Automobile Accident, Cervical Spine, Thoracic Spine Pain

I was involved in a automobile accident where the other car T-boned me traveling a high rate of speed. When the other vehicle hit me no one was in the automobile but myself. When my car was hit I had to make sure that I braced myself for the hit. I applied the brake as my car spun around about a half turn facing the direction from where I came. I was taken to the hospital emergency room and found out that I had some compression in my thoracic spine. I would like to understand what is compression and how this affected my thoracic spine and could there be small fractures in the ribs. The only x-ray that was taken was of my spine. Because I complained of mid back pain at the time of my visit in the ER. I have been seen by a chiropractor since then and it has helped with some of the pain after the initial onset of the accident. However, I have experienced some chest pain not the pain associated with heart attack. This pain and discomfort comes with laughter, coughing, and taking small dept breaths. Can there be complication associated with this and why?

[Dr Vinod]

Hello!

You might have sprained some of the soft tissue; ligaments and muscles of your chest. I would suggest an MRI and X-ray of your spine and an X-ray of your chest.

Take pain killers and rest for couple of days and your pain will decrease.

Based on the scans if there are any complications then you should follow up with an orthopedician.

Take care!