Expert: Dr. Paul Newhart - 3/10/2010

Question
Hello and thanks in advance.
I took a small spill on my bike a couple of days ago. I was turning left and from all the left over sand and salt, my front tire slipped out and turned completely in. I was going about 8-9 mph and slammed and slid on my left side and right thumb knuckle.
On the left, I banged the side of my knee, the left side of my hip and I think my upper body landed on the pavement with my left arm bent like a chicken wing and hit the ground with the opened underside.

Since that day (2 days ago) I haven't been able to sleep without experiencing lots of pain whenever I shift in bed. I used a sling on day 1 after the accident and did not go to work. At night, I had to take a percocet in order to stay asleep for 6 hours.
It is now day 2 and I can't move my left arm without a good amount of pain. I'm scheduled to see my doc tomorrow morning.
I don't think it's broken but could there be some major damage?


Mike

Answer
Your injury can range anywhere from just simple contusions all the way up to a tear.  i wouldn't even attempt to guess at it without a proper exam.  Limited active motion may or may not indicate problems...see what your doc says first.  If everything checks out, you may want to check with a chiropractor.  They should be able to deal with your injuries, use therapies if necessary, and set you on a rehab program to strengthen the area in question