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Suggest Treatment For Swelling And Bruising On Legs
Hello. I fell on a metal ramp chasing my dog and banged my legs pretty badly. My left leg had a huge cut and swelling started right away. The swelling on the bruise has gone down but not my ankle/foot is almost completely purple. I keep putting ice on it as well as elevating it. Today I went for an X-ray but won t know the results till tomorrow morning but dr doesn t think it s broken nor infected. Is there anything I can do to get bruising and swelling down?
Fri, 8 Jan 2021
Hello,
The first thing is you should get a tetanus toxoid shot. The wound has to be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. Keep the wound dry. From what you said, the purple discoloration can be due to the tissue damage (contusion), which will take time to resolve. If the x-ray is not suggesting any fracture and the cut wound is not deep, you have to do daily cleaning and dressing of the wound and give time for the wound to heal.
If the wound is not infected, the natural immunity of your body will heal the wound rapidly and you do not require any antibiotics. But if you are immunocompromised like diabetic then you should take extra care for the wound and you may require an antibiotic coverage. You should keep limb elevated, do daily cleaning and dressing of wound and take anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the swelling.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Meera Rajeev, Anesthesiologist
The first thing is you should get a tetanus toxoid shot. The wound has to be thoroughly cleaned with soap and water. Keep the wound dry. From what you said, the purple discoloration can be due to the tissue damage (contusion), which will take time to resolve. If the x-ray is not suggesting any fracture and the cut wound is not deep, you have to do daily cleaning and dressing of the wound and give time for the wound to heal.
If the wound is not infected, the natural immunity of your body will heal the wound rapidly and you do not require any antibiotics. But if you are immunocompromised like diabetic then you should take extra care for the wound and you may require an antibiotic coverage. You should keep limb elevated, do daily cleaning and dressing of wound and take anti-inflammatory medications to reduce the swelling.
Take care. Hope I have answered your question. Let me know if I can assist you further.
Regards,
Dr. Meera Rajeev, Anesthesiologist
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