Bruised Bone
Some Interesting Facts about Bruised Bone
No one seems to be able to go through life without enduring some type of bruising, but by far the most painful will be a bruised bone. Usually caused by a fall or a sudden wrench, these bruises not only hurt but can take some time to heal; requiring patience and faithful care.
Each bone in our body is covered by a membrane called "periosteum". It is dense, fibrous and contains the blood required by the bone. Within the bone is a honeycomb effect of marrow; with red blood cells found in the crannies of the honeycomb. When any compressive force in inflicted to the bone, it is pushed in, causing the fibrous outer layer to break down. As it does, the blood vessels in the marrow break and leak out. Sometimes, the outer skin will also suffer bruising; in many cases, the pain of the bruised bone is the only indication of injury.
Evidence of a bruised bone cannot be determined under normal x-rays. Rather, a high density MRI is required to see the bruising. Diagnosing this ailment on your own can be a matter of simply recognizing the symptoms that accompany the bruised bone. These include intense pain and swelling, and may or may not include any discoloration of the skin.
Treating the bruised bone is easy. Simply ice the area several times each day to reduce any swelling that may be present, and take an ibuprofen to reduce the pain unless your doctor has prescribed other medication. Continue these steps as long as necessary. Reducing the swelling that may develop will reduce the pressure on the bone and thereby promote healing, as well as help the pain. If the bruise is on a high moveable limb such as an arm or leg, expect pain when using that limb as well as a longer recuperation time. Removing the burden on and resting the bruised bone as much as possible will help to speed the healing.
Depending on the area where the bruised bone is located and the severity of the bruise, it may take anywhere from a few days to a few months to feel improvement of the bruise. Healing of a bruised bone is the same as the process of healing any bruise; the blood needs to be reabsorbed into the system.
Incurring an injury that results in a bruised bone is painful and, depending on its location, may take months to heal. Faithfully follow your doctor’s recommendations in treating the bruise for the best results in healing. What will be most likely to be required as your body attempts to fix itself is your patience and care during the healing process.