Does it feel like your bone is bruised? (Bone Contusion) Let's talk about this!

You know, it's normal to get a little bruise or scrape while we're working or playing every day. Whether it's hitting a table or playing with your kids, sometimes you'll get a blue or purple spot on your skin. But today we're going to talk about a bruise that's a little deeper and requires a little more attention. That's called a bone contusion .

What is a Bone Contusion?

Simply put, a bone bruise is an injury to your bone. It's just like a bruise on your skin. However, it's a little more serious than a bruise on the surface of the skin. Doctors sometimes call it a 'bone contusion'. Contusion is the medical term for a bruise.

A bruise is when blood collects under the surface of your bone after a hard blow. Your bones are also living tissue. Just like your skin can be bruised, bones can also be bruised. However, a bone is bruised when you are hit with much more force than just breaking skin. The bone can bleed from the inside without breaking.

Imagine, if you fall or have a car accident, and you feel a sharp, sharp pain as if it's coming from a bone, you definitely need to see a doctor or go to a hospital.

Are there any types of bruises?

Now let's look at the types of bone fractures. A doctor can classify these fractures based on where they are located:

• Periosteal contusion: The periosteum is a thin membrane that surrounds most of your bones and contains blood vessels and nerves. This is a bruise to this membrane.
• Subchondral lesion: This occurs in a joint, that is, in the bone beneath the cartilage in the joints. Think of it like the knee.
• Intraosseous contusion: In this case, the bruise is inside the bone.

Where is it most commonly seen?

It is common for these bone bruises to occur after a major accident or severe injury. For example, according to experts, about 80% of people who tear the ACL (Anterior Cruciate Ligament) in the knee also have a bone bruise in the knee joint.

Actually, these bruises can occur in any bone in the body. However, they are most common in the long bones, especially those in your legs:

• Femur
• Shin bone (Tibia)
• Fibula (small bone behind the tibia)

What are the symptoms? What do you feel?

Okay, now let's look at the symptoms of a bone bruise. You may feel things like this:

• Bone pain: A sharp, deep pain.
• Tenderness: It hurts a lot when you touch the area .
• Swelling: The bruised area may swell.
• Bruising or discoloration of the skin: Sometimes the surface of the skin may also turn blue/purple.

How does this feel?

A bone bruise feels like a slightly more severe, deeper pain than a normal skin bruise. A bruise on the skin or a piece of flesh hurts when you touch it. A bone bruise usually feels like a dull, aching pain coming from deep inside the body. Sometimes, depending on the injured bone, the pain may get worse when you move, stand, or hold certain positions.

Why is this happening? What are the reasons?

Why do bone bruises occur? Simply put, this condition can occur if you hit something hard enough to damage your bones.

This often leads to serious accidents and injuries:

• Sports accidents: Imagine being hit hard by a ball while playing cricket, or falling while playing football.
• Falls: A fall from a height, like a fall down a flight of stairs.
• Vehicle accidents.

Injuries that involve twisting your joints or body are especially likely to cause bone fractures. For example, a sprained ankle or knee can cause a bone fracture due to the pressure it puts on the bones.

Who is at higher risk?

Anyone can get a broken bone, but some people are at a slightly higher risk:

• Players who play contact sports: like rugby and boxing.
• People who have physically demanding jobs or hobbies.
• People with certain blood disorders.
• People with joint diseases like arthritis.

What happens if treatment is not given? (Complications)

If not treated promptly, this bone bruise can weaken your bones and even lead to a bone fracture . Often, the same accidents that cause bone bruises can also lead to bone fractures.

Imagine, your bone is bruised, but if you ignore it and continue to use it, putting pressure on it, the damage can increase and the bone can become cracked or broken.

How does a doctor detect this?

Now let's see how a doctor can accurately diagnose a bone fracture. A doctor will examine you and perform some imaging tests to confirm this.

Your doctor will carefully examine your injured bone and the surrounding area. You should also tell your doctor when you first started experiencing symptoms such as pain and swelling, and if you know what caused it (such as a fall or sports accident). Also, tell him or her whether these symptoms increase (or decrease) with certain activities, movements, or postures.

What kind of tests are done?

Your doctor may use various imaging tests to take pictures of your bones and the surrounding area:

• MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scan: This is the most common way to clearly see a bone fracture.
• Ultrasound examination.
• CT (Computed Tomography) scan.

An X-ray cannot show a bone bruise. However, a doctor may take an X-ray to check if a bone is broken.

What are the treatments? What can I do to recover?

Okay, now let's see what the treatment is for this. The doctor will advise you to reduce the pressure on the injured bone and treat it in a way that will help it heal.

Many people can manage these symptoms at home using the RICE method :

• R (Rest): Avoid strenuous physical activity. Try to avoid using the injured part as much as possible until it heals.
• I (Ice): Apply an ice pack to the injured area for about 15 minutes several times a day. Remember to wrap the ice pack in a thin cloth so that it does not touch the skin directly.
• C (Compression): Wrap an elastic bandage around the injured bone to reduce swelling. Your doctor will show you how to do this properly.
• E (Elevation): Keep the injured bone above the level of your heart whenever possible.

There are other treatments:

• Medications: To reduce swelling and pain, your doctor may give you painkillers such as NSAIDs (Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs) (e.g. ibuprofen) or acetaminophen (e.g. Panadol). Your doctor will tell you exactly how long you should take these medications and how often. Do not take painkillers continuously for more than 10 days without consulting your doctor.
• Physical therapy: A physical therapist will teach you exercises and stretches to help strengthen your muscles, increase flexibility, and regain range of motion in a part of your body. This is especially helpful if the sprain is in or near a joint.
• Immobilization: Your doctor may tell you to wear a splint , brace , or cast (like a plaster of Paris). These hold your bone in place, reduce pressure on it, and help it heal. Your doctor will also tell you how long you should keep it in place.

How quickly will it heal?

As you begin to manage your symptoms, you will gradually begin to feel better. As you start taking painkillers and reduce the use of the injured bone, the pain and swelling should gradually decrease.

However, do not resume any physical activity until your doctor tells you to. It takes time for your bone to fully regain its strength and heal completely.

If you put pressure on a broken bone before it has healed properly (by playing sports, going to work, or doing strenuous exercise), the risk of a fracture in the weak spot near the bruise is much higher.

What to expect?

You can expect a broken bone to heal. But it can take time, and sometimes it can be a little frustrating.

A bruise on the skin is usually less likely to get worse (although it can hurt if you forget to pick at it). But a bone bruise is different. Because it's an injury to the bone, it's important to give your body time to heal. Depending on where the bruise is, you may need to stay away from certain activities for a while. It can be even more distressing if you have to stop playing a sport, game, or hobby you enjoy for a while.

Talk to your doctor about how long you should avoid strenuous physical activity or exercise. That way, you'll have a clear idea of ​​what to expect.

How long does it take to heal?

Bone bruises take time to heal. Most bone bruises heal in a few weeks. However, a more severe bruise can take months (or even longer) to fully heal.

How long it takes for a bone bruise to heal depends on what type of bruise it is, what bone it is on, and whether there were other injuries at the same time.

How do you avoid this? (How to avoid it?)

You may not be able to prevent a broken bone from occurring. Most of the time, these injuries are caused by accidents that are out of your control. However, you can generally reduce your risk of injury by following these safety tips:

• Always wear a seatbelt when riding in a vehicle.
• Wear appropriate safety equipment for every sport, work, or physical activity.
• Keep your home and workplace tidy and free of things that could cause you to slip and fall.
• When picking up something from above, always use a suitable tool or ladder. Never climb on chairs or tables.
• If you have difficulty walking or are at high risk of falling, use a cane or walker .

Do you need to see a doctor?

Yes, absolutely. If you think you have a bone bruise, you should always see a doctor. While you don't need to see a doctor for a normal bruise, you should definitely see a doctor for a bone bruise.

If you have bone pain for more than a few days, or if you have other symptoms such as swelling, difficulty moving a part of your body, or pain when using it, see a doctor.

If you experience a serious accident, such as a major fall or a car accident, go to the hospital's emergency department immediately.

What should you ask the doctor?

You can ask your doctor questions like:

• Do I have a bone contusion or other injury?
• What bone is injured in my injury? What type of bruise is it?
• What kind of treatment do I need?
• When can I start playing sports, exercising, or doing other strenuous physical activities again?

What are the stages of recovery?

Bruises under your skin change color as they heal. They may look red or purple at first. If you have darker skin, the bruise may look purple, dark brown, or black. As the bruise heals, it may turn light brown, green, or yellow.

A bone bruise also goes through healing stages. However, because the bruise is inside the body, you may not be able to see any visible changes on the outside. It's best to ask your doctor when it's safe to put pressure on your injured bone again and resume all normal activities.

How do you know if a bone is broken or sprained?

A bone fracture and a bone contusion are both painful injuries caused by a hard blow to the body (often a fall, car accident, or sports accident). The difference is in how your bone is damaged.

A bone contusion occurs when something hard hits a bone and causes bleeding, but the bone does not break or fracture.

A bone fracture occurs when a bone is hit hard enough to break it in at least one place. Fractures are more serious injuries than bruises. They can also take longer to heal than bruises.

If you have been in a serious accident and have pain near or in a bone, go to the hospital emergency department immediately. Regardless of the type of injury you have, it is very important to get your bone checked immediately.

Think about it, whether you bump your leg on a coffee table or you get a little too hard while playing basketball with a teammate, you get a bruise. A bone bruise is like a blue or black spot on your skin. But these are deeper, slightly more serious injuries.

Finally, remember (Take-Home Message)

Your doctor will explain exactly where your broken bone is and what you can do to help it heal. Don't rush the healing process. It can take time, but it's worth it. Wait until your doctor tells you to resume strenuous physical activity. Once your bone is completely healed, you can resume your normal activities. Don't panic, and follow your doctor's instructions exactly. Then you can heal quickly!

` Bone contusion, bone pain, swelling, sports injuries, RICE method