injury...minor or not?

[sugarplum88]

Two days ago I was sitting on two stacked milk crates and I didn't realize one was cracked. It broke and I fell on the ground. I landed on my tail bone and hit my arm on another crate on the way down. It was funny when it happened I didn't think I was hurt. Ever since then though my lower back has been increasingly more painful and I'm worried about my arm. I hit the corner of the crate right on the main vein on the underside of my forearm. Now I have a very large bruise that seems to be spreading and some of the connecting veins are turning light brown. I just moved and don't have a family doctor and I don't want to tie up Emergency if its nothing to worry about...should I be concerned?

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Can you move the arm without pain?  The fact that the pain is making you feel nauseus makes me worry that you could have seriously injured your arm (such as a fracture).  If the arm is painful to move or if you feel that you have limited movement, you should get an x-ray to make sure that there is no fracture.  It is normal for the bruise to change colors so I would not worry about that.  

Bridget

[sugarplum88]

Thank you for your response, Bridget. My back is starting to feel a bit better. However the bruise on my arm was starting to turn brown and yellow but is turning pink again is that ok? Its also been so painful I feel a bit nauseous when I touch it, but I'm pretty sure that severe pain in such a bad bruise is normal.

[Bridget A. Hewitt, RN]

Hi and thanks for using the forum.

A fall like you have described is going to be painful for a little while.  It is possible to fracture (break) your tailbone so if you are having terrible pain, having difficulty sitting or standing, you may want to get checked out.  Since you describe the pain as lower back and not as pain in your tailbone, I am thinking that you probably pulled some muscles in your back when you fell.  Rest, use ice on the affected area for 72 hours after the initial injury (3 days) and then use heat to the area after 3 days.  Also, if you can tolerate it, take ibuprofen as it can help alleviate the pain and the swelling as well.  If the back pain becomes much worse and really limits your activity, you may need to go to the ER for x-rays.  As far as your arm is concerned, it would be normal to get a large bruise after that type of fall.  The bruising should not continuously spread though, so if it gets bigger and bigger each day, then you need to get it checked out.  IF it just changes color from blue to brown/ yellow, then it is OK.  If you arm becomes increasingly painful or swollen, then you should have it checked out as well.  I hope this helps.  Good luck.

Bridget