Contusions In Adults

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:

Contusions (bruises) may appear as black and blue marks on your skin after an injury. A bruise happens when your blood vessels tear, but your skin does not. When blood vessels tear, blood leaks into nearby tissue, such as soft tissue or muscle.

INSTRUCTIONS:

Rest:

You may be told to rest more than usual. This may help your injury heal faster. If you have a muscle bruise, you may need to rest the area by keeping it in one position. If you bruised your leg or foot, you may need crutches or a cane to help you walk. This will help you keep weight off your injured body part. Use crutches or a cane as directed.

Ice:

Ice may help decrease pain and swelling. Use ice on the bruised area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time. You may be told to put ice on your bruise every hour for a certain period of time. Wrap the ice pack in a towel or place a towel on your bruised area, and then apply the ice pack.

Compression:

An elastic bandage may be applied to a bruised muscle to support the area and decrease swelling. Apply an elastic bandage as directed.

Elevation:

Elevate (raise) your injured body part above the level of your heart to help decrease pain and swelling. Use pillows, blankets, or rolled towels to elevate as often as you can.

Medicines:

• Pain medicine: You may be given medicine to decrease or take away pain. Do not wait until the pain is severe before you take your medicine.
  
  
• Steroid medicine: Steroid medicine may be given to decrease pain and swelling.
  
  
• Take your medicine as directed: Call your primary healthcare provider if you think your medicine is not helping or if you have side effects. Tell him if you take any vitamins, herbs, or other medicines. Keep a list of the medicines you take. Include the amounts, and when and why you take them. Bring the list or the pill bottles to follow-up visits.

Help your contusion heal:

• Do not massage the area or put heating pads or other warming devices on the bruise right after your injury. Heat and massage may slow the healing of the area. Ask when you may massage or apply heat to your injury.
  
  
• Do not drink alcohol for a few days after your injury.
  
  
• Do not stretch your injured muscles. Ask when and how to safely stretch after your injury.

Prevent new contusions:

• Stretch and warm up before you play sports or exercise.
  
  
• Wear protective gear, such as shin guards, whenever you play sports.
  
  
• If you begin a new physical activity, start slowly to give your body a chance to adjust.

Follow up with your primary healthcare provider as directed:

Write down any questions you have so you remember to ask them in your follow-up visits.

Contact your primary healthcare provider if:

• You have a fever and you see redness around the injured area.
  
  
• Your pain and swelling become worse within 3 weeks of the injury.
  
  
• You find a new lump in the injured area.
  
  
• Your symptoms do not improve with treatment after 4 to 5 days.
  
  
• You have questions or concerns about your bruise or treatment.

Return to the emergency department if:

• You have new trouble moving your injured area.
  
  
• You have tingling or numbness (no feeling) in the injured area.
  
  
• Your hand or foot below the bruise gets cold or turns white.

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The above information is an educational aid only. It is not intended as medical advice for individual conditions or treatments. Talk to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist before following any medical regimen to see if it is safe and effective for you.

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