Bone bruises, which are also known as bone contusions, are commonly caused by trauma to a bone, though they can also be a result of other kinds of injuries, such as ligament damage. These injuries will heal without treatment, but can be extremely painful and may be a contributing factor to arthritis.
Pain
The main symptom of a bone bruise is pain, explains Medline Plus. Pain from a bone bruise is similar to that from soft tissue contusions, but is often more severe. The pain from a bone bruise may last for several weeks or months, depending on the location and severity of the injury. The surrounding tissue will usually be tender but the pain will be most intense when pressure is applied to the injured bone.
Patients who suffer bone bruises on weight-bearing bones may also have trouble using the affected area or putting any sort of weight on it. Max Benton, an athletic trainer for the Cleveland Cavaliers, says thigh bruises can make walking or running more difficult, while bone bruises to the arm or shoulder can limit upper body mobility.
Swelling
Another symptom of a bone bruise is swelling in the area around the injury. This swelling can also cause discoloration of the surrounding skin. The swelling and skin discoloration is a result of the immune system's reaction to the injured bone.
When the body tries to heal the damaged bone it sends blood cells to the affected site for the purposes of repair. These blood cells cause the surrounding blood vessels to leak, leading to fluid accumulation, which causes the swelling. If the bone bruise occurs near a joint, blood can seep into the joint, Sports Injury Bulletin explains.
Bone Damage
A bone bruise is also marked by breaking some of the fibers on the surface of the bone. These breaks are minimal enough so they cannot be detected on an X-ray, but they can be seen on an MRI, according to D.M. Niall of St. Mary's Orthopedic Hospital in Dublin.
MRIs show swelling of the bone marrow that is accompanied by less water in the marrow. The bone damage can also predispose the patient to developing arthritis.
