Bone Bruise
What it Means to Have a Bone Bruise
Most of us know what it meant to have a bone fracture. You may however be still unfamiliar with a condition known as bone bruise. Although it may sound like a fatal condition, it is normally no cause for concern. What happens when you suffer from a bruise of this type and what should you do?
Bone Bruise
What It Is
It is easier to understand the nature of a bone bruise by understanding fractures. When one has a broken bone or fracture, the bone can be split in two or several pieces or it can have a crack on it. In other words, a fracture is a break on the hard part of the bone known as the cortical bone which may or may not extend to the spongy inner section of the bone. A crack, no matter how small or light is still considered a fracture. Fractures that may not extend beyond one side of the hard part of the bone are sometimes known as hairline fractures.
A bone bruise is differentiated from a fracture by the absence of any kind of break on the cortical bone. The hard bone and everything underneath is left whole. The damage arising from a bone bruise is only limited to the outer membrane surrounding the bone. Medical experts say that the bone itself sustains some form of damage but is so light that there is no sign of even a slight fracture.
People with bruises on the bone feel some degree of pain. The pain however is usually not so severe as to hamper normal daily functions. Unlike fractures, bruises cannot significantly immobilize you. Bone bruises that are moderate to severe may lead to swelling and discoloration and may not heal for several weeks. Mild bruises may disappear in only a few days.
Who Is at Risk
Anyone can get a bone bruise. You can get a bruise when you bump on an object, fall from an elevated position or have a minor car accident. It is obvious though that certain activities make some people more prone to bruising than others. Athletes and highly active individuals might find that they have more signs of bruising than individuals who lead more sedentary lives. Of course, people who engage in extreme sports have an equal risk of sustaining both bone bruises and fractures.
What You Should Do
A bone bruise is nothing to panic about. The important thing is to recognize it as a real bone bruise. If it truly is a bruise, all you may have to do would be to take pain medication and to use an ice pack. Remember that a bruise may take days to heal so you probably don’t need to worry if it doesn’t heal immediately. You might have some other problem though if pain and swelling persists or gets worse. In this case, you should see your doctor.
Taking Care of Your Bones
No human being on earth can avoid a bone bruise. Even the least active of all individuals can have it. If you do have a severe bruise though, it is important to be careful with your choice of activities while your bruise is still healing. Getting right back to extremely physical activities might get result in a fracture on the site of the bruise.
