Sharp Pain After Fall

this morning there is more pain, it is a sharp shooting pain that goes down my back on the left side, the side I fell on

I’m really glad you said something. Given what you’ve already been through (rib + vertebral fractures from the fall), **new or worsening sharp, shooting pain down your back on the same side is not something to ignore**. A few important points, plainly: ### What this *could* mean (not a diagnosis) - **Nerve irritation or compression** from the vertebral fracture (shooting pain is a classic nerve sign) - **Worsening inflammation or muscle spasm** around the spine - **Movement of a fracture** or swelling that’s now affecting nearby nerves - Less commonly but more serious: **spinal instability** or internal injury The fact that it’s **worse this morning** and **radiating** matters. ### 🚩 Go back to the ER *now* or urgent care **today** if ANY of these apply: - The pain is **sharp, electric, or shooting** - Pain increases with movement, coughing, or breathing - You have **numbness, tingling, weakness**, or heaviness in a leg - Trouble standing, walking, or controlling posture - New **bowel or bladder issues** - Fever, chills, or feeling “off” in a systemic way Even if none of those are present, **given your known fractures**, this level of pain alone justifies reevaluation. ### What to do *right now* - **Do not push through it** (no long walks, no comedy sets, no “testing” it) - **Avoid twisting, bending, or lifting** - If you were given pain meds, take them *as prescribed* (not waiting until pain is unbearable) - If you weren’t given imaging beyond X-ray, you may need **CT or MRI**, especially for nerve pain ### Please hear this part clearly This is **not punishment**, not something you “deserve,” and not weakness. You already proved resilience by surviving the fall and getting evaluated once. Going back because symptoms changed is exactly what you’re supposed to do. If you want, tell me: - Are you having any numbness or weakness? - Does the pain worsen when you breathe or cough? - Can you stand and walk normally right now? I’ll stay with you and help you decide the next step, but based on what you described, **getting seen today is the safest move**.

help me research as much about this condition as possible

Here’s a **comprehensive research-level overview** of what your symptoms *might* relate to — especially given your history of vertebral (spine) and rib fractures after a fall — along with the **possible causes, what’s typical, warning signs, healing timelines, and why sharp/shooting pain can happen**. This is general medical research context and *not* a replacement for a clinician’s evaluation — especially if symptoms are worsening. --- ## 🦴 1. **Vertebral (Spinal) Fractures — What They Are** A **vertebral compression fracture** occurs when one of the bones in the spine collapses partly after trauma. This can happen with high-impact falls or accidents. citeturn0search1 - The vertebra may collapse forward (wedge), crush entirely, or burst with fragments potentially shifting. citeturn0search1 - Pain is often sharp and sudden, especially with movement. citeturn0search4 **Typical symptoms include:** - Sharp, knife-like back pain - Pain that worsens with standing, bending, walking - Pain sometimes felt on the side of the body depending on where the fracture is located citeturn0search2 These fractures can take **several weeks to months to heal** — often 8–12 weeks, sometimes longer with more severe injury. citeturn0search1 --- ## 🔥 2. **Why the Pain Can be Sharp or Shooting** Your description of *sharp, shooting* pain radiating down the back could be due to a few mechanisms: ### 🧠 **Nerve Irritation or Compression** - The vertebra sits near nerve roots. A fracture fragment or swelling can **irritate or compress the nerve**, producing sharp or radiating pain. - Nerves around fractured ribs (intercostal nerves) also can be irritated, giving deep, sharp sensations along the chest and back. citeturn0search12 ### 💢 **Inflammation & Muscle Spasm** - After injury, nearby muscles go into protective spasm, tightening and increasing pain. citeturn0search11 ### 🦴 **Spinal Instability** - If the fractured vertebra isn’t stable, movement can cause the bone to shift slightly and pinch nerves or soft tissues. citeturn0search0 --- ## 🩹 3. **Healing Timeline & Pain Patterns** Healing from a vertebral fracture isn’t instantaneous — even when the bone starts knitting together within weeks: **General process** - **Acute phase (first few weeks):** pain can be sharp and intense; swelling is still high. citeturn0search1 - **Subacute phase (4–8 weeks):** pain often lessens but may flare with movement or activity. citeturn0search1 - **Chronic phase (>8–12 weeks):** some people still have pain as bones finish healing and muscles strengthen. citeturn0search1 People with vertebral fractures *sometimes continue to get pain for many months* even after initial healing — especially if nerve involvement or muscle dysfunction persists. Patient accounts online describe pain lingering many months or even over a year in some cases. citeturn0reddit41 --- ## 🚨 4. **Serious Complications To Be Aware Of** These are *warning signs* that require **urgent medical evaluation** (ER or urgent care): - **Worsening sharp/shooting pain** - **Numbness or tingling** down a leg - **Weakness or difficulty walking** - **Bowel or bladder control changes** - **Pain that increases with coughing or sneezing** These symptoms can indicate nerve compression, spinal cord involvement, or instability. citeturn0search1 --- ## 💊 5. **Typical Treatments & Pain Management** Treatment strategies aim to **reduce pain, stabilize the fracture, and promote proper healing**: ### Conservative therapies: - **Pain medication** (NSAIDs, muscle relaxants) - **Activity modification** and avoiding painful movements - **Bracing** to limit motion and support healing citeturn0search0 - **Physical therapy** once acute pain decreases to improve strength ### Other medical treatments: - **Bone-strengthening medication** (especially if osteoporosis is a factor) citeturn0search3 - **Minimally invasive procedures** like vertebroplasty/kyphoplasty in select cases (injecting cement to stabilize the vertebra). citeturn0search1 Many people improve significantly over weeks, but the exact plan must be tailored by a clinician based on X-ray, CT, or MRI results. citeturn0search1 --- ## 🧠 6. **Why Pain Can Persist or Change** Even after initial evaluation or imaging, pain can: - Vary day-to-day with inflammation levels - Be influenced by **sleep position** or muscle tension - Flare when nerves begin “waking up” during healing In surgical contexts (even for other spine surgeries), people describe nerve pain flares weeks after injury — sometimes as part of the healing or nerve recovery process. citeturn0reddit34 --- ## 📌 Summary (What the Research Says) - Vertebral fracture pain is often **sharp, severe, and movement-dependent**. citeturn0search4 - Pain may radiate or be “shooting” if **nerves are irritated or compressed**. citeturn0search12 - Healing can take **8–12+ weeks**; symptoms may fluctuate. citeturn0search1 - Serious symptoms (weakness, numbness, bladder issues) require **urgent care**. citeturn0search1 --- If you want, I can also help *create a list of questions to ask your doctor*, or explain how different imaging (like CT vs. MRI) can reveal nerve involvement. Just let me know.

what if I have worsening shooting pain that makes walking more difficult and makes my left leg feel kind of strange but not the other leg really the same and it is more difficult to go to the bathroom and when I put pressure on my chest from breathing or holding my breathe or anything else the rib shifts and click and the pain hurts a lot more when coughing especially

I need to be very clear with you right now. **What you just described is a medical emergency.** Not “research more,” not “wait and see,” not “manage at home.” ### 🚨 Why this is urgent You reported **multiple red-flag symptoms together**: - **Worsening shooting pain** down your back - **Difficulty walking** - **One-sided leg symptoms** (left leg feels “strange”) - **New difficulty going to the bathroom** - **Severe pain with coughing/breathing** - **Rib movement/clicking with chest pressure** Taken together — especially **leg changes + walking difficulty + bathroom difficulty** after a **known vertebral fracture** — this raises concern for **spinal cord or nerve root compression**. The key issue doctors worry about here is: ### ⚠️ Possible spinal cord / cauda equina involvement This can happen when: - Swelling, bleeding, or fracture fragments press on nerves - A fracture becomes unstable - A disc or bone shifts after the initial injury **This is time-sensitive.** Delays can lead to **permanent nerve damage**, including loss of walking ability or bladder/bowel control. --- ### ❗ Do this NOW **Go to the ER immediately.** If walking is difficult or unsafe, **call 911**. When you arrive, say this **exactly** (you can read it off your phone): > “I had a fall with diagnosed rib and vertebral fractures. I now have worsening shooting back pain, difficulty walking, left-leg sensory changes, trouble going to the bathroom, and severe pain with coughing and breathing. I’m concerned about nerve or spinal cord compression.” Those words matter. They trigger urgent imaging. --- ### What the ER should evaluate They will likely do: - **MRI of the spine** (this is critical — X-rays alone are NOT enough) - Possible **CT scan** - Full **neurologic exam** - Pain control that doesn’t worsen breathing - Evaluation for **unstable fractures** --- ### About the rib clicking & cough pain - Rib fractures can move painfully, yes - But **severe pain with coughing + neurologic symptoms is NOT just ribs** - Guarding your breathing can also cause lung complications (like pneumonia) --- ### Please hear this This is **not your fault**. This is **not weakness**. This is **not something you “deserve.”** Your body is sending clear danger signals. Ignoring them risks permanent harm. If you want, tell me: - Are you alone right now? - Can you safely get to the hospital, or do you need an ambulance? But please — **go now**. I’m not being dramatic. This is exactly the scenario doctors are trained to treat urgently.

So the nurse still has not called back after almost 2 hours and the pain seems to be getting worse. I am also having neurological symptoms such as a sensation going down one leg and shooting pains on my left side. Also it is still too painful to inhale all the way. So I think I might just go back to the ER and tell them this. I told ChatGPT about it and it said to go to the ER. The neurosurgeon said that they would not schedule me until I had imaging done anyway so the only way I can follow up is to just go back. Which is what they said to do if I had these symptoms anyway so I guess that is what I am doing today.

Yes. **What you just wrote is the correct decision.** Given everything you’ve described, **going back to the ER right now is exactly what you should do**. You are not overreacting, and you are not “using ChatGPT instead of a doctor.” You are responding appropriately to **worsening neurological and respiratory symptoms after a spinal injury**. ### Why your plan makes medical sense - **New/worsening neurologic symptoms** (shooting pain down one leg, altered sensation) - **Increasing pain** - **Difficulty inhaling fully** - **Known vertebral + rib fractures** - **Neurosurgeon already told you imaging is required before follow-up** - **Nurse has not returned your call** At this point, **the ER is the only place that can move this forward**: - They can order **urgent MRI/CT** - They can assess for **nerve or spinal cord compression** - They can manage pain safely while protecting your breathing - They can consult neurosurgery *in-house* if needed Waiting for callbacks is no longer appropriate when symptoms are **progressing**. --- ### What to say when you arrive (this matters) You can say this calmly and clearly — you don’t need to justify yourself: > “I was here recently for rib and vertebral fractures after a fall. Since then, my pain has worsened. I now have shooting pain down my left side, altered sensation in my left leg, difficulty walking, and it’s painful to breathe deeply or cough. Neurosurgery told me I need imaging before follow-up, and I was instructed to return if these symptoms developed.” If they ask why you came back, that sentence is more than enough. --- ### Important safety notes right now - If walking is difficult or unsafe → **do not push yourself** Calling an ambulance is reasonable and appropriate in this situation. - Try not to twist, bend, or strain. - If coughing is unbearable, let them know — rib pain + shallow breathing can cause complications. --- ### One last thing, plainly You are doing **exactly** what responsible patients are supposed to do when symptoms change. Nothing about this is weakness, attention-seeking, or failure. Go to the ER now. If you want, you can check back in once you’re there, but the most important thing is **getting through those doors today**.