When to See a Podiatrist for Your Slow-Healing Wound

Between the way they hurt and the need to keep them clean, wounds are a hassle. Fortunately, your body’s healing processes should seal up the wound. 

At least, that’s the case for most people. But if you have a condition like diabetes, your body might have difficulty healing wounds, especially on your feet. 

If you have a slow-healing wound or one that doesn’t seem to be healing at all, it’s time to take action. If it shows signs of infection, visit our team at Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute right away. 

Even if the wound doesn’t seem infected, it still makes sense to schedule an appointment if it doesn’t improve over a few weeks. We offer wound care at our offices in American Fork or Saratoga Springs, Utah. 

Supporting healing

While you monitor your foot wound, take steps to help it heal.

If certain shoes will rub the wound, avoid that footwear. You don’t want friction to slow your body’s healing processes. In fact, if you’ve noticed that the wound is healing slowly, your shoe choices might be the source. 

Keep the wound clean and moist. An antibacterial cream or petroleum jelly supports healing. 

Also, a bandage should be applied to the area and changed daily. However, keeping the foot bandaged can be challenging. Our team can help you find the proper bandage and show you how to apply it. 

When to see your podiatrist

Foot wounds generally heal slowly. They can take weeks or even months. That said, you should see improvement weekly as your body moves through the wound-healing process.   

Pay close attention to the wound. To monitor its progress, it might help to take a picture of it on the same day each week (e.g., every Monday).

If the wound isn’t getting better, it’s time to visit Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute. 

And skip the few weeks of monitoring if you notice signs of an infection. Make an appointment immediately if the wound:

• Won’t stop bleeding
• Gets increasingly painful
• Emits pus
• Has swelling or redness that doesn’t improve in a matter of days

You should also see us right away if you have an unexplained fever. That could be a sign that the wound is infected and has spread. 

Our wound care specialists are here to care for slow-healing or infected wounds on your foot and ankles. Contact our team at the Rogers Foot & Ankle Institute by calling us at (801) 756-4200.