I know it isn't legal medical advice just seeking an opinion. I got bitten two weeks ago and most of the bruising and swelling has gone. I have scabs where the puncture wounds were, but in the center in the circle of teeth the muscle is still bulging out. It is still a swollen egg. Should I go back to doctor? DH says it'll go down eventually , but two weeks feels like too long to me. I am concerned the muscle is damaged. It just feels loose still. What do you think?
I would go back to the doctor, there could be some infection under it or it could be a deep bruise. Good luck.
There's a condition in which a deep muscle injury can cause a permanent swelling due to fluid retention- I have a dog who has a giant breast on his side from getting hit by an SUV. He's lucky to have lived, but that swelling is there 5 years later. You absolutely need to have it looked at to ascertain what it is.
Is it red? Does it feel hot? Is it very painful? If you answer yes to these then YES! run to the doctor! If you can't get there right away put on some really hot compresses to draw the possible infection out. If you say no, go to the doc to just be safe.
My mom had a similar thing after she cut her finger by mistake. It was a pretty deep cut and I told her to go back to the doctor to get it checked out. I think they put her on antibiotics to treat for infection, which may be very possible in your case, especially since it was a dog bite. I would definitely make an appointment with your doctor just to be safe. A deep infection can do a lot of damage if left untreated.
I would err on the side of caution and go back to doctor. Punture wounds and bited usually get infected. May have an abscess that needs drained. If it si not infected, it could have a hematoma (collection of blood) under the skin. That does not need to be drained, but might take up to 2-3 months to fully heal. Sometimes leaving a hard lump in it's place as a scar. Unless the skin was also torn, it is unlikely that the muscle was torn, especially if it was only a puncture wound.
It is the safest thing to go to a doctor so they can rule out problems.. But... I, for instance, though I am a perfectly healthy person, sometimes heal at a different rate than at other times. Sometimes a light scratch will be nearly gone in two days... sometimes I end up wondering why it is there 2 weeks later... and also it can depend on the area alot too. Something as hard as a bite (I know too well) can leave a very deep and lasting bruise... and there might have been more damage in that area to heal than you could see or feel, when there is a bigger pain concealing a smaller one. I had a very severe break when I was young, and to this day, part of the back of my hand is numb and somewhat tingly feeling... it is just damage or disruption to a nerve... if your wound area feels numb, it is likely the swelling putting pressure on a nerve.. or a nerve may have been damaged... perhaps only temporarily.
