What do you think?

smailey18

I got head butted in the chest today pretty good by one of my little guys with Autism who was having a meltdown.  I didn't think anything of it at the time, but got a burning sensation/heaviness in my chest around lunch time.  Now I feel like I have to cough periodically and the sensation increases when I take a deep breath.

 I talked to the school nurse about it before I left and she didn't seem too concerned, just said to file a report in the morning to make sure we had it documented, but it seems to be getting worse.

 I am debating seeking medical care tonight or seeing what happens overnight.  I have a pretty high pain tolerance and am HORRIBLE about putting things off too long.

Any advice?

ErikandAfton

I might wait until morning before you seek medical help if you feel like you are breathing well enough to get enough O2 while you are sleeping tonight. If you don't feel like your breathing well enough I would go now.

LemonLover33

I would take some OTC pain meds and wait it out. It could just be some deep tissue/bone bruising. 

MrsAggie

Do you feel like it is a little harder to breathe? It sounds to me like it MIGHT be a partially collapsed lung. It's relatively common with blunt trauma to the chest. The rest of your lung can compensate for a partial collapse. I would personally go get it checked out, though.

margotmacomber

If your breathing is affected in any way you should go in.  If it's just pain/cough feeling then I would take some advil and wait it out.

smailey18

MrsAggie:

Do you feel like it is a little harder to breathe? It sounds to me like it MIGHT be a partially collapsed lung. It's relatively common with blunt trauma to the chest. The rest of your lung can compensate for a partial collapse. I would personally go get it checked out, though.

This is what I was a little concerned about because I have had one before after a car accident.  I think I may call the nurse advice line and see what they say. 

MrsAggie

Good call. I can only guess because I can't assess you over the internet but I would still highly suggest you get it checked out.

Beachy730

If it affects your breathing I would call or get it checked out.  If not I'd wait until morning.  It could be that a rib got cracked or knocked too.  I got knocked down in soccer like 3 years ago and landed with my fist under my sternum and have had a partial subluxation in my rib since then.  It was really painful at first, and now only once in a while do I have pain from it.

Brandienee85

Maybe I am just a nervous person, but I wouldn't be able to rest until I knew what was wrong for sure. I would definitely call or go in.