Question
A week ago tomorrow, Nov 8, I injured myself riding my back. I my right leg, elbow and shoulder blade made contact with the pavement. My head also, as I broke my helmet. The calf came in contact with the pedal so I still have a large hematoma and blood pooling in my foot. It is painful and bothersome but what is worrying me the most is the back. I have pain in the area of the lower left quadrant of my right shoulder blade. It hurts to take deep breaths and to bring myself to a sitting position from laying in bed can seem torturous. It is out of the questions to sneeze. As the week has progressed it seems the intensity has not lessened. Of course I am uninsured and have not been to the doctor. Any idea what exactly is causing the pain and what I might be able to do to completely mend and not have to incur medical costs.

Answer
Hi, Theresa,

I'm glad to tell you that, however painful it may be, the situation is probably not as serious as you fear.

Your description sounds like the blow of the fall triggered protective muscular contractions of the muscles between your ribs or along your spinal column.  Those contractions hurt and interfere with breathing.

Certain somatic exercises can be used to alleviate those muscular contractions by retraining the protective postural reflex triggered by the injury.

We're assuming that no ribs were cracked or broken; if they were, you have a longer-term situation, but you'll still need the somatic training.

If no ribs were cracked or broken, some sessions of clinical somatic education may solve the situation fairly quickly.  Please see my articles on pain and on injuries at somatics.com/page4b.htm for more of an understanding and access to practitioners.

Write, again, if you need more help.

with regard,
Lawrence Gold