What causes lump and bruise in cheek months after injury?
Patient: I fell down the stair over eight months ago on November 2nd, 2009.  After falling down the stairs i went to the doctor to see if anything was broken and it was not.  I had a large bruise and swelling on my left cheek because that is where i took the hardest part of the fall.  However, more than eight months later there is still a bulge where there was once a bruise and in most areas of the lump it is amost numb, but if you poke it in just the right spot there is still a small part of pain.  How can you explaine this and what should i do about it? Doctor: Hi..Can understand your concern..As per your complain a lump and bruising occurs after injury or trauma as a result of inflammation and formation of hematoma due to broken blood vessels..A hematoma and inflammation can take a longer time to subside and can take months even but in case if you still have pain in the region along with numb feeling it can be due to secondary infection in the area leading to tenderness and swelling..The numb feeling can occur due to either pus formation in the area due to infection or it can be due to injury to nerve fibres which could have happened due to fall..I would suggest you to consult a doctor and explain the entire medical history and get ruled out for the cause of tender swelling an numbness..In case of infection antibiotics can help in reducing swelling and pain..In case of numb feeling due to nerve injury recovery can take a longer time of months and years even.. In case it is due to pus formation it will get relieved once infection subsides..Hope your query is solved..Thanks and regards..Dr.Honey Nandwani Arora..