Posted: 08/06/06 - 22:43 Post subject: Did I Fracture My Sternum?
I was recently in a car accident, and the airbag hit me directly in the face and chest. The airbag came out with so much force that it shattered the entire car windshield. My face was fine, but i felt a dull pain in my chest (mostly in my sternum) right after. For the next couple of days my sternum hurt very badly but ONLY when i pressed down on it. Then i went swimming and noticed that i had trouble breathing in the water, couldn't stay afloat longer than 10 minutes, and certain movements in the water caused me great pain. Now it hurts to sneeze, laugh, and specific movements of my arms make my sternum hurt as well. I had a normal check up with my doctor and i asked her about it, she said there were no dents so it was most likely a contusion. Could it be just this? Or could i have really hurt my sternum?
If you had a collapsed lung you would hear a sound like air being let out of a tire immediately upon it happening. More than likely you've bruised your sternum and this takes some time to heal. If you are really concerned get your doctor to send you for a chest xray.
There is nothing but time that can heal a bruised sternum. You might find some comfort in wrapping an elastic bandage around the area to keep it tight so that when you breathe or cough it doesn't contract as much, therefore less pain.
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