Muscle Contusion

[webhunt]

I was in a martial arts class and sustained a contusion to my outer thigh, approx. 5 inches above my knee.  The trama was severe enough that I could not stand for several minutes and then could only, barely, limp around.  For the first several days, only the point of impact was painful.  After about a week, the pain started spreading across both my anterior and posterior thigh muscles.  My thigh was painful to the touch; simply brushing your hand along the skin would be quite painful as would applying pressure.  At night, simply moving my leg would send the muscle into a cramp for a minute or so.

A hematoma like discoloration around 10 cm in diameter developed on my inner thigh, directly across from the area of injury to my outer thigh.  About a week after the injury I saw a doctor at a walk in clinic who sent me to the ER to be evaluated for DVT.  The ultrasound was negative.

2.5 weeks after the injury, the "muscle pain" seems to be spreading to my hip area and to the area behind my knee.  If I sit still for an hour or so, my thigh muscles are very painful and stiff but the pain subsides after a few minutes of movement.

Overall, the intensity of the pain in any specific area seems to be reducing but the reach of the painful area seems to be spreading.

Should I be concerned.  Does this progression sound normal?


This discussion is related to Labral Hip Tear and Arthroscopic surgery.

[webhunt]

Thank you doctor Vinod.  The pain is gradually decreasing along with slowly increasing range of motion.  

Regards.

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

The discoloration can move while getting absorbed, you will have a feeling that it is shifting.

If the discoloration is gross and is spreading then you would need a proper examination. The haematoma can get infected also.

For any pain and inflammation you can apply ice packs, do not apply ice.

Take care!

[webhunt]

Thank you doctor for your advice.  Should I apply ice even though it has been weeks since the injury?  Also, is it normal for the discoloration to move to other areas along with the pain?  Is this discoloration due to fluid that needs to be reabsorbed?  Even after weeks?

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

Rest and apply ice packs regularly and take intermittent NSAIDs to decrease the pain and if there is some haematoma it will take time to get itself absorbed. Limit physical exertion and limit intense physical activities. Muscle contusions should heal by rest.

I would also suggest X-rays to rule out any fractures and if it cannot be diagnosed you would need a proper orthopedic examination and an MRI.

Take care!