How to Heal A Bruised Foot Fast
March 4, 2019 • • foot care
The good news is, no broken foot, foot sprain or ankle sprain. The bad news is, you have a badly bruised foot that still hurts pretty badly, and you need to get back on your feet fast. What can you do? Thankfully, the following information compiled by the professionals at Alamitos Seal Beach Podiatry Group will help you get back up and running in no time:
Try Arnica Montana
If you have never heard of it, don’t feel bad. Arnica Montana, known as simply arnica, is a widely used herb that contains compounds that are believed to have an anti-inflammatory effect when absorbed through the skin, according to Medical News Today. This in turn might mean it helps your bruise heal a bit faster. A study found that patients with bruises who used arnica ointment healed quicker than those who used a placebo treatment. Another study found that arnica effective reduced bruising brought on by lasers used in various medical procedures. Apply arnica directly to the bruise a few times a day.How About Some Fire and Ice?
No, not literal fire, but heat. However, before getting into heat, let’s look at the role ice plays. Ice works wonderfully immediately after you have injured yourself by reducing the blood flow to the area. This prevents bruises from appearing as dramatically in the first place. When a bruise has already formed, though, you need to opt for heat instead. This will increase the blood flow below the skin and in turn clear away trapped blood that makes up the bruise. A hot water bottle or heating pad are acceptable. Of course, a nice hot bath is another option.Use Vitamin K Cream
In the body, vitamin K is vital to help your blood clot. Using cream derived from Vitamin K can reduce the severity of a bruise and help it heal quicker. A 2002 study found that it did just that for patients who were bruised due to a laser procedure. For the best results, you should apply the vitamin K cream directly to the bruise at least twice daily.Try Elevation and Compression
When you compress the bruised area of your foot, you prevent blood vessels from leaking and also help reduce pain and swelling. This makes it ideal to utilize right after the injury. To use compression, simply wrap your foot in an elastic bandage. Elevation is another tried and true trick that will reduce pain and prevent bruising from getting worse. To elevate, simply lay down and ensure your injured foot is resting above the heart. Use elevation, compression and heat together for even better results.Bottom Line
Bruises in general take weeks to heal. To speed up this process, try some, or all, of the tips listed above. However, if you experience the following along with your foot bruise, you likely need to contact us at Alamitos Seal Beach Podiatry Group as there might be something more severe going on with your foot that needs professional medical attention:- • You have a bruise, but don’t know what you did to cause it.
- • You develop a lump along with the bruise, perhaps over the top.
- • You still are experiencing pain, even though at least three days of treatment have passed.
