How to Diagnose a Bone Bruise

A bone bruise is a bruise on the surface of the bone. It can be quite painful and take longer to heal than a normal bruise. Many symptoms are similar to a fracture. Another name for bone bruise is periosteal.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Ice

1. Examine the area that you hurt. If you have swelling or a place that is tender to the touch apply ice to the area.

2. Assess the area to rule out the possibility of a sprain or a strain. The swelling with a bone bruise is often minimal compared to a sprain or a strain.

3. Go to a doctor's office or an emergency room. Doctors can't accurately diagnose a bone bruise without running certain medical tests.

4. X-ray the affected area to rule out the possibility of fracture. Since the symptoms are so similar this is a worthwhile step.

5. Doctors may want to wait to see if the discoloration appears or if the symptoms lessen in just a few days.

6. Obtain an MRI of the area. This is the only accurate way to determine if you truly have a bone bruise.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have determined that there is no sign of fracture, you may want to assume that it is a bone bruise. This takes some time to heal. You should avoid putting weight on the area or using the joint. This can help speed up the process.
• Go to a doctor to obtain a proper diagnosis. The symptoms of bone bruise are so similar to a fracture that you need to obtain an expert opinion to rule out broken bones. You can also learn the best way to wrap your injury to protect it while it heals.

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