Bruising on legs

[smoothilly]

I have been on medrol now for 8 years. I’m down to 3mg. I have experienced easy bruising on my legs they have lead to severe wounds. I now wear compression socks and padded protection on my lower legs. My question is, do the dark spots left over from the bruising ever go away? I put oil on them in the morning and evenings but the spots seem to be permanent.

[SnazzyD]

Hello, have you ever had your legs Doppler scanned? The photo looks like the staining people get when they have venous stasis. This is when the incompetent valves in veins can’t stop the blood pooling in the lower legs and the red blood cells start to be pushed through the vein walls. As they break down the iron in the blood leaks into the tissues and causes very stubborn staining. The Pred doesn’t help the thin skin and vein health but isn’t the whole story. It is good you are wearing compression hosiery but what class of compression does it give?

[DorsetLady PMRGCAuk volunteer]

They will eventually - plenty of related posts now you have written this…depending on which device you are using either on right hand side of screen or below current posts.

[PMRpro Ambassador]

I had bad stains from bruises while I was on nearly 20mg pred and also on an anticoagulant - i only had to catch my shins with a shopping bag or standing on a step stool and I would get a bruise, usually just above my ankles and about 5cm or so across. Since I have been on Actemra for the last year and got down to 6mg the bruising has lessened and the staining they had left has reduced. I have a couple of areas on the left shin that were proper wounds, one needed 4 stiches to reposition the flap and happened 18 months ago but although it is still visible it is fading,

However - as Snazzy says, the staining you have must either have been a massive bruise or it is possibly venous insufficiency. My bruises were discrete and obviously bruises.

uclahealth.org/news/hemosid....

healthline.com/health/hemos...

explain the process. Basically - if it is just from injuries it should fade over time though it may take a long time. If it is due to venous insufficiency - it probably won't fade entirely and may get worse.