I remember in Be Still My Heart/All in the Family, it was mentioned that Carter had a spinal hematoma caused from the trauma. Well, I have a hematoma in my leg that was caused from bumping it too many times. What exactly is a hematoma and how long does it take to go away? Wasn't Carter up and walking just 12 hours or so after surgery. I can't even walk w/o crutches. To anyone who can give me medical information, I say thank you.

-- Carin Haseltine (cdenisehaze@usa.net), July 03, 2000

Answers

ok, again, i am not a doctor, but i hope this is at least partly correct...maybe someone can verify me. A hematoma is a bruise. specifically, it is a collection of blood either in an organ, tissue or a cavity, which is empty space, from a break in a blood vessel wall. I believe the pain is a result of this blood pressing on nerves and other tissue. I am not sure how long it take to go away, but it is resolved when the blood vessel wall is repaired, either surgically or naturally, and the collected blod is reabsorbed into tissues or broken down by the body's immune system cell and disposed of as bodily waste. I believe one of the reasons carter's hematoma was so painful was that a lot of blood leaked out because an artery was ruptured. also, the lumbar plexus is a major collection of nerves that branch of from the spinal cord and extend outwards. He would not have walked a lot and would have had a walker. but walking is good because blood is reabsorbed with increased activity. if yours hurts a lot it may be surrounding nerve tissue, for pressure on nerves is interpreted as pain. i have no positive idea though...ask your doctor when it will clear up. hope i was of a little bit of help

-- Erin (Earthgirl24@yahoo.com), July 03, 2000.

Is your hematoma around a calf muscle? I had a hemotoma several years ago in the lower forearm muscle and it took about 1 1/2 weeks to go away. It was sore and swollen, I remember, but the only thing the doctor told me I could do for it was ice packs and to not bump the arm. Eventually it will go away, as long you don't keep bumping it.

-- AmyE (roamyn@aol.com), July 03, 2000.