Snowboarding Injury! Landing on a jutting rock.

[Cappy1966]

I fell on while snowboarding a week ago and landed on a large rock, injuring my lower back, left side.  A few days later a large bruise/hematoma appeared, but I didn't have much pain, just general tenderness. I don't have insurance so decided a Dr. visit wasn't necessary.  Now, one week later, I am experiencing excruciating pain at the injury site.  I've applied heat to it but it has brought very little relief.  Is this something I should be concerned about?  I did exert a lot of energy this weekend, but none of it was heavy lifting or anything particularly strenuous to my back.

[mkh9]

Well usually ice is used the first 72 hours and heat after that. I sort of do what felt the best. But the only way to check internal problems is with tests. You would need blood tests and/or scans. So, if you can afford them it would be good to do some of them. When you landed on the rock  was it a sharp rock and did you break the skin? You could have bruised the internal organs in the area it hit. Whether they got damaged is hard to know without the tests. You haven't thrown up blood or seen any in the feces? Pain is relative I had terrible pain from a torn low back ligament and it took a year to get walking normally. Three years later I'm still not normal but much better. I didn't have a blunt force injury like yours. Is there no way you can see a doctor about  this?
mkh9

[Cappy1966]

thanks for the advice.  I am going to try icing it now.  I read so many conflicting reports re: ice & heat, the heat just seemed like it would be soothing. Apparently not. lol. As for the spine injury, I'm more concerned with the possibility of internal trauma.  

[mkh9]

Since the pain didn't come on until later it may be inflammatory and more of a sprain or strain. Try anti-inflammatories (if you can) such as Ibuprofen with food 3 times a day and ice it several times a day for about 15 minutes each time.  I have injured my low back and it took a few days for the major pain as well. You may have torn or strained  a ligament. If so it may take  a while to heal. Try not to bend straight over for a while that will make it worse until it heals and don't lift anything heavy until the pain goes away. Keep your walking up if you can and see how that goes. I know it is painful. I wouldn't just sit like I did as you will just get worse . If you can see a doctor to be sure it is not something worse. I would think that if you had injured your spine the pain would have been immediate or the next day.
mkh9