When is a bruise a problem?

I came off my bike last week and fell forward, my bike handlebars were twisted and I fell directly ontop of one, (point end) on the left side of my abdomen. Hurt SERIOUSLY badly for the first two days but there was a tiny pink mark around the perfectly white circular imprint of the handlebar end, then a small bruise developed. It's now been almost a week and the bruise has gotten ginormous, its about 3/4 the size of an A4 sheet of paper and bright/deep red/purple, and has streaky lines.
It's still quite painful/tender and has swollen, it is a bit hard.

It looks ridiculous, but aside from the pain/tenderness is it something I need to get checked out? Or will the doctor go "it's just a bruise go away" I've never had a bruise this bad so not sure if it's a problem or if I should just ignore it and it will go away

Why not call NHS Direct and get some advice?

If there's a lump or if it's hard to the touch in any way, you'll probably want to get it checked out.

Seeing that it's on your abdomen...I'd get it checked out.  There's lots of important organs and things under there that could have been damaged...which may or may not have anything to do with the bruise. 

I fell down the steps in September and the bruise on my shin didn't go away until May.  But I was pretty certain that there was no major internal damage so I didn't worry about it.

If there's a lump or if it's hard to the touch in any way, you'll probably want to get it checked out.

This. You said it's a bit hard - go see a doctor. I'd even encourage you to go sooner rather than later. Now is good. The bright color means it's still bleeding and that's a huge bruise.

I would be extremely worried that you have a small rupture in your spleen with internal bleeding.  One of my close friend's younger brother had a ruptured spleen that eventually had to be removed and the symptoms were extremely similar.

I would be extremely worried that you have a small rupture in your spleen with internal bleeding.  One of my close friend's younger brother had a ruptured spleen that eventually had to be removed and the symptoms were extremely similar.

I totally agree with this :-( That kind of blunt force impact can cause serious injury...

I know you will seek medical help and hopefully it's no big deal but some historical anecdata: William the Conqueror died (supposedly) from (presumably) internal injuries caused by a particularly violent impact against the pommel of his saddle! Yay for modern medicine, anyway :-)

I totally agree with this :-( That kind of blunt force impact can cause serious injury...

I know you will seek medical help and hopefully it's no big deal but some historical anecdata: William the Conqueror died (supposedly) from (presumably) internal injuries caused by a particularly violent impact against the pommel of his saddle! Yay for modern medicine, anyway :-)

Hijack alert!  My husband was just telling me that story tonight.  I think you both would be excellent additions to a pub quiz team.  /highjack.

Hope you are feeling better cheesebiscuit!

Agree with Mrs R, rather than panic, call NHS 24 (NHS direct is that what's it's called in England?) and get some advice and they'll tell you what to do. Otherwise, if you haven't called, schedule something with the GP.      
Feel better and hopefully its all OK 

Thanks for the advice ladies, I called NHS direct yesterday and they were "experiencing a high volume of calls" and said they'd call me back within 7 hours. They didn't
I'm going to try and call back today and see what they say,  if it's no better go to the NHS walk in at some point  tomorrow

Thanks for the advice, it is still sore, painful and just..hard, feels weird to me and I want to get it checked out, I feel fine generally though! Which is why I wondered if I should just suck it up and ignore it.

I'd definitely go to a walk-in place. If you try to explain over the phone they may not get the severity of it without seeing and feeling the spot. Please go get it checked out!

I second the recommendation for a walk-in. Better to have peace of mind rather than be concerned, especially if the NHS direct isn't going to call you back! Or you can check if your GP has emergency appointments. Mine has openings first thing every morning and you just show up to see a doctor. I have no idea what their classification of "emergency" is, but no one in that waiting room appeared to be too miserable when I was there!

Cheesebiscuit,

I do not normally give medical advice online.  But in your case I'm afraid I must speak up, because your case is an example of how a misguided search for urgent medical advice can turn deadly.  I apologize in advance for my tone, but I am afraid that this issue calls for some firmness, in hopes that such firmness will not only help this post stay in the memory of those who read it, but will guide you to urgent action.

A bruise is blood.  Take a look at the size of your bruise, and imagine it's 1-2 cm deep from what you can see.  If that amount of blood had left your body, either immediately or over the course of a week, would you have gone on the internet for medical advice, or presented to an emergency room?

Are you confident that anyone on this forum has adequately assessed your bruise?  You can see it and feel it.  We cannot.  Neither you nor anyone on this forum has an ability in an online context to obtain radiologic images, or to place a tube in your abdomen, or to open your abdomen in an operating room/operating theatre, to assess whether or not you are bleeding to death from an internal injury.

Some people on this forum say they may have some medical training, including myself.  Do you have any way to verify this?  People masquerade as healthcare professionals for all sorts of rational or irrational reasons.  In light of this uncertainty, will you place your life in the hands of individuals online by basing your healthcare decisions on assessments of your medical condition made in this forum?  Sharing your experience as a patient with others online who have been patients is something for which the internet, and this forum, is a massively powerful tool.  Seeking medical advice as to whether or not a condition needs urgent attention is another matter entirely.  In short, if you think your condition might or might not require urgent attention, then seek urgent attention.

You have access to emergency care from the NHS in the UK, regardless of your visa status.  If you present for a healthcare assessment in the UK, and it turns out you've overreacted, the worst that has happened to you is that you've wasted your time and effort a little.  If you don't present for a healthcare assessment, and it turns out you've underreacted, the worst that could potentially could happen to you is a fatal outcome, either sooner or later.  The possibility of a fatal outcome for you applies to your case.

From what you are describing, my assessment is the following: there is a moderate possibility you are slowly bleeding to death from a laceration of either your spleen, an abdominal artery, or your liver, or any combination of the three.  Such an injury requires emergent intervention, and requires either an intravascular intervention or outright surgery to repair, usually surgery.  It is my sincere hope that you see my online assessment as completely without merit with regard to its accuracy, as I have not assessed you in person in any way whatsoever.  However, I do hope my assessment has raised some theoretical concern in your mind.

Therefore, if there is any advice you take from this forum, please let it be the following: immediately at the end of reading this sentence, drop everything else you are doing and go to the nearest emergency room as quickly as possible.

Eeeps!! Hope all is ok cheesebiscuit  

Some people on this forum say they may have some medical training, including myself.  Do you have any way to verify this?  People masquerade as healthcare professionals for all sorts of rational or irrational reasons.  In light of this uncertainty, will you place your life in the hands of individuals online by basing your healthcare decisions on assessments of your medical condition made in this forum?  Sharing your experience as a patient with others online who have been patients is something for which the internet, and this forum, is a massively powerful tool.  Seeking medical advice as to whether or not a condition needs urgent attention is another matter entirely.  In short, if you think your condition might or might not require urgent attention, then seek urgent attention.

This is sage advice.  Forums are indeed helpful for sharing experiences, especially in a chronic condition/illness but not when it comes to diagnosis, changing treatment, etc.  

However, it is important to note, that we can help anyone who is a new or recent immigrant and doesn't know how to get treatment their different options for getting care- be it urgent or otherwise.  

ETA: I think we may need to create a sticky topic on someone's different options on getting healthcare in the UK - and even the huge differences between England/Northern Ireland/Wales/Scotland-  I'm happy to start something, but it wll need to wait until later tonight when I have time. 

Um...good points all, I am now thoroughly freaked out and spurred to action.

I'm on a train to London, so when I arrive will go straight to the ER, will not pass go, will not collect £200 pounds. 
Hopefully will live through the next 3 hours before I get there

To be honest, it was just a random thought, I wasn't really that concerned, so I'm glad I posted and raised my worry level, likelihood is it's nothing, but spending an hour getting it checked out will give me peace of mind.

Um...good points all, I am now thoroughly freaked out and spurred to action.

I'm on a train to London, so when I arrive will go straight to the ER, will not pass go, will not collect £200 pounds. 
Hopefully will live through the next 3 hours before I get there

To be honest, it was just a random thought, I wasn't really that concerned, so I'm glad I posted and raised my worry level, likelihood is it's nothing, but spending an hour getting it checked out will give me peace of mind.

Keep us posted my dear and fingers crossed it's all OK