To treat a contusion, strain or dislocation, the first thing to do is to follow the so-called “PECH scheme”. This describes the immediate measures that should be taken as soon as possible after such an injury.
Treatment according to the PECH scheme
- Rest: immediately interrupt the (sports) activity.
- Ice: Cool the affected body part for 15 to 20 minutes. Ice cubes, gel packs or even frozen vegetables are best suited, which you should first wrap with a towel or similar to avoid skin damage. Alternatively, you can run cool water over the joint; curd from the refrigerator is also suitable.
- Compression: wrap the affected joint with an elastic bandage. Decongestant and analgesic effect additionally a solution with arnica tincture (arnica with cool water in a ratio of 1 to 9) or also with vinegar (vinegar and water in a ratio of 1 to 3), which they can simply pour over the compression bandage.
- Elevate and immobilize the affected limb.
The sooner you take these measures, the less the discomfort will turn out and the faster it will recede.
Homeopathy for bruises and strains.
If you are a friend of homeopathic remedies, you can additionally take Arnica D12 three to five times every ten minutes, then hourly, furthermore in case of a sprain Rhus tox (every two hours, from the second day three times a day), respectively in case of a dislocation Ruta (from the second day three times a day).
When to see a doctor?
You should see the doctor if you have the following symptoms:
- When a joint swells severely
- When a large bruise forms
- If the joint can no longer be moved or you can no longer tread respectively
- If the pain does not go back after about an hour or becomes stronger
- In the case of deformities or suspected bone fracture
Diagnostics – what does the doctor do?
During the physical examination, minor injuries can not always be distinguished from more serious impairments. Therefore, an ultrasound examination is often performed in addition, in which, for example, bleeding, muscle tears, injuries to the capsule-ligament apparatus, joint effusions and tendon injuries can be visualized, especially in superficial areas.
In case of doubt, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is also used.
Treatment of bruising
Very large bruises and joint effusions may need to be punctured by a doctor, that is, the fluid removed with a needle. An older bruise may need to be liquefied first with a special agent (which is injected); in some cases, it is cleared out through a small incision.