Heel bruising is a common injury that can result from an unsuccessful emphasis on the foot, hitting a hard surface. Since such injuries are accompanied by a gradual increase in pain, they should by no means be ignored. If you do not properly treat the heel, after a while you can lie down and lose the ability to move independently.
What is damage?
Under the usual bruise is meant a closed tissue injury, in which there is no change in their structure. At the same time, heel injury is often accompanied by ligament rupture, joint dislocation. Such damage only intensifies the already quite significant painful sensations. In some cases, a bruised heel is accompanied by more serious disorders in the form of fractures and sprains.
Symptoms
Heel bruising is accompanied by damage to the vessels located in this area. Formed bruisesgradually impregnate fatty tissue located under the skin. The result is the appearance of a bluish area, which, in fact, indicates the presence of a bruise.
Just by the appearance of the damage alone, it is quite difficult to determine how strong the blow was, and whether the injury was serious. This is due to the characteristics of each individual organism. For example, in people with fragile vascular walls and in elderly victims, pronounced bruises of a purple hue often form. On the contrary, a bruised heel in young people can only cause redness and swelling of the tissues.
Usually, immediately after an injury, a bruise becomes bluish. In connection with the biochemical processes occurring in the tissues, the lesion site becomes greenish-yellow over time. The more time has passed since the injury, the more yellow the bruised area.
Diagnosis
If there is a sharp pain in the heel, treatment is required immediately. In this case, as a rule, you can not avoid contacting a traumatologist. Only a specialist can exclude the presence of a fracture. For this purpose, an x-ray of the calcaneus is performed. Only after this event, you can proceed to the use of therapeutic agents.
In the case of a bruise complicated by a fracture, a cast cannot be dispensed with. If the essence of the injury is only damage to soft tissues or a slight sprain, it is enough to prescribe medications that can relieve swelling and visit physiotherapy.
Mostsevere bruises of the heel are accompanied by the instant appearance of a volumetric edematous area. In the presence of a complex injury, the functions of the foot are impaired. In the most serious cases, it is not only difficult for the victim to lean on his leg, but also to touch the heel of a hard surface.
Common causes of bruised heels
Injury can be caused by a variety of factors, including:
- bad landing after jump;
- careless movement on uneven surfaces;
- increased physical activity;
- climbing stairs;
- long-term wearing of shoes with uncomfortable or too high heels.
Quite often, sports injuries lead to heel bruising. People who lead an active lifestyle, teenagers and children are primarily at risk for such damage.
First Aid
In order to reduce the level of pain and not make even more trouble in the form of complications, it is extremely important to get first aid in case of a heel bruise. If a bruise is suspected, it is recommended to completely eliminate the load on the foot. It is advisable to be in a lying or sitting position until the degree of severity of the injury is clarified. It is better that the leg hangs freely while doing this.
The primary action in case of a heel injury is the imposition of a cold compress on the damaged area in the form of an ice bag, a chilled bottle, etc. With the help of such a simple action, you can quickly remove the swelling. Treatment of this plan will also help to cope withunbearable growing pain.
Before identifying the nature of the damage, it is strongly not recommended to bandage the foot. In the event of a fracture, bone fragments can be displaced, which will cause a whole host of unpleasant consequences.
Heel injury: how to treat?
Let's consider the features of recovery after a heel injury in cases where the damage is not complicated by the presence of a fracture:
- During the first days after injury, everything possible should be done to slow down the flow of blood to the tissues in the problem area. For this purpose, cold compresses are regularly applied, after which the heel area is squeezed with an elastic bandage.
- For about 2-3 days, warm compresses begin to affect the bruise. The latter contribute to the speedy removal of frozen blood from the tissues, eliminate pain. Heparin, Traumeel, Ibuprofen, and other drugs that reduce swelling are additionally used as medical solutions.
- Gels such as Lyoton and Troxevasin are quite effective in treating bruises. It is recommended to use them in combination with "Dimexide" - a drug that improves the absorbency of the skin and ensures the rapid penetration of the above funds into deep tissues.
Treatment of a bruised heel using traditional medicine
Contributes to the speedy recovery from injury and the use of folk remedies. Among the mostEffective recipes are worth noting, first of all, the imposition of an alcohol compress. To prepare it, it is enough to take a gauze bandage, moisten it with strong alcohol and place it on the heel. To avoid rapid evaporation of the active substance, cover the bandage with a plastic bag. It is recommended to repeat the procedure several times a day until the pain disappears completely.
Eliminate accidental or sports injuries will allow the use of cabbage leaves. The latter must be slightly kneaded until a barely visible juice forms on the surface. After that, the sheets must be applied to the bruised area, fixing with an elastic bandage. This method allows you to quickly remove swelling and restore normal blood circulation at the site of injury.
Boiled beans also have the above properties, which must be thoroughly kneaded and applied to the bruised heel. Such a gruel should be covered with parchment and fixed with a gauze bandage.
In closing
As you can see, it is quite difficult to overcome heel pain. Treatment here is aimed at removing puffiness, eliminating subcutaneous hemorrhages, and returning limb mobility. To avoid such problems, it is worth resorting to the use of specialized equipment during sports, avoid jumping from a significant height, and also remain attentive when moving on difficult terrain.
