Hematoma.. Are they dangerous??

I'm just wondering if these are dangerous. I have on thats bout the same as a tennis-softball around. The swelling has gone down some with keeping ice on it and it looks really nasty and I'm guessing that is all I will be told to do but my mom insisted I leave a message for Marta so I did.

I'm just curious if anyone has had one of these??

If you click/copy and paste the link below, beware it is somewhat graphic. It's a picture from last night of this monster:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v352/Christiangirl81/hematoma001.jpg

Info I found on a website about Hematomas

-robin 

Less serious types include subungual hematoma (under a fingernail or toenail); hematoma auris (in the tissues of the outer ear, better known as cauliflower ear); and perianal hematoma (under the skin around the anus).

Hematomas are almost always present with a fracture. They are especially serious when they occur inside the skull, where they may place local pressure on the brain, notably epidural and subdural hematomas.

 

Treatment of Hematoma

Hematomas that occur intracranially require immediate specialized medical attention.

For contusions (bruises), treatment consists of initially applying ice or cold packs a few times a day, to produce vasoconstriction (a reduction in arterial blood flow) which helps to decrease hemorrhage (bleeding) and edema (swelling).

In general, the quicker you apply ice after the injury, the less bleeding will result.

If possible, elevate the bruised limb. Blood will leave the area of the wound and there may be less swelling. Resting the limb will also help to prevent further injury.

If the area is still painful after about 48 hours, apply gentle heat with warm towels, a ho****er bottle, or a heating pad. The heat is applied for 20 minutes at a time to promote absorption and repair. Since heat causes swelling and increases tissue fluid, which may impair function, hot compresses may be followed by cold applications to minimize the secondary effects of heat.

Pressure in the form of an elastic adhesive bandage may be helpful to reduce hemorrhage and swelling. If infection should develop in the wound, the signs and symptoms might be increasingly severe pain, a fever of 101 degrees or more, swelling with surrounding redness, and pus. If any of these signs appear, your physician should be notified to make sure there are no additional problems.

 

Questions To Ask Your Doctor About Hematoma

What type of hematoma is this?

What treatment is indicated?

Will surgery be needed?

Is complete recovery likely?

Thanks.

I called to Dr. C's office because my PCP's nurse said to and see wha they say and the NP called back to tell me to keep doing what im doing with the ice. If it starts hurting worse, gets any bigger or feels warm to touch to call immediately.

A hematoma is a bruise/collection of blood, so it's only dangerous if it keeps growing daily (suggests ongoing bleeding) or it it's putting too much pressure on surrounding tissues (like in the brain).  Hopefully, with time, rest and ice, yours will dissolve.  However, expect it to be at least 2 weeks, it'll fade slowly just like any huge bruise.  Hang in there, hon, you've dealt with far worse than this.

Thanks!

My sister who was a nurse BEFORE she had 4 kids told me to get it checked out because it can turn into or be blood clots or something. I was just kind of wondering.

Jody @ Dr. C's office did say it was fine unless it spreads, gets warm to touch or the pain gets worse. I have had some low grade temps but she said thats normal after having a major surgery plus i think I have something trying to come on in my chest/sinuses because I keep coughing and have the drainage so thats what that is about too I'm sure.

That looks nearly identical to what mine looked like after my RNY.  I didn't even think to ask the doctor about it because I knew I had just put by body through a huge ordeal plus I was still on the lovenox blood thinners at the time so I figured that wasn't helping the bruising any.

I think it took 2 or 3 weeks for mine to completely go away.  Let me know what Dr. C. says.  I'm curious.

Melissa

Thanks. I go back to Dr. C next Friday for follow up.

it was weird to me because i had bruising from the lovenox but nothing this big or whatever so I just wanted to be sure it was okay.

My daughter had one when she was little on top of her foot, of all places. She had been jumping rope in gym class and came down the wrong way on her foot. I took her to the doctor because she had a huge lump on her foot. I was a little freaked out. They didn't do anything for it. The doctor said it would eventually be absorbed back by the body. Sure enough it did, but it took a while.