BRUISE CONTUSION
BUISE CONTUSSION
BRUISE
A
bruise forms when a blow breaks small blood vessels near your skin's
surface, allowing a small amount of blood to leak out into the tissues under
your skin. The trapped blood appears as a black-and-blue mark. Sometimes,
there also are tiny red dots or red splotches.
If
your skin isn't broken, you don't need a bandage. You can, however, enhance
healing with these simple techniques:
-
Elevate
the injured area.
-
Apply
a elastic compression bandage if pain permits. Theraband is an ideal
item to wrap around the bruise.
-
Apply
ice or a cold pack, between 2 layers of the theraband, for up to 20 minutes at a time,
every 2 hours,
for the first 72 hours after the injury.
-
Consider
acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) for pain relief.
See
your doctor if:
-
You
have unusually large or painful bruises — particularly if your bruises
seem to develop for no known reasons.
-
You
bruise easily and you're experiencing abnormal bleeding elsewhere, such
as from your nose or gums, or you notice blood in your eyes, your stool
or your urine.
-
You
have no history of bruising, but suddenly experience bruises.
 These
signs and symptoms may indicate a more serious problem, such as a
blood-clotting problem or blood-related disease. Bruises accompanied by
persistent pain or headache also may indicate a more serious underlying
illness and require medical attention.
Do
not massage or apply heat to a bruise within the first 72 hours.
Avoid
hot baths, showers, saunas and spas.
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