Posted 12/5/2013 8:40 PM (GMT 0)
Well, boo. Do you have any friends that you trust that know a nurse maybe? Or you could post a picture of it online on one of the nurse websites. From everything I've googled, you should be okay. Cause for concern comes in if your blood is too thin. Are you taking blood thinners or herbs that thin your blood (most of us are on herbs that do this)?
Some stuff I googled...
Bruises Treatment -- Home Remedies
The treatment for a bruise is most effective right after the injury, while the bruise is still reddish.
A cold compress such as an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables 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 ice pack 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 may be taken for pain as instructed on the bottle. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen because they slow 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 two to three 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.
Causes of a Bruise
People typically get bruises when they bump into something or when something bumps into them.
Bruises can occur in some people who exercise vigorously, such as athletes and weight lifters. These bruises result from microscopic tears in blood vessels under the skin.
Unexplained bruises that occur easily or for no apparent reason may indicate a bleeding disorder, especially if the bruising is accompanied by frequent nosebleeds or bleeding gums.
Often, what are thought to be unexplained bruises on the shin or the thigh, for example, actually result from bumps into a bedpost or other object and failing to recall the injury.
Bruises in elderly people frequently occur because their skin has become thinner with age. The tissues that support the underlying blood vessels have become more fragile.
Bruises are also more common in those taking medicine to thin the blood.
Symptoms of a Bruise
Initially, a fresh bruise may actually be reddish. It will then turn blue or dark purple within a few hours, then yellow or green after a few days as it heals.
A bruise is commonly tender, and sometimes even painful for the first few days, but the pain usually goes away as the color fades.
Because the skin is not broken in a bruise, there is no risk of infection.
Continue reading below...
When to Seek Medical Care
Call the doctor if the bruise is accompanied by swelling and extreme pain, especially if you take a blood-thinning medication for a medical condition.
Call the doctor if bruising occurs easily or for no apparent reason.
Call the doctor if the bruise is painful and under a toenail or fingernail.
Call the doctor if a bruise does not improve within two weeks or fails to completely clear after three or four weeks.
Go to an emergency room if you think you have a broken bone along with the bruise.