My large hemotoma is spreading.?

Question

Sunday Night (it's now Thursday) I fell off our 5 foot high porch, I have a significant bruise on my hip, went to the ER, nothing broken. Today, the bruise is black with a yellow and red center and has spread down my leg. Do I need to go back to the ER?

Actually, it is hurting differently than it was, it's actually hurting to just have my pjs on it. And the colors have gone from purple/blue to purple/black with a bright red center and ropy feeling streaks in it.

Answer 1

If you are up on your feet and going about your business, it is natural for the blood causing the hematoma to settle down. Is the bruise getting firm or hot to the touch. You just want to watch and make sure you aren't getting an infection. You can put ice on it while you are laying around. A bruise as it heals will go from black and blue to yellow and green. Just because nothing is broken, you could still have soft tissue injury. However, it should be beginning to fade. Watch the red center and make sure it doesn't get larger, firm or hot to touch. Sometimes you can get a sterile abscess from a large hematoma.

Answer 2

Hematomas can enlarge and change colour over time. If your hematoma is getting larger and more painful, I would suggest a visit to your ER/physician. The colour changes in a hematoma are due to old blood being broken down. Increasing pain may be due to increasing pressure caused by the buildup of fluid. Sometimes, the best and most painless way (believe it or not!) is to drain the hematoma with a needle and syringe (do NOT do it yourself!) - the release of the pressure buildup produces immediate pain relief. Just a few months ago I had someone in an ATV accident who had had a hematoma on his hip - no fractures. He came back a few days later with a bigger hematoma and awful pain - I removed about 600ccs of old blood and sent him home a very happy camper.

Answer 3

As long as the pain is not increasing, and you have not reinjured the site, you should be OK.