What can be done to treat a bruise at home?
After a recent car accident, you sustained several injuries, including a few bruises. Even though you had a doctor examine you, you have yet to make a full recovery. How do you help the process?
WebMD explains home treatment options for bruises. While waiting to see how your car accident case turns out, help yourself along the road to recovery.
Elevation
If you have a bruise along a lower extremity, such as a leg or foot, keep it elevated as much as you can for 24 hours after your motor vehicle accident.
Cold compress
Use a bag of frozen vegetables or an ice pack as a cold compress you press to your bruise for 20 to 30 minutes. This helps reduce inflammation and promotes healing. Rather than apply the compress directly to your bare skin, wrap it in a towel first.
Heat
48 hours after your initial injury, apply a warm washcloth or something similar to your bruise for about 10 minutes two or three times a day. Warm compresses help blood flow into the affected area of skin to help it reabsorb blood quicker.
Acetaminophen
If you experience pain around the bruised area of your body, take acetaminophen. Beware that acetaminophen, ibuprofen and aspirin are different things. Read the bottle carefully to make sure you take the right over-the-counter pain medication. If you take aspirin or ibuprofen instead of acetaminophen, you could keep your blood from clotting or make your condition worse.
A bruise may not seem like a grave injury after a car accident, but you cannot afford to take any chances. When you work with your doctor to develop an at-home treatment plan, you could improve your chances of making a full recovery.
This article is brought to you by Mason Rashtian of The Mason Law Firm, a full-service personal injury attorney and accident lawyer. We represent clients all throughout California and Los Angeles County, including the Santa Clarita Valley, Valencia, Stevenson Ranch, Canyon Country, Newhall, and the entire San Fernando Valley.
We can be reached at (661) 270-5677.
This article is meant for informational purposes only.