Full disclosure: I am a major worrywart. So this is probably nothing, but here goes...last night I noticed a faint bruise on my son's shin. Like a typical 7-year-old, he is always banging into things, so shin bruises are nothing new. However, this one had almost no color - just a very light reddish mark with a swollen lump beneath. It wasn't exactly hard, but it was firm and smooth. I guess it's kind of like a goose egg when you bump your head - I've never known it to happen on his shin before though. I thought it was weird that he hit his leg hard enough to raise a lump yet not really discolor the area. The mark was maybe a little more noticeable this morning, though not much.
He said it only hurts when you press on it. No other complaints of leg pain, etc., and he is bouncing around like normal. Does this sound like just a common swelling due to a bruise, or should we have it checked?
It's a normal bruise. He likely bonked it and didn't realize it while playing.
Yes, normal! I also wanted to add that sometimes those lumps stay for a really long time...I'm talking like weeks or even months! It all depends on how hard he whacked it and since he probably doesn't even remember, you may never know! :) Anyway, don't worry if it doesn't go away soon. I was playing co-ed softball a few years ago and got a ball straight to the shin. It hurt so bad and I had a goose egg for months!
Truthfully, the fact that it hurts when pressed is a good sign, most "bad" lumps don't hurt. Watch him and take him in if you're not satisfied that its just a bruise... for the record, ive currently got at least 4 good bruises I couldn't tell you how I got them!
The front of the lower leg (shin) does not have a lot of muscle covering it, & what muscle is there is not deep/thick. As a result, the bruising & changes that area undergoes during a trauma are different than if we injure our thigh.
Hence, the reddish mark, as opposed to a big purple splotch.
The bump that you feel is the tissues being inflamed & working to heal. Muscle has a lot of blood flow, & tends to heal faster than connector tissue (ligaments/tendons). So the bump will take quite a while to subside. It may or may not continue to be painful upon being pressed during that time.
Here's a link to a great picture showing the front of the leg, so you can see some of the structures I'm referring to.
http://www.myfootshop.com/images/anatomy/scans/scan_ant_l...
*** Note: I am NOT a medical doctor. I've just had so many friggin injuries in my lifetime that I have a lot of practical knowledge about this.
If your son is moving fine & not complaining about the pain, I would not worry, unless over time you see it getting worse, or changing in a way that seems abnormal for healing. Then, do get it checked. But I wouldn't worry otherwise.
T.
