Has anyone his the disfortunate pleasure of diving with a bad bruise/ knot (about 3 inch in diameter)? Is it a health risk? We are going in three weeks and I am not sure if I need to postpone our trip.

Call the DAN medical advice line for a conservative view.

I got my PADI Open Water certification with a huge bruise over about half my leg as a result of a groin pull and was none the worse for it. But putting on a tight wetsuit was a real struggle! It's just my anecdotal opinion.

Here's a pic of my bruise: http://www.leanandstrong.com/newlib/tg/282/mb92002legbruise.jpg

It took about two weeks for the bruising to go away. From the looks of your bruise, it should be gone well before you leave.

Dang Clay, is that after icing? You can ice up to five days now, you know. RICE
(Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation)

Seb,
That picture is at day 7, thats why I am nervous becuase it has not gone down any.

Martin,
Ikk! thats nasty. thats kinda what mine did too, after I reruptured it by NOT taking easy the first few days.

Not to worry, just don't push the depth/time limits.

Clay ... you are so colorful! That really reminds me of mine as well. The pic I took didn't pick the true colors as well as your pic did.

I aggravated mine from the start. I had finished working out at the gym and stretched a little more than I usually do. Everything felt fine when I left for work.

It wasn't until a few hours later that my leg starting hurting. Pain, knotting, swelling. Thinking it was a severe muscle cramp, I applied heat and stretched it even more! My remedy is fine for muscle cramps, but the exact opposite of what you do for muscle tears.

Thanks for the info folks. Bruise has done some remarkable healing in the past few days, so Yippee! looks like I will be there in 17 days!