Bruise Question

[honeywolf7]

I was really klutzy last Friday night and when I went outside onto our balcony, I managed to fall on it (it's a wooden balcony.) I was embarassed because it was in front of people so I said I was fine. Well, my leg got really badly bruised up as well as getting a pretty bad scrape that bled a little. The problem is that under one of the bruises, there is still a really hard lump that really, really hurts. I've never had this happen to a bruise and had it last this long before (I've had lumps that lasted a few hours after I got a bruise, but not like this).....is it normal?

 

[Michelle]

Yes, it's normal. Sometimes it takes a LONG time for the knots associated with bruises to go away.

 

[bambii]

on it right now, I know it is a little late. I just thought I would menton it.

 

[honeywolf7]

Well, sure I know to put ice on things when you first do them (I've put ice on Jessica when she hurt herself and Bobby when he hurt himself.) But, I didn't want people to know exactly how much it hurt at the time since I was already embarassed enough. All I did was clean up where it was bleeding a little bit and then left it alone. I also didn't think it was going to turn out making my lower leg look like someone had been beating me. My mom mentioned something about a bruise of hers getting infected once and having a hard lump there (she brings it up every time I bruise myself badly), so I wanted to make sure that it didn't sound abnormal to you.

 

[bekkiz]

I was pulling myself out of the pool once, slipped and banged the heck out of my knee. It bruised as usual (I bruise super easy) but within a day or two, a hard lump like you described showed up, and lasted a few weeks. At one point I asked the trainer (this was during college water polo days) what it was, and if I should be worried. Apparently, according to him, it is a small mass of scar tissue or blood that needs to be absorbed by your body that is caused by impact. I would say wait a week or so, and if it still hurts, or the lump gets bigger, see a doctor. For now: RICE (Rest, ice, compresssion and elevation) I like advil too

Another thing that may help, but is a little over the top is a contrast "bath." It's usually done in water, but alternating heat pad for 10 minutes and ice pack for 10 for about an hour helps realease any swelling

 

[honeywolf7]

Bekkiz, thanks....My mom tends to worry too much and I know that, but it still makes me worry at times. I think I'll use the RICE thing.

 

[caitycaity]

the lump is probably a hematoma.

http://my.webmd.com/content/healthwise/95/23707.htm?lastselectedguid={5FE84E90-BC77-4056-A91C-9531713CA348}

 

[honeywolf7]

Thanks, caitycaity....That's what my mom called it but she said she had one get infected

 

[caitycaity]

hmmm. i am obviously not a doctor, but i've had about 5 hematomas (all on my knees/legs) and never had a doctor tell me that they could get infected. it's just clotted blood from the broken blood vessels.

i do have one on my shin area that never went away completely. it is not noticeable unless you are touching it and it doesn't hurt or anything, but the bump is still there. it doesn't bother me though.

hope you feel better soon.

 

[honeywolf7]

Caitycaity, well I don't actually feel bad....I just wondered if it was true that they could get infected (I personally can't imagine how when it's basically just a scab underneath the skin.)

 

[TheLionKing]

There is a small possibility that it could get infected if the overlying skin was scraped or bacteria was introduced into the hematoma by a puncture. This is very uncommon.

Use common sense and keep the wound clean and keep an eye on it.

Hematomas take sometimes up to 2 months to resolve.

 

[honeywolf7]

Thanks, LionKing....I did scrape the area over it pretty badly so I will keep an eye on it.