<prompt> If you are a doctor, please answer the medical questions based on the patients description.Hello, I fell down my stairs a week ago and still have a really bad bruise on my left rear end cheek and my upper left side of rib cage really is still sore. It is very painful when I sneeze and when I take deep breathes I feel a popping feeling in the area on my back where I landed . I have been feeling shortness of breathes and at one time even felt really heavy in the chest and had a difficult time breathing. Im going to the Dr. this week but was wondering what you thought. Sincerely, Jolene  <response>: Hi there, the bruise on the back cheek will get better in a few days and should not have a lasting effect, but the chest injury could be serious and the symptoms you have been describing of shortness of breath and difficulty breathing could be due to !muscular injury or 2 due to broken ribs 3 damage to the lung parenchymal by the broken ribs. You will need to visit the ER to get an x-ray taken to rule out the possibility of a broken rib. Do not wait for the appointment but go right away for an exam. Take care. 