Is my cartilage piercing infected?

Does a piercing necessarily have to hurt to be infected? and how long can a cartilage piercing take to infect?

• i got the middle of my ear pierced, pretty much the cartilage , it feels kind of tight in there. was my first piercing a few days ago so I'm just curious to be on the safe side. Anyway it feels a little tight when i have to twist it since you have to twist new piercings, it doesn't really hurt except when u snag it or sleep on it still, i have to constantly stay on one side of my body or else the piercing hurts to sleep on it with pressure to the pillow..but yeah, i clean it and twist it 3 times a day. it feels fine I guess, like i can feel it still, how would i know if it was infected at all? thank you

• Answer:

  Infection does not often much. Change your sleeping motion and do not touch your piercing area, it may swell up your wound. My healing of the cartilage took 2 months, although the pain was gone within a week. I took pain killers for my safe side, as I was traveling from Aussie. If it doesn't turn out well for you for 3 weeks, just ask your piercer. For some useful information : http://www.piercebody.com/Ear-Piercing-Types.asp