I was in a bad accident yesterday about 7pm. I smashed into a guardrail doing about 50mph to a complete stop with the guardrail lodged into the passenger side. I was fortunate though, and I only had bruises on my knees & elbows, with minor body aches & pains, except in my chest/sternum area where it had hit into the custom steering wheel, which didn't have an airbag. It was amazing I lived.
I did not have insurance, and was in pretty good condition, considering the damage, so I did not have the paremedic take me to E.R.
I know sometimes you can damage the aoritc area, with a blow like that, and was worried about possible internal damage. I finallly went in the E.R. today, and they did the EKG. I wondered if I should have insisted on the CT scan. The results were good on the EKG, so is there any need to be concerned further? I cannot hardly do anything requiring physical stregnth from the chest area.
2006-10-02 18:57:31 · 5 answers · asked by boxergirl 5 in Health ➔ General Health Care ➔ Injuries
EKG is a good way to look at the electricity of the heart.
It will not detect if you have injured your aorta - however the fact that you are typing your question 12-24hrs later is a good indication that you have not injured your aorta.
You probably have bruised your chest quite badly. You should take some pain relief to make sure you can breathe well.
Rest up and see how you go over the next few days.
Go for a re-visit if you:
cannot breathe
cannot swallow
cannot use your bowels or bladder
have pain that is too hard to control at home with your home pain relief
2006-10-02 19:09:39 · answer #1 · answered by Orinoco 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
EKG's are one of many tools to be used in the Dx of a cardiac problem, overall they are fairly accurate but it also can miss things that a CT or an Cardiogram may find, If you are felling dizzy, lightheaded, or you feel chest pain more than you would expect from the impact then go to the ER, if you feel that you need it then by all means get the CT, It is your body and you know better than anyone if something is wrong. Even if your wrong it is always better to be safe.
2006-10-03 02:10:42 · answer #2 · answered by Evan C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am not a doctor, but it sounds to me like you have bruised your chest badly or possibly cracked a rib. I would give it another few days (since you have already had a clean EKG) and if you are still in pain, go back to the doctor and ask for another test.
2006-10-03 02:06:19 · answer #3 · answered by Lucie 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the EKG was done proper it is accurate.
Yes consider a CT scan if you are still concerned
2006-10-03 02:03:04 · answer #4 · answered by phattygirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
EKG'S DO NOT PREDICT AORTIC TEARS, OR PREDICT HEART ATTACKS ,THEY ONLY SHOW IF THERE IS ALREADY AN ABNORMAL HEART BEAT, YOU NEEDED TO PRECEDE WITH CT SCAN OR MRI IF YOU ARE HAVING PROBLEMS... DO YOU GIVE OUT OF BREATH MOVING AROUND IF SO SOUNDS LIKE CARDIAC OR YOUR CHEST HURT WHEN YOU MOVE YOUR UPPER BODY SOUNDS LIKE MUSCULAR OR ORTHOPEDIC TROUBLE. CONTINUE TO FOLLOW UP WITH YOUR DOCTOR IF YOU GET NO RELIEF. ONLY YOU KNOW HOW YOU FEEL
2006-10-03 22:23:02 · answer #5 · answered by nursenight owl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋