Soft tissue injury advice

Soft tissues injuries include bruising, sprains of ligaments, tears in muscles and tendons

Healing
Soft tissue injuries normally take up to 6 weeks to heal, but can persist longer.
Pain

Pain relief can help manage the discomfort in the short term. Normally paracetamol & ibuprofen (tablets or gel) will help.  If you have any questions please contact NAS Medical or speak to a Pharmacist. You may find it more comfortable to sleep with the injured limb propped up with pillows.

Swelling

There may be swelling associated with your injury. Swelling normally peaks in the first 72 hours after the injury, however, a degree of swelling can last for weeks. The swelling is often worse at the end of the day and elevating it will help.

Management

Ice: in the first 72 hours after the injury a cold pack (ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a towel) can provide short-term pain relief. Apply this to the injured area for up to 15 minutes, up to four times a day, ensuring the ice is never in direct contact with the skin.

Rest: Try to rest your injured area for the first 72 hours (three days). However, if this is a limb it is important to maintain movement within the limits of pain. Reduce activities that are making your symptoms worse, for example, the duration of time you spend on your feet or using the limb.

Follow Up

If after 3 days you still have significant / worsening pain or have limited movement, then  we recommend you contact us for further guidance:

Extensive bruising and haematoma from full thickness muscle tear