Home / About painful problems / Serious non-serious injury: how to help with bruises
Injuries
Perhaps bruises are one of the most common types of household or sports injuries. Sometimes all it takes is a minor bump and bump, a fall, a bump or a blow to cause painful bruising and swelling on an arm or leg. And although a bruise is not considered a serious injury in everyday life, it can cause significant inconvenience and have quite serious consequences for health. This is why it is so important to know what needs to be done in the first hours after an injury.
article 1
Symptoms and consequences of bruises
The most characteristic symptoms of a bruise are pain, swelling and bruising. The intensity of their manifestation depends on the degree of damage to soft tissues as a result of injury. They range from minor scrapes to bruising and swelling that can cover a large area of a limb, such as the thigh, calf or forearm.
A bruise - or more correctly, a hematoma - is an accumulation of blood at the site of a bruise caused by damage to the blood vessels, which manifests itself 2-3 days after the injury. Over time, the bruise changes color from blue to black or yellow, this is due to the processes of breakdown of blood elements. Edema or swelling at the site of injury occurs due to hemorrhage and the development of an inflammatory reaction. The stronger the hematoma and swelling, the stronger the pain. This occurs due to stretching of soft tissues and compression of nerve endings.
Main symptoms of injuries to joints, muscles, tendons
A bruise is damage to tissues or organs that preserves the integrity of the skin. Typically, such an injury is accompanied by pain, shaking and partial necrosis of the tissues that were hit. Bruises often occur when falling from a height, as a result of a blow caused by a blunt object. The skin, subcutaneous tissue, soft tissues, and the bones that adjoin them are most susceptible to this type of injury. 57
With severe bruises, local tissue swelling, rupture of blood vessels, and hematoma (subcutaneous hemorrhage) appear. The functions of the injured organ are limited as the hematoma and edema increase, while human activity becomes difficult and painful. 57
An injury of similar origin is a sprain of muscles, ligaments, and tendons. The main reason for the occurrence of such injuries is the performance of actions that significantly exceed the physiological volume of the musculoskeletal organ (muscle, joint, tendon). One of the reasons for such an injury may be movement of the joint in an unusual direction. Its main manifestations are limited to swelling, pain, and hematoma. 57
First aid for bruises
Timely and correct first aid measures taken in the first 24 hours after an injury will help to recover faster, cope with pain and reduce the consequences of the injury.
What to do if you are injured[1]:
- assess the condition, make sure there are no serious injuries - dislocations or fractures of the limbs;
- ensure rest, as physical activity on the injured arm or leg can aggravate the situation;
- cool the injury site with ice or a cold compress - this will help reduce pain, reduce swelling, and prevent bruising;
- if necessary, you can apply a compression bandage;
- if the bruise is extensive and accompanied by significant swelling, and the bruise is located on the arm or leg, then to facilitate the outflow of blood and lymph from the affected area, it is worth raising the limb above the level of the head while resting;
- use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in the form of gels, ointments or creams to reduce pain and swelling.
A bruise can have serious health consequences, so regardless of the severity of the injury, you should consult a doctor.
article 2
Bystrumgel is a modern remedy for pain relief for sprains and bruises.
Bystrumgel is a drug based on ketoprofen, which has anti-inflammatory, anti-exudative, and analgesic effects. It is available in gel form and has a pleasant aroma (due to the presence of lavender and orange blossom essential oils) 11.
The drug can be used for the symptomatic treatment of sprains, bruises, muscle pain, as well as articular syndrome, lumbago, arthritis 11. Unlike many other ointments for bruises and sprains, Bystrumgel is practically not absorbed by the body and does not have a catabolic effect on cartilage tissue 11. The drug relieves pain and reduces inflammation 2. If ligaments are damaged, the analgesic effect occurs within 15-30 minutes after application. eleven
How to choose an effective cream for bruises and bruises?
As a local non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, you can choose a European-made drug - Aertal® cream. It has an anti-inflammatory and analgesic effect, suppresses the development of edema and erythema. This is the only drug based on aceclofenac in the form of a cream. It has established clinical efficacy and is well tolerated.
The active ingredient - aceclofenac - is found in the cream in the form of tiny particles. After application, it is absorbed, quickly reaching saturation. The active substance accumulates in the absorption zone. This helps to increase anti-inflammatory activity. Aceclofenac enters the systemic circulation in small quantities, so the risk of side effects of Aertal® cream, including on the gastrointestinal tract, is minimized.
To prevent the development of swelling, relieve pain and reduce bruising, apply the cream with rubbing movements to the site of the bruise 3 times a day.
University
→ Home → University → University in the media → A bruise is not a trifle
What are the dangers of spontaneous bruises that form seemingly for no reason?
Did you unsuccessfully go around the corner of a table or fireplace? Have you been honing your waist too much on a hula hoop? And here it is, a bruise - a hematoma. It’s unpleasant, of course, but we know for sure that it will pass. But this is where spontaneous bruises come from, which form seemingly for no reason. They are not the handiwork of an opponent in the boxing ring or the result of a fall from rollerblades or a snowboard. Then what's the matter? It turns out that everything may be much more serious than expected...
Icy blue
“Let’s be clear right away - there are no causeless bruises. However, the reason for their appearance is not always obvious. Meanwhile, any hematoma is a hemorrhage into the skin and subcutaneous tissue, when the thinnest and most vulnerable vessels - capillaries - are damaged. It happens that the integrity of the veins is compromised. And here it is obvious: the larger the vessel, the greater the hemorrhage,” explains the head of the 2nd Department of Internal Medicine of BSMU, Professor Nikolai Soroka. — One of the most common causes of bruising is Henoch-Schönlein disease (the old name is hemorrhagic vasculitis). The disease leads to fragility of blood vessels, which causes bruising on the legs, abdomen, and back. For example, in children the cause of this is a viral infection and taking medications. If you catch a sore throat or ARVI, take antipyretics and antibiotics, and after 1 - 2 days the body is covered with pinpoint bruises. It is difficult to say what was the root cause of their appearance, an infection or the effect of drugs.”
A violation of the blood coagulation system is another serious reason for spontaneous bruises. A classic example: hemophilia is an incurable hereditary disease. A slight blow or compression - hematoma bruises instantly appear on the skin. Even more alarming is the threat of hemorrhages in internal organs.
This is what the doctor ordered
Large, diffuse bruises can occur in people who are prescribed anticoagulants, blood thinners. Including the well-known warfarin and even aspirin. “It has long been recommended to prevent the development of thrombosis, heart attacks and strokes. However, today doctors refuse to widely prescribe this drug as a method of primary prevention of cardiovascular diseases, clarifies Nikolai Fedorovich. — Studies were conducted in Europe involving 10 thousand patients. The result confirmed: if a person has not suffered a vascular accident, but takes aspirin for prevention, this does not affect the risk of stroke or heart attack. However, it increases the likelihood of bleeding. After all, the drug changes the function of platelets, which provokes hemorrhages.”
That’s why today doctors are much stricter about such prescriptions. Using aspirin more often as secondary prevention. This means it is effective for people who have had a myocardial infarction or who already have angina or heart rhythm disturbances. In a word, taking aspirin just in case is risky and unjustified. By the way, not only this drug can cause sudden hemorrhages, but also other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs that are taken to get rid of headaches and noticeable discomfort in the joints and spine.
Blood Interest
The function of blood cells - platelets - is extremely important. During a wound - domestic or combat - these assistants help the formation of a microthrombus, which prevents the body from losing a lot of blood. When there are not enough platelets (their norm is 150 - 350 thousand per microliter of blood; a figure of less than 100 is considered a problem; when it is even lower - less than 70, this is regarded as a clear threat to health), there is a danger of damage to blood vessels and hemorrhages. This condition is called thrombocytopenia.
It happens that, given the quantitative norm, platelets “unfairly” fulfill their obligations. This happens, as already noted, with unjustified use of aspirin. Hence the microcirculatory bruises. They look like multiple small hemorrhages up to 1 - 3 mm. They usually appear on the front of the shin, on the flexor surfaces of the knee and elbow joints, and sometimes on the buttocks.
Nikolai Soroka
Alert
The appearance of small pinpoint bruises on the skin is associated with disruption of the liver, where blood coagulation factors are formed. In cirrhosis and hepatitis, this function is impaired. This is the root of evil - the true reason for the appearance of bruises even with pressure and touching the skin. Moreover, such hematomas do not disappear for a long time. A blood test for liver enzymes helps clarify the situation.
When pinpoint bruises suddenly appear on the skin of the legs in older people, doctors prescribe an examination for cancer. After all, this is often one of the first symptoms of lung cancer.
There is a reason
The diagnosis of varicose veins already means a considerable probability of hemorrhages. After all, blood pressure in the veins increases! Hence the hematomas without injuries or bruises. Varicose veins should not be taken lightly. During a consultation with a phlebologist, you can decide on a treatment plan, from professionally selected compression stockings to surgical intervention.
Finally, a banal lack of vitamins C and P in the body again gives rise to bruising. Since a deficiency of ascorbic acid inhibits the synthesis of connective tissue collagen, which prevents the vessels from remaining elastic and not being injured. When the vitamin deficiency is replenished, the blood vessels become stronger and their permeability decreases. This means that the risk of hemorrhage is minimal. Therefore, doctors often prescribe ascorutin, which is known to many. This drug is a combination of ascorbic acid and rutin, which specifically acts on the compaction of the vascular wall.
In a word, the causes of sudden bruises can be very different - from vascular inflammation to a malignant tumor. A diagnosis prescribed by a doctor will help you dot all the i’s in this complex issue.
It's time to bloom
Over time, the bruise noticeably changes in appearance, as if it is blooming. This happens under the influence of enzymes that destroy hemoglobin. At first it has a reddish tint, then blue and purple. Later it turns noticeably green, becomes brownish and finally turns yellow. Typically, it takes 10 to 14 days from hemorrhage to resorption of the hematoma.
Action plan
A small hematoma from physical trauma can be easily treated at home using ice, heparin ointment or troxevasin gel. If it is extensive, it must be removed surgically. Otherwise, a large amount of blood - sometimes up to 200 ml - stagnates, which can cause suppuration and an abscess. This happens with hemophilia or an overdose of anticoagulants. For example, warfarin, a drug that is often prescribed after aortic or mitral heart valve replacement.
Author: Alla MARTINKEVICH Soviet Belarus No. 128, July 9, 2015
