hi, i was playing softball and dove for a ball while running forward.  after the initial joy of catching it the rush of pain came over me.  i think i must have tucked my elbow under me and landed on it.  at first i thought i just got the wind knocked out of me but its been 10 days now ad it still hurts.  i can do most of my everyday activities but still hurts to take a deep breathes, touch the area and sneezing is a killer!  i wouldnt say its gotten worse but it certainly hasnt.  i dont have health insurance currently.  is this something i need to spend thousands of dollars on by going to the hospital or will simple rest help?  Thank you.
Thanks for your question on Chat Doctor. I can understand your concern. You are mostly having blunt chest trauma while playing. This can cause musculoskeletal pain and this painkiller the cause for your symptoms. So follow these steps for better symptomatic relief. 1. Avoid heavyweight lifting and strenuous exercise. 2. Avoid movements causing pain. 3. Avoid bad postures in sleep. 4. Take painkiller like ibuprofen. 5. Apply warm water pad on affected areas. Don't worry, you will mostly improve with all these in 1-2 weeks. If not improving in 1-2 weeks then consult doctor and get done chest x-ray to rule out internal lung pathology. Hope I have solved your query. I will be happy to help you further. Wish you good health. Thanks.