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Suggest Treatment For Bruised Thigh And Calf
Posted on
Mon, 12 Jan 2015
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Mon, 12 Jan 2015
Answered on
Tue, 10 Feb 2015
Last reviewed on
Question : I fell and badly bruised my thigh and calf 17 days ago. I applied ice and raised leg as much as possible ,but I had to travel after Christmas. The doctor here advised moist heat and elevation. Bruises from thigh have gone but calf is still sore and bruised. Very slow recovery, but I had two aorta removed from that leg for heart surgery ,and I am 91 years old . How long can total recovery take under these conditions?
Brief Answer:
Hematoma and veins thrombosis should be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Can you please attach a photo of it so I can see how it looks right now?
Do you take any anticoagulants? Do you have to check INR and if so what was your last result?
Please note that not all leg bruises can be healed without surgical intervention. If you take anticoagulants, there is high risk that there is much blood in the soft tissues caused by recent injury. We call it a hematoma. Large hematoma wont go away by itself. Moreover it can get infected and turn into an abscess. This might be the reason of such long healing.
The other thing is that you do not have all veins in your leg (as they were taken for by-pass heart surgery). This additionally disturbs blood circulation in the limb and does not help with healing process.
Calf tenderness in some cases can be caused by veins thrombosis. Sometimes hematoma and veins thrombosis can coexist.
As it takes 17 days now, I suggest you to consult general surgeon with this problem. Soft tissues ultrasound and Dopplers veins ultrasound should be done to rule mentioned conditions out.
If this will be ruled out, you should get compression stocking and wear them during the day. The limb should be elevated when lying down. This should accelerate the healing process which can take even few more weeks.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Hematoma and veins thrombosis should be ruled out.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Can you please attach a photo of it so I can see how it looks right now?
Do you take any anticoagulants? Do you have to check INR and if so what was your last result?
Please note that not all leg bruises can be healed without surgical intervention. If you take anticoagulants, there is high risk that there is much blood in the soft tissues caused by recent injury. We call it a hematoma. Large hematoma wont go away by itself. Moreover it can get infected and turn into an abscess. This might be the reason of such long healing.
The other thing is that you do not have all veins in your leg (as they were taken for by-pass heart surgery). This additionally disturbs blood circulation in the limb and does not help with healing process.
Calf tenderness in some cases can be caused by veins thrombosis. Sometimes hematoma and veins thrombosis can coexist.
As it takes 17 days now, I suggest you to consult general surgeon with this problem. Soft tissues ultrasound and Dopplers veins ultrasound should be done to rule mentioned conditions out.
If this will be ruled out, you should get compression stocking and wear them during the day. The limb should be elevated when lying down. This should accelerate the healing process which can take even few more weeks.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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