Back ribs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wordwarrior]

Hi - here's the story.....

On 4/11/10 I slipped on the bathoom floor (tile).  My 14 year old had taken a shower and left it looking like someone just gave a dog a bath.  I was in a hurry, and I slipped hard (small bathroom) slamming my right back side of my ribcage into the part of the bowl that sticks out.  I "moved" the toilet 3/4 inches - that is how hard I hit.  I had to go to take a test in Trenton Monday @ 8:15AM @ needed to leave for the hotel from Bergen County NJ @ 1PM Sunday to get to the hotel and study.  Man, I don't know how I made it.  I iced it and did all the right things.  Monday my chiropractor x-rayed it - no broken bones (PS I am unemployed without insurnace - he is just a nice Dr. who knows I have MANY health issues).  I see the Chiropraactor three times a week.  I do the Ice/Heat on an doff thing every day.  The pain has increased everyday.  I am not a wimp - so this is VERY distressing.  I can not sleep - there are no comfortable positions even on painkillers and sleeping pills I am wide awake and get a few minutes here and there of dozing.  (another nice Dr. that is helping me with my Rhumetology issues - so no need for more painkillers since I have them already).  It is now 4/27 and I can barely move. My whole right side from mostly back, and mid region to front and across hurt like hell.  Any ideas?  Don't mention an MRI - I am unemployed - my CC's are nearly maxed, and I may have insurance in June (Due to Obama my husbands boss is forcing it - who knows how we'll make it financially - it's like having a third mortgage.  Any ideas???? Please email answers to me at ***@**** as well as posting.  I don't check my posts as often.

WW

This is pain I have never known - and believe me I know chronic pain everyday. It hurts when I take a deep breath which worries me as I have had pnemonia and I am breathing shallow.  Why is the pain increasing?  I don't get that.  

Is this normal????

[caregiver222]

You don't need a CT if you are of child bearing age. The radiation is excessive and unnecessary. If there are no broken ribs you have cartilidge damage. I don't know what needs to be done to "assess" the site. If a physician does ask you to get one, he will have good reason.

The good news is that these injuries usually heal by themselves, but they take a long, long time.

Last august I fell and managed to break a rib or two. Black and blue city. The pain is just now disappearing.

If the cartilige is injured it too, takes a long time, if ever to heal.

You need to find a clinic, which will usually treat for $10 U.S. a visit, if you have no insurance or money.

Other than that you can look on the internet for what are called "Hill-Burton Hospitals", and visit one of those.

There is a possibility you have a ruptured spleen and should be seen in an emergency room. That is the main thing that strikes me as being a problem. Death is forever. That's the nice thing about it. There are also not-so-nice things. You don't get to enjioy sunsets and holding babies and telling people "I love you". Stuff like that.

Rather than make a presentation that "I need a CT", you need to go to a teaching hospital ER, as of an hour ago, present your symptoms, and don't worry about the bill. They will treat you without asking for up front money.

I am not a happy camper with your loving chiropracter. He is above his pay grade. You needed an evaluation at an ER by an M.D.

[Londres70]

NO, your situation is NOT NORMAL. Well, hate to tell you, I think you need a CT vs a plain flat plate xray to reassess the site; CT imaging is better, but I know you didn't want to hear that.  This is not something you will be able to "HOME REMEDY."  I don't know how you will get out of paying for this one unfortunately. :(