Managing Hemophilia Living With Hemophilia:
How To Manage Bleeds1,2
For people who are living with hemophilia, when bleeds occur the best chance of reducing joint damage is to treat the bleed early and aggressively.
That's why recognizing the symptoms of a bleed as soon as it begins is the first step in effective treatment.
Symptoms Of A Bleed: Adults
The earliest symptom of a joint bleed may include:
- A bubbling or tingling feeling in a joint.
- An aura, which is a sort of unusual sensation – when the joint begins to bleed.
Later symptoms of a joint bleed may include:
- Stiffness, pain or swelling in the joint.
- The skin over the joint feels warm.
- The joint is unable to bear any weight.
Responding To A Bleed
The most important thing to do when responding to a bleed is to treat with hemophilia factor as soon as possible. Because early treatment is better, it's a good idea to keep a supply of factor on hand, as well as phone numbers for hemophilia treatment centers or hemophilia healthcare professionals.
While the bleed is in progress, you should follow R.I.C.E. to help with pain, reduce swelling and prevent further damage. R.I.C.E. stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
- Rest – Use the joint as little as possible. Depending on which joint is affected and the seriousness of the bleed, you may want to be on bed rest, or use a splint, sling or crutches.
- Ice – Put ice on the affected joint to reduce swelling and pain. You can use a bag of ice, a bag of frozen vegetables, or an ice pack product. Ice should be wrapped in a towel and not applied directly to the skin. The usual recommendation is to apply ice for 5 minutes, then wait at least 10 minutes before applying it again.
- Compression – Using an elastic bandage, apply pressure around the joint.
- Elevation – Hold the joint higher than the rest of body to help blood flow away from the joint, reducing swelling and pain.
Find More Help And Resources Here
- Get an overview of hemophilia.
- Learn more about educational programs.
- Proactively manage your health insurance.
Contact Your Hemophilia Treatment Center
After you have treated with factor and started R.I.C.E., you may want to contact your physician or your treatment center, particularly if you are uncertain about the seriousness of the bleed or about how much factor you should be taking. Your hemophilia healthcare professional can help you decide whether any further care is needed.
Note: ThereForYou.com does not recommend a particular treatment for specific individuals and recommends that you consult your treatment center or physician before pursuing any course of treatment.
References
- Hemophilia In Pictures, Part 3. World Federation of Hemophilia Website. http://www.wfh.org/en/index.html. Accessed June 8, 2011.
- Guidelines for the Management of Hemophilia. World Federation of Hemophilia website. http://www.wfh.org/2/docs/Publications/Diagnosis_and_Treatment/Guidelines_Mng_Hemophilia.pdf. Accessed June 8, 2011.
