Bruising

What is a bruise?

Unfortunately bruises are a part of life however unsightly they may appear. With a colour scheme like a distant swirling nebula along with the accompanying pain and discomfort, bruises,, on the whole,, do not indicate something serious and generally will heal on their own. However, spontaneous bruising without an obvious cause is something that needs to be investigated straight away because it’s an indication that something is not quite right with your clotting mechanisms. But we are getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s look at why a bruise occurs in the first place.

Why do we get a bruise?

Bruising is simply an indication that injury has occured to a part of the body, without the skin being broken. When the skin is broken the blood escapes from the body, but when an injury from an impact or compression occurs without a skin break then the blood begins to leak from the small blood vessels that have ruptured. Since there is nowwhere for the blood to go it congreagtes near the surface of the skin where the outcome will be a bruise.

Bruising occurs when part of your body—whether it’s flesh, muscle, or bone—is injured without breaking the skin. The injuries can occur from an impact or compression, which something you will learn happens a lot if you grapple. So, if you plan on taking up BJJ, be prepared for lots of bruises. Blood leaks from small blood vessels (capillaries) that have burst but has nowhere to escape, so it gathers near the skin’s surface. The affected area may appear red, purple, blue, or black initially and change colors as the body gradually reabsorbs the blood.

The colour of the bruise

The degree of discolouration of a bruise reflects the severity of the injury. The bruise itself is not what causes pain but it is rather a refelection of the injury. The more severe the injury causes more of the small blood vessels to rupture leading more blood to escape and pool.

It’s important to note that the leaked blood isn’t what causes the pain of a bruise. Instead, the level of discoloration reflects the severity of the injury. The darker the bruise, the more blood vessels have burst, indicating more severe damage. Sometimes it seems that a bruise causes a joint to become difficult to move but this again is not the bruise itself but the accompanying swelling.

When a bruise is dangerous

So, a bruise is simply an indication that some kind of trauma has occurred that has not caused a break in the skin. However, when a bruise occurs in the absence of any ijury then it can be a cause for concern since it could indicate a problem with the clotting mechanism leading to blood leaking from these small vessels.

Liver disease and bruising

Leukaemia can cause spontaneous bruising because it affects the body’s ability to produce healthy blood cells, particularly platelets. Platelets are a type of blood cell that helps with clotting; they gather at the site of a blood vessel injury to form clots and stop bleeding.

In leukaemia, the bone marrow produces an excessive number of abnormal white blood cells, which crowd out the healthy blood cells, including platelets. With fewer platelets available, the blood’s ability to clot is impaired, making it easier for bruises to form, even from minor bumps or without any obvious injury. This spontaneous bruising is often one of the early signs of leukaemia and can occur alongside other symptoms like fatigue, frequent infections, or unusual bleeding. If you notice unexplained bruising, it’s important to consult a healthcare professional for evaluation.

Blood thinners and bruising

Blood thinners, also known as anticoagulants, cause spontaneous bruising because they reduce the blood’s ability to clot. Normally, when you bump into something or sustain a minor injury, your body forms clots to stop the bleeding. This process involves platelets and clotting factors that work together to seal off damaged blood vessels.

When you’re taking blood thinners, the medication interferes with this clotting process by slowing it down or reducing the number of platelets. As a result, even minor bumps or injuries that wouldn’t normally cause significant bruising can lead to more pronounced bruises because the blood leaks out of the vessels more easily and takes longer to clot.

In some cases, bruising can occur without any noticeable injury because the blood vessels are more prone to leaking, and the body can’t seal them off as effectively. This is why people on blood thinners often notice more frequent or larger bruises than usual.

What are the symptoms of bruising?

The most noticeable signs of bruising are discoloration and swelling, but pain and tenderness also indicate that some damage has occurred. Even if minor injuries don’t cause blood vessels to burst and result in visible bruising, the affected area may still be sensitive and require care while it heals.

How old is a bruise?

Did you know you can tell the age of a bruise from its colour? A new bruise appears red due to oxygen-rich blood. As the oxygen is depleted, the bruise changes to black, blue, or purple. As your body begins to break down the blood, the bruise transitions to green or yellow, and eventually fades to light brown as it fully heals.

Severe bruising is typically accompanied by deeper discolouration and increased sensitivity. A muscle that is heavily bruised will also be less functional. When you have a bruise, it’s important to consider how it might impact your movement.

How is bruising diagnosed?

Well, this one is kinda of a no brainer. If it looks like the photo below it’s a bruise. What’s more important is to focus the cause and degree of the injury to rule out the red flags above.

If no cause for the bruise can be identified then further tests will be required.

How can I treat bruising?

Most of the time bruises don’t require any special treatment and are only mildly painful or inconvenient. However, if you have severe or widespread bruising, it may be painful enough to require intervention.

For pain relief, consider using common painkillers, especially those with anti-inflammatory properties, like Ibuprofen tablets or gel. If the pain is particularly intense, and you are not getting the level of pain relief you need then you may need stronger painkillers, which may require a prescription.

To reduce the accompanying swelling you could try a specific treatment designed for bruising. Hirudoid, is a topical anti-inflammatory gel or cream, that is effective at reducing the swelling accompanying bruising.

Don’t forget the ice! Applying a cold compress, ice pack, or even a bag of frozen peas applied to the area of bruising can do wonders to reduce the swelling and help with pain relief. Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid medication, as frequent use of painkillers can reduce your tolerance and their future effectiveness.

How can I prevent bruising?

It’s impossible not to get bruised in life, unless you wrap yourself in bubble wrap. But you can always take precautions to prevent them from occuring in the first place. Always try to keep your environment clutter-free to avoid any unnecessary trips and falls. You could also try sparring with a less aggressive opponent when you are grappling!