bruises wont heal

Hi, im not sure if this is the right forum for my question, but here goes. i tripped and fell on a sidewalk in early march.  i scraped both knees and my elbow, there was a lot of bleeding, and then things scabbed over and healed, but in place of the scabs there are bruises on my knee and elbow that still look fresh, and they are both still kind of tender beneath the skin if i put weight on them, like if im kneeling, etc.  i've always been a slow healer, and i did hit the ground really hard, so im not so concerned about the bruises. nothing's swollen, or otherwise infected looking, and nothing's excruciatingly painful, its just kind of sore when i put pressure on it, and only in very specific spots.   im thinking i may have bruised some bones, which apparently takes a while to heal and just kind of takes care of itself. i was just wondering if there was anything else i should be worried about, injury-wise, and if activities that put pressure on my knee would exacerbate the problem and slow down healing even more. thanks!

[John Gallucci Jr, MS, ATC, PT, DPT]

If the injuries are not completely healed and there is any changes in color or temperature I would suggest seeing a physician to rule out infection.   Now, if they are healed and depending on how long since the onset of injury will be an indication as too which phase of healing you are in.  Although the injuries may appear to be healed on the outside after the scabs have disappeared there is still healing going on within the body.  Scar tissue lays down as a result of any soft tissue injury and can become irritable especially in and around the joints.  Until the scar tissue matures it will be beneficial to gently massage the affected areas and use ice to decrease any inflammation caused by increased pressure when kneeling.  

Best in Health,
JAG