Took a blow to chest/sternum

[jman3]

I played a basketball game on Sunday. I was on defense when a ball handler, probably not seeing me, went into me with their driving right into my sternum/chest. I probably should've have fallen back to lessen the blow but I was startled and took the full brunt of the hit. It hurt but it wasn't the worst pain I've felt. I came out of the game. I sat out the rest of the game although I could have probably played and played another game a couple hours later.

I never had it checked out. I didn't ice it either. Now I still feel some pain in my right chest and in my back (right behind it). If anything it kind of feels like the couple times I've thrown out my back. I don't know if it's me just tensing my muscles. I went for a jog/walk yesterday. It was sore but it wasn't unbearable.

I just wanted to know whether there is anything I should be doing to help heal. Do I only need to rest? Is there a possibility that this is a serious injury? Please any advice would be much appreciated. Thanks.

[Heidi]

Hi
I think you should get it checked out, as a blow to the front of the chest which results in back pain could be do to with the joints where the ribs meet the vertebrae. You may need a manipulation to get it back to normal.