with pus in any part of the body. The pus-filled lesions develop as a result of tissue inflammation caused by bacterial infection. While it’s common, many people still don’t know what an abscess is or how to deal with it when one occurs.

Symptoms

How do you tell if you have an abscess? It’s simple, just check out these symptoms:

  • Localized swelling
  • Redness surrounding the affected area
  • Painful lump
  • Discharge of pus
  • Warmth around the region

If you experience any four or more of these symptoms simultaneously, then buddy, I got bad news for ya – it’s probably an abscess

So What Happens Then?

Firstly: OUCH! Secondly… actually wait – full stop. Before we move on, let me really drive home exactly how much ABSCESSES HURT! Your skin feels like fire ants have been thrown at it while your body reacts like someone put gravel in your bed and made you sleep on top.
..But anyhow back to what happens next.

When the infection grows too extensive to dry up by itself naturally (most often requiring medical treatment), one way doctors drain them either through lancing/draining incision(s) (those sound terrifying) , radiofrequency ablation;(Say WHAT now?), Laser-assisted drainage(LASER?), or ultrasound-guided aspiration(wait,WAIT!). Told ya there could be a need for some pretty high-tech solutions!

Does Absess Need To Drain All Together?

Typically yes.
In small cases where they spontaneously burst with pressure relief, along with soaking in warm water, the body’s immune system should eventually clean up the abscess over time.
In larger cases, however, drainage is an essential process. The most brutal way, as stated earlier would be through surgical incision which can produce unbearable pain(Oh lord) but thankfully it usually scars in 2-3 weeks once antibiotic course treatments are finished.

How To Prepare For Drainage

Ok so down to brass tacks: If you know beforehand what’s ahead…how do you mentally prepare for this long and often times grueling process of draining? Here are some tips:

  • Take a deep breath before going into the procedure.
  • Pack comfortable clothes (pro tip: sweatpants), snacks
    , and noncaffeinated drinks to fuel your recovery period
    !
  • Most importantly: steel yourself because there just may come a point during all that bodily fluid coming out where you might momentarily ask yourself “am I even human atm?” … trust me it happens.

Does It Hurt Getting Drained?

One would like to think that since they have been dealing with such severe inflammation for days or weeks now plus took these proactive steps before surgery; there is probably little one hasn’t already put themselves through – BUT make no mistake… taking care of an abscess by having it drained still has its level of discomfort.

The actual puncturing/draining treatment part will probably only take about 5 minutes total but immediately after undergoing any form of explosive discharge from your own bodys’ gross-abscessey-bodily-zone creation is not exactly like a party celebration either.

However at least when it comes launching debris equipment etc….Honestly! There’s nothing much more satisfying than finally getting rid of something so painful; every year medical websites get filled with testimonies expressing pure joy over how life-changing their experience was.

Recovery/Side Effects

So let’s talk about side-effects that can quickly knock the wind out of your sails you could potentially encounter once the draining is all said + done:

  1. Nausea
  2. Fatigue
  3. Dizziness or lightheadedness

Keep in mind PAIN, Soreness and Swelling are commonly experienced during recovery but also good news! Signs of healing which can take a few days to weeks to clear up.

Can Abscess Affect Anybody?

Nobody wants an abscess, right? So what increases one’s likelihood?
The truth is anybody’s body location suffering from infections (diabetes,hiv), or immune system deficiencies will heighten chances for developing abscesses more often than others.

Overweight individuals or anyone with frequent ingrown hairs should also regularly check suspicious areas; as well as if there has ever been physical trauma that turned into bacteria growth site such as previous surgeries, injections,or even just scratches on skin that gave way after contact with dirt/foreign objects.

If you think you might have an abscess and want to avoid excruciating pain; keep these things updated at any given time! Drainage may be uncomfortable-but so effective it’s worth considering attaining when necessary.

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