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I Took A Fall Down Down A Set Of 3
Question: I took a fall down down a set of 3 steps. I went down the steps on my back. When I hit the concrete floor my head snapped back and struck the floor pretty hard. I seem to be OK except for a baseball size bump to the back of my head. I have been icing the bump but it seems to have gotten bigger. over the past 3 hours. Do I need to be concerned?
Brief Answer:
tend to enlarge for the first 24 to 36 hrs, still best to be seen
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Lumps and bumps tend to increase after an initial injury, they reach a plateau for a 24 to 28 hours then decrease slowly. This refers to trauma on any part of the body.
As it relates to head, the worry is trauma to the brain but in most persons, this does not occur.
There are certain criteria or rules that exist as it relates to head trauma.
These tell you if a person needs a CT scan or not.
Reasons to be seen and have a CT:(1)any vomiting- if there is any vomiting at all, you should be seen
(2)seizures
(3)memory loss
(4)weakness on one side of the body
(5)leakage of clear liquid from the ear or nose, panda eyes (black mark around the eyes)
(6)any history of loss of consciousness
(7)age greater than 60, though some criteria say greater than 65
(8)headaches
With your age of 73, you would fit the criteria or rule for further assessment by your doctor.
Though it is likely that you are going to be perfectly fine, it is best to be seen.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other question
tend to enlarge for the first 24 to 36 hrs, still best to be seen
Detailed Answer:
HI, thanks for using healthcare magic
Lumps and bumps tend to increase after an initial injury, they reach a plateau for a 24 to 28 hours then decrease slowly. This refers to trauma on any part of the body.
As it relates to head, the worry is trauma to the brain but in most persons, this does not occur.
There are certain criteria or rules that exist as it relates to head trauma.
These tell you if a person needs a CT scan or not.
Reasons to be seen and have a CT:(1)any vomiting- if there is any vomiting at all, you should be seen
(2)seizures
(3)memory loss
(4)weakness on one side of the body
(5)leakage of clear liquid from the ear or nose, panda eyes (black mark around the eyes)
(6)any history of loss of consciousness
(7)age greater than 60, though some criteria say greater than 65
(8)headaches
With your age of 73, you would fit the criteria or rule for further assessment by your doctor.
Though it is likely that you are going to be perfectly fine, it is best to be seen.
I hope this helps, feel free to ask any other question
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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