Knee bruises occur when small blood vessels beneath the surface of the skin break and allow blood to leak into the soft tissue, causing discoloration, swelling and discomfort. The amount of pain and length of recovery depend on the severity and location of the bruise, with periosteal, or bone, bruises, taking the longest time to heal. Knee bruises that occur just beneath the skin are called subcutaneous bruises, and these have the shortest recovery time. Bruises that occur in the muscles around the knees, or intramuscular bruises, are more painful than subcutaneous bruises.
Step 1
Stop all activity involving your knee until all of the pain and swelling is gone. While some discoloration may linger after the bruise is mostly healed, continuing to use the knee while the injury is fresh can worsen bruising, pain and swelling.
Step 2
Apply a cold compress to your bruised knee to minimize swelling and promote healing. Use the compress for about 15 minutes every hour for best results. Do not apply ice directly to your skin. Doing so can cause tissue damage.
Step 3
Prop your foot up on pillows when lying flat to raise your knee above the level of your heart. This reduces discoloration and swelling by preventing blood from pooling in the tissue around your knee.
Step 4
Take acetaminophen for pain. Avoid aspirin or ibuprofen during the first hours unless your doctor tells you otherwise, as these medications can potentially worsen bleeding and bruising. Call your doctor for prescription-strength pain relief if over-the-counter medications are not effective.
Step 5
Wear a compression garment on your knee if your doctor recommends doing so. Depending on the type of injury you suffered, a compression garment or elastic wrap may help reduce swelling and speed recovery.
Step 6
Use crutches or other mobility aids as directed by your doctor. Be very careful when walking up and down stairs to prevent reinjury of your knee.
Things You'll Need
- Cold compress
- Acetaminophen
