I was elbowed in the nose and now feel like I have something hard stuck in my nose. Should I be worried?

Dear Jakeyla18,If you did not have a nosebleed at the time, it is unlikely that you broke itIs there a change in the shape of the nose?It could also be swollen inside the noseIt would be best to have an examination by an ENT or rhinoplasty surgeon to make sure you do not have bleeding in the septum (which can cause nasal obstruction)This should be done sooner than laterBest,Nima Shemirani

The most urgent issue is to make sure that you do not have a septal hematoma (collection of blood at the level of the septum). The risk is necrosis of the cartilage (destruction of the septum). A visit to an ENT is advisable.If you did experience a nose bleed, then the probabilities are high that you broke your nose/septum. Absence of bleeding doesn't preclude a broken nose but it is more unlikely. Swelling of the inside of the nose after a trauma is common. I would advise to ice your nose and use Saline Spray several times a day. Usually I like to see patients who experienced a nasal trauma at 5-7 days post trauma to re assess the shape of the nose as well as the status of the septum. Hope it helps! Henri P. Gaboriau, MD FACS