When a break occurs in a blood vessel, the blood drips into the surrounding area and accumulates there.



The swelling that occurs in the area where the blood has collected becomes discolored. This is the site of the hematoma; but a hematoma can take place in any part of the body. A familiar hematoma is a black eye and contusions or bruises. In minor injuries, the blood is reabsorbed into the arterial mainstream. But when infection sets in, it becomes a serious condition, especially when they occur inside the skull.

A hematoma is characterized by swelling, tenderness at the injury area, a feeling of tearing inside the injured limb, and appearance of bruises just after the injury.



In a muscle sprain, the muscles are stretched beyond their capacity. Some of the tendons tear. The blood vessels will also incur a break and immediately blood will pool along the injure area. A hematoma will accompany the swelling that occurs. In this kind of injury, the ligaments may slightly tear, tear with blood clots, or the ligaments will have clean split. The severity of the hematoma will also be determined by the degree of the tear.





A sprain can vary from light, moderate, to severe. A sprain will always be accompanied by inflammation. The injured area will be hot and tender to the touch. There will also be damage to the surrounding tissues—vessels, nerves, and muscles. To ease the pain, a painkiller can be taken orally. Whether the injury is mild or not, it is advisable to have a physician assess the injury.



The evaluation will also include the ocular inspection of the hematoma.

When a mild swelling occurs after a muscle sprain, and is still painful after 2 days, apply gentle heat on the affected area using warm towels. A hot water bottle or a heating pad can also do the job well. Apply the heat every 20 minutes. The heat will be absorbed into the area and can ease the pain. Follow this with a cold compress to minimize the swelling caused by the heat.



The hemorrhaging will be minimized, stabilizing the hematoma. Elevate the injured limb so that blood will not collect in the injured area.

During the recuperation period, if the no cast is applied, continue the cold compress treatment. You can use an ice pack 3 to 4 times a day. If the arm is sprained, wrap it with an elasticized bandage in between the ice treatments. On the third day, apply hot compress instead of ice.



For the heat treatment use heat lamps, hot soaks, or heating pads. Massage the area gently to decrease the swelling. A hematoma responds well by and decreasing its swelling.

To regain strength, a well-balanced diet with extra protein should be observed. When things are getting back to normal, it is a good practice to build up strength and warm up before any exercise. It is always prudent to follow doctor’s orders. As the days pass the hematoma will disappear, and things will be normal again.

Warning: The reader of this article should exercise all precautionary measures while following instructions on the home remedies from this article. Avoid using any of these products if you are allergic to it. The responsibility lies with the reader and not with the site or the writer.