Question
On Monday July 2 I took a really hard fall. My feet slipped out from under me and I fell onto some stairs on my mid back. The sensation when I hit felt like when you hit your funny bone only 10X's that.  It really is bothering me.  My right leg feels tingly and I have a huge black bruise to the right of my spine. But not only does it feel bruised it hurts higher up on the right side mainly right around the ribs and up into my right shoulder also. I can move and bend (very sore) but it really hurts worse when I am driving and walking. Something about the jarring motion that kills me. It is keeping me from sleeping and I just feel very umcomfortable sitting or laying. I just thought maybe it was muscles and I would get over it in a day or two but it really is not any better and not sure if I should get it checked or if it is just going to take longer then I thought. What do you think? I was at a inground pool and fell on the concrete steps. My back took the fall on the corner of the steps.

Answer
Dear Kari,

You definitely need to have this checked out.  It is very possible that you could have fractured part of your vertebra from the fall, torn ligaments in the spine, or even herniated a disk. (all of your body weight falling on a hard pointed surface like steps can easily cause serious injuries) You need to have a functional orthopedic evaluation of your spine to include x-rays of the area of complaint.  

With the complaint of tingling that radiates into your legs, there is the possibility of a herniated disk in the low back.  Orthopedic and neurological testing will help determine whether or not you need to have an MRI of the area to look for nerve root inflammation/encroachment or disk herniation.  

Just make an appointment with a good local chiropractic physician, and get examined.  Hopefully the exam will rule out fractures, ligament tears and disk problems which will leave you will inflammation, muscle tears/spasms and bruising for the most part...all of which can be treated effectively in a few weeks.  your pain may last longer, and you should realize that even if you are feeling better, that the injuries can take months to fully heal, so lifestyle issues should be altered to risk any further injury.

Bottom line Kari, we will never know what the problem is if you don't have it examined and imaged to look at the spinal structures described above...make the appointment!

Respectfully,
Dr. J. Shawn Leatherman
www.suncoasthealthcare.net