Soft Tissue Bruise (Contusion)

Home care

• Elevate the injured area to reduce pain and swelling. As much as possible, sit or lie down with the injured area raised about the level of your heart. This is especially important during the first 48 hours.

• Ice the injured area to help reduce pain and swelling. Apply an ice pack to the bruised area for 20 minutes. Do this every 1 to 2 hours the first day. Continue this 3 to 4 times a day until the pain and swelling go away. You can make an ice pack by placing ice cubes in a plastic bag sealed at the top. Or you can use a bag of frozen vegetables. Wrap the ice pack in a thin towel. Do not put the ice pack directly on the skin.

• Unless another medicine was prescribed, you can take an over-the-counter medicine for pain. These include acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. Talk with your doctor before using these medicines if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, or ever had a stomach ulcer or digestive bleeding. Also talk to your doctor if you are taking blood-thinning medicine.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your doctor as advised. Contact your doctor if you are not better in 1 to 2 weeks.

When to get medical advice 

Contact your doctor right away if any of the following occur:

• Increased pain or swelling

• Bruise is on an arm or leg, and arm or leg becomes cold, blue, numb, or tingly

• Signs of infection: warmth, drainage, or increased redness or pain around the contusion

• Inability to move the injured area or body part 

• Bruise is near your eye, and you have problems with your eyesight or eye 

• Frequent bruising for unknown reasons