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Suggest Treatment For Fractured Rib And Abdominal Bloating

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Posted on Tue, 9 May 2017
Question: I recently tore rib cartilage and or fractured a rib. My stomach is ridiculously bloated? Any correlation. My injury is on my left side, low ribcage
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Answered by Dr. T Chandrakant (33 minutes later)
Brief Answer:
Aerophagia as the commonest cause.

Detailed Answer:
Hi.
Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific.
To recapitulate: Female/56 - tore rib cartilage and/or fractured a rib on left lower side - feel 6 months pregnant overnight due to severe bloating - iced - now heat - married to a Doctor ... - ...
Well the commonest cause of stomach bloating after such an incidence can be:
Restricted thoracic respiration due to pain causes more of abdominal respiration and one gets aerophagia meaning swallowing of the air inadvertently causing the intestines to bloat with the air.
Very rarely an injury to the intestine can cause the bloating, but then the pain in abdomen can be very severe due to peritonitis one can get.
Hence if there is no pain in abdomen one can think about aerophagia as the commonest cause.
I would advise you the following in such a situation:
Strapping of the painful area with skin adhesive broad tape in the phase of full expiration shortens the movement of the lowest ribs reducing the pain drastically and allows normal breathing and reduces the chances of aerophagia thereby reducing the bloating as the gas may be burped out or passes out.
Take an anti-inflammatory with painkiller property like Ibuprofen or Diclofenac whichever suits you.
Take an X-ray of the chest for lungs and ribs and also an X-ray of the abdomen in standing position to see for the bloating.

I hope this answers your query and helps you further.
Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.
Note: For further inquiries on surgery procedure and its risks or complications book an appointment now

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
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Answered by
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Dr. T Chandrakant

General Surgeon

Practicing since :1984

Answered : 19778 Questions

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Suggest Treatment For Fractured Rib And Abdominal Bloating

Brief Answer: Aerophagia as the commonest cause. Detailed Answer: Hi. Thanks for your query, albeit short and specific. To recapitulate: Female/56 - tore rib cartilage and/or fractured a rib on left lower side - feel 6 months pregnant overnight due to severe bloating - iced - now heat - married to a Doctor ... - ... Well the commonest cause of stomach bloating after such an incidence can be: Restricted thoracic respiration due to pain causes more of abdominal respiration and one gets aerophagia meaning swallowing of the air inadvertently causing the intestines to bloat with the air. Very rarely an injury to the intestine can cause the bloating, but then the pain in abdomen can be very severe due to peritonitis one can get. Hence if there is no pain in abdomen one can think about aerophagia as the commonest cause. I would advise you the following in such a situation: Strapping of the painful area with skin adhesive broad tape in the phase of full expiration shortens the movement of the lowest ribs reducing the pain drastically and allows normal breathing and reduces the chances of aerophagia thereby reducing the bloating as the gas may be burped out or passes out. Take an anti-inflammatory with painkiller property like Ibuprofen or Diclofenac whichever suits you. Take an X-ray of the chest for lungs and ribs and also an X-ray of the abdomen in standing position to see for the bloating. I hope this answers your query and helps you further. Please feel free to ask for further relevant queries if you feel that there is a gap of communication.