Wound Management

5 Probable Reasons Why Your Wound Won't Heal

A normal wound will generally heal in 4 to 6 weeks, but if it does not heal in this timeframe, it becomes a chronic wound or, in simple terms, a non-healing wound. If the wound is not healing in a timely manner, it means there is another unnoticed and untreated underlying condition.  

5 Probable Reasons Why Your Wound Won't Heal 

Many factors may compromise the healing process, but there are five factors that are considered primary. These are: 

1. Poor Blood Circulation

Appropriate blood flow is important for effective wound healing. But sometimes, there may be problems with blood reaching the wounded area or leaving from there to go back to the heart. These two issues are called arterial insufficiency and venous insufficiency. 

Arterial insufficiency occurs when there is some blockage in the arteries due to plaque build-up, referred to as Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD). This disrupts proper blood flow. PASD is treated by performing an angioplasty or an artery bypass to open the obstructed artery and resume blood flow. 

In venous insufficiency, the valves that prevent the blood from flowing back do not function properly. The treatment involves forcing the blood back into tissues and veins and manually pumping it back to the heart. Different forms of compression therapy, like compression stockings and bands, lymphedema pump, and manual lymphatic drainage, aid in this procedure.  

2. Infection

Chances of infection are higher with open wounds or surgically created wounds. Infection occurs when bacteria, viruses, or fungi invade the wound bed and interfere with the healing process.  

Normally, the white blood cells spring into action when an unidentified presence is found in the body. But sometimes, they cannot achieve their purpose because of an underlying condition, such as diabetes, which delays wound healing. Poor wound healing may also occur if the affected area is not in an environment conducive to recovery because of other conditions mentioned in this article. 

3. Edema

The body's tissues swell due to the retention of excess fluid. This fluid build-up typically occurs because of venous insufficiency that hampers the regular flow of blood, body fluids, and nutrients. Too much fluid retention may lead to venous ulcers or sores that won't heal. 

In this situation, compression therapy and medication also play an important role in forcing the fluids back into the system, thereby reinstating the regular functioning of the veins. Once edema is settled, the healing process resumes. 

4. Protein Deficiency

Protein is a valuable nutrient and the building block of the human body. The body is unable to build new tissues in the absence of adequate protein. Wound cleaning, dressing, and compression therapy are the external assistants of the healing process and will work efficiently only with proper nutrition in the body. 

Protein deficiency is one of the biggest reasons for a wound not healing. Therefore, consuming foods like eggs, nuts, legumes, yogurt, lean meat, etc., increases your protein intake and is beneficial for optimal wound healing.  

5. Repetitive Trauma to the Wound

Your body is already in the process of recovering from damage. Exposing it to additional repetitive pressure or force on the affected area will only make things worse by delaying the healing process or halting it altogether.  

People with numbness in any part of the body or those who suffer from a spinal cord injury are more prone to repetitive pressure as they have limited or no mobility. Lack of movement in the affected area leads to pressure ulcers. 

Similarly, paraplegic patients do not recognize when their feet hit the wheelchair causing a blunt force to their feet.  

Treating a non-healing wound might become complex if more than one factor is at play. It is important to recognize when a wound becomes unresponsive to the usual treatment and change the course of action accordingly. 

A wide variety of products are available at HPFY to help you deal with wounds that won't heal.  

Top 5 Products to Treat Wounds That Won't Heal

It is very important to make sure a wound is healing properly. Once issues of a non-healing wound are resolved, proper healing can begin. Adequate blood flow delivers purified blood to the wound bed and takes unutilized blood back to the heart for purification. Regular cleaning and covering of the wound, resolving edema, adequate protein intake, and avoiding force or trauma are important steps to help heal a wound. Timely identification will help your healthcare provider to treat these conditions.