Does draining an abscess hurt

Answer 1

It depends on the way the doctor does the procedure. Usually they inject the abscess with lidocaine to numb the area before draining it. This process is pretty painful because they use a very large needle to inject the lidocaine and it burns when injected into your skin but the burning sensation only lasts a few seconds then you dont feel it anymore. After injecting the lidocaine the doctor will make a small incision into the abscess with a scalpel. If the doctor administered the lidocaine correctly and put a good amount you shouldn't feel this part (make sure you ask the doctor to really numb the area well because the 1st time I had an abscess drained the doctor didnt put enough lidocaine and I felt him cut me open which is the most painful thing to feel). After opening the abscess the doctor will then squeeze all the pus out and this part hurts pretty bad because they have to squeeze the area really hard so that they can get as much pus out as possible. Depending on how hard the doctor squeezes the abscess it usually only takes 2 to 3 squeezes. Afterwards the doctor will put packing into the abscess so that it remains open and drains any remaining fluid and this part will either feel really uncomfortable or it will sting really bad, for me it stung (lucky me) and after that they will put gauze over the area and tape the edges up (the tape is extremely frustrating because it sometimes leaves a lot of sticky stuff on you and it kind of hurts to take it off). After the entire procedure is done you will feel slight pain from time to time and the area will feel slightly sore, but this doesnt last too long. Unfortunately the entire process of having an abscess is painful from beginning to end and its not pleasant at all. The doctor will prescribe you antibiotics and pain medication to stay on and you must take it so it doesnt return or get infected. You will be asked to return 2 days later to remove the packing which doesnt hurt, but if it needs to be repacked for further drainage that will sting really really bad as well because they dont inject you with lidocaine the second time. I know this might scare you but it has to be done, dont let it go because it can eventually spread to other parts of your body and enter your blood stream and then you will have a serious problem.

Answer 2

If an abcess is not drained, it will drain itself..the problem is where it drains can cause some very serious problems,,and in some cases death.

Answer 3

yess i jus had one packed last night :(