Question
I was diagnosed with 3 broken ribs and a severely torn muscle and now after 4 weeks I am getting worse and my back in the area of the pain is swelling well beyond what it should. MY pain has increased immensely and my breathing has become more difficult along with major pain in which the pain meds I was given are not helping at all. I also suffer from RSD in my left leg where a car had run over me in 1998 and take Fentanly Patches for that pain. I was put on percocet for my back but my pain is increasing instead of getting better and this has me extremely worried. Also I have no idea how the ribs were broken and the severely torn muscle happened. I just awoke one morning and I was in severe pain and my girlfriend noticed the extreme sweating.
 Please if you can help me in resolving this I owuld be so happy and relieved.  
                     Sincerely yours,
                           William

Answer
William,

You are a mess right now. I do not think you are a chiropractic candidate at this point.

However if you walked into my office i would want xrays, MRI and i would refer you to a pain management center.

I suggest you get a full blood work up to check for testosterone levels, calcium levels, alkaline Phosphatase...basically a full functional blood work. i also would want a bone density test.

Be aware that the difficulty in breathing increases your risk or at least put you at risk of coming down with pneumonia.Please discuss all of this with your primary physician and if you aren't satisfied get a second opinion. You are not in a good position to waait and see what happens. Please get to a medical doctor of your choice immediately.

Dr John Quackenbush