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Suggest Remedies For Severe Pain In Upper Left Side And Chest Area
Question: hi.
i fell off a 3 foot high elevated standing area and landed on my back specifically taking the blow on my upper left side and for the last two days my chest hurts in the same area. The pain is the worst when I make a sudden movement, when I try and lay on my left side in bed, when I sit up in bed and when i use strength on my left side using my arm or peck muscles. I dont know if I should goto the hospital or what is wrong.
please help
i fell off a 3 foot high elevated standing area and landed on my back specifically taking the blow on my upper left side and for the last two days my chest hurts in the same area. The pain is the worst when I make a sudden movement, when I try and lay on my left side in bed, when I sit up in bed and when i use strength on my left side using my arm or peck muscles. I dont know if I should goto the hospital or what is wrong.
please help
Brief Answer:
You need a X-ray or CT of the chest
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
It sounds like you had a significant amount of trauma with resultant pain that is radiating around your chest. The nerves that supply the chest, muscles of the chest, and arm all come from the region on the back. There are a lot of possibilities on what could be wrong - fractured ribs, displaced ribs, injured lung, compressed lung, bruised lung, fractured spine, inflammation causing compression of the nerve, or nerve impingement. I would recommend getting seen at the hospital just because that is the place where you will get the fastest results. Injuries like these can result in pneumonia and or long term consequences to the nerves, muscles, or bones. If your lung is damaged, such as bruised, compressed, or deflated, then you will need further work up. The alternative would be to go to urgent care or your primary care doctor (who might also send you to the ER) and get a CT scan through them. In addition, you are going to need pain medication which the ER can help you with. In the meantime, I would recommend taking some Tylenol to control the pain. Fractured ribs can hurt for many months.
You need a X-ray or CT of the chest
Detailed Answer:
Hi there,
It sounds like you had a significant amount of trauma with resultant pain that is radiating around your chest. The nerves that supply the chest, muscles of the chest, and arm all come from the region on the back. There are a lot of possibilities on what could be wrong - fractured ribs, displaced ribs, injured lung, compressed lung, bruised lung, fractured spine, inflammation causing compression of the nerve, or nerve impingement. I would recommend getting seen at the hospital just because that is the place where you will get the fastest results. Injuries like these can result in pneumonia and or long term consequences to the nerves, muscles, or bones. If your lung is damaged, such as bruised, compressed, or deflated, then you will need further work up. The alternative would be to go to urgent care or your primary care doctor (who might also send you to the ER) and get a CT scan through them. In addition, you are going to need pain medication which the ER can help you with. In the meantime, I would recommend taking some Tylenol to control the pain. Fractured ribs can hurt for many months.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vaishalee Punj
Answered by
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