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Friday, July 07, 2006
everything's coming up bruise-y
I got hit in the side of my knee last night with a hard grounder that took a funny hop. i'm pretty sure it'll start bruising soon. So then i thought, do i really know that much about bruises? Here's what my friend Google came up with:
A bruise is a discoloration in or below skin tissue. It generally results from an accidental injury. Blood leaks from damaged blood vessels, seeping into the surrounding body tissues. The discoloration is often blue, purple or black. With the passing of time, bruises fade to yellow as blood is absorbed back into the circulation.
The treatment for a bruise is most effective right after the injury while the bruise is still reddish.
•A cold compress such as an icepack or a bag of frozen peas should be applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes in order to speed healing and reduce swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the icepack in a towel.
•If the bruise takes up a large area of the leg or foot, the leg should be kept elevated as much as possible during the first 24 hours after the injury.
•Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be taken for pain as instructed on the bottle. Avoid aspirin because aspirin slows the blood from clotting and may, in fact, prolong the bleeding.
•After about 48 hours, heat in the form of a warm washcloth applied to the bruise for 10 minutes or so 2 or 3 times a day may increase blood flow to the bruised area allowing the skin to reabsorb the blood more quickly. Ultimately, the bruise will fade in color.
Prevention
•Wear protective gear (shin guards) while playing contact sports such a soccer.
•Place furniture away from doorways and common walking paths within your home.
•Keep phone and electrical cords away from open areas where you may trip and fall.
•Be sure floors are kept dry and that rugs are slip resistant.
•Keep floors free of clutter.
•Plug in a small night light or use a flashlight if you need to walk to the bathroom during the night.
•If your doctor has prescribed anticoagulant medications (blood-thinners), be sure to have regular monitoring and adjust medications as necessary.
Hope you have a bruise-free weekend!
=)
I got hit in the side of my knee last night with a hard grounder that took a funny hop. i'm pretty sure it'll start bruising soon. So then i thought, do i really know that much about bruises? Here's what my friend Google came up with:
A bruise is a discoloration in or below skin tissue. It generally results from an accidental injury. Blood leaks from damaged blood vessels, seeping into the surrounding body tissues. The discoloration is often blue, purple or black. With the passing of time, bruises fade to yellow as blood is absorbed back into the circulation.
The treatment for a bruise is most effective right after the injury while the bruise is still reddish.
•A cold compress such as an icepack or a bag of frozen peas should be applied to the affected area for 20-30 minutes in order to speed healing and reduce swelling. Do not apply ice directly to the skin. Wrap the icepack in a towel.
•If the bruise takes up a large area of the leg or foot, the leg should be kept elevated as much as possible during the first 24 hours after the injury.
•Acetaminophen or ibuprofen may be taken for pain as instructed on the bottle. Avoid aspirin because aspirin slows the blood from clotting and may, in fact, prolong the bleeding.
•After about 48 hours, heat in the form of a warm washcloth applied to the bruise for 10 minutes or so 2 or 3 times a day may increase blood flow to the bruised area allowing the skin to reabsorb the blood more quickly. Ultimately, the bruise will fade in color.
Prevention
•Wear protective gear (shin guards) while playing contact sports such a soccer.
•Place furniture away from doorways and common walking paths within your home.
•Keep phone and electrical cords away from open areas where you may trip and fall.
•Be sure floors are kept dry and that rugs are slip resistant.
•Keep floors free of clutter.
•Plug in a small night light or use a flashlight if you need to walk to the bathroom during the night.
•If your doctor has prescribed anticoagulant medications (blood-thinners), be sure to have regular monitoring and adjust medications as necessary.
Hope you have a bruise-free weekend!
=)
// posted by naomi @ 12:33 p.m. 
