Sign-in to Ask A Doctor - 24x7
OR
Sign in with Google
Suggest Treatment For Severe Pain In Rib Cage After Injury
Question: I fell a week ago and hit my rib cage pretty hard. Had the wind knocked out of me on that side. X-rays showed no break..and was only in mild pain. Pain got worse later that day...then went back to mild. Went back to the doctor for a follow up 2 days after...and everything was good. Now a week later..I coughed it my sleep and the pain was severe and woke me up. Still feeling alot of pain since then..mostly when going from standing to laying postition or visa versa. Not sure what happened..since I wasn't in pain to speak of before that cough..I rated it a one) until that cough that woke me up....I was going to wait to see if the pain lessons tomorrow...but thought I'd ask your opinion...
The pain reminds me of the time I had pleurisy 20 years ago...except this is only in the area where I was injured...
Also...since the cough...it hurts when i have a bowel movement or have gas.....
The pain reminds me of the time I had pleurisy 20 years ago...except this is only in the area where I was injured...
Also...since the cough...it hurts when i have a bowel movement or have gas.....
Brief Answer:
Please hold pillow to your chest when coughing or passing gas
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Sorry to hear about the fall you had last week and the pain in the area of injury. If X ray has been done and shows no fracture then most likely you do not have it. However it is possible that you have bruised your rib during the fall and therefore the pain and discomfort. There are also layers of muscles and few nerves supplying the regions adjoining the ribs and this makes an injury more pain sensitive. Even in cases of rib fractures, the ribs are allowed to heal naturally as no splinting of ribs is possible.
A rib injury without complications requires rest for a few days and you should be doing fine in about two weeks time. To care for a possible rib injury, you should do the following
(i) try and hold an ice pack to your chest to reduce the pain and swelling (this might not work much as your injury is a week old)
(ii) take over the counter pain relievers as oral (after food) or ointments (to be applied gently over the hurting area).
(iii) please support your chest with a pillow should you need to cough
Further consultation with your doctors is essential if you have any one or more of the following symptoms
1. any shortness of breath
2. increasing chest pain with time
3. pain in the abdomen or shoulder
4. continuous cough or coughing up blood stained sputum
5. persistent fever with a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
The above symptoms are less likely to happen with you since its been a week since your fall.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please hold pillow to your chest when coughing or passing gas
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in to us.
I have read through your query in detail.
Sorry to hear about the fall you had last week and the pain in the area of injury. If X ray has been done and shows no fracture then most likely you do not have it. However it is possible that you have bruised your rib during the fall and therefore the pain and discomfort. There are also layers of muscles and few nerves supplying the regions adjoining the ribs and this makes an injury more pain sensitive. Even in cases of rib fractures, the ribs are allowed to heal naturally as no splinting of ribs is possible.
A rib injury without complications requires rest for a few days and you should be doing fine in about two weeks time. To care for a possible rib injury, you should do the following
(i) try and hold an ice pack to your chest to reduce the pain and swelling (this might not work much as your injury is a week old)
(ii) take over the counter pain relievers as oral (after food) or ointments (to be applied gently over the hurting area).
(iii) please support your chest with a pillow should you need to cough
Further consultation with your doctors is essential if you have any one or more of the following symptoms
1. any shortness of breath
2. increasing chest pain with time
3. pain in the abdomen or shoulder
4. continuous cough or coughing up blood stained sputum
5. persistent fever with a temperature of 38C (100.4F) or above
The above symptoms are less likely to happen with you since its been a week since your fall.
Wishing you a quick recovery.
Hope this answers your question. Please feel free to correct any oversight in my interpretation of your problems and discuss them in detail as per your requirements.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Hi Dr., and thank you for your answer. My question though is...what would or could suddenly cause the sudden pain a week later? I had coughed before without a problem. So just nervous as to why the sudden onset of pain a week later..and the persitance of it when there was none before? My question is mostly nervousness now...since i had none of these symptoms before in the previous week? If it is nothing...I'm very grateful....but confused as to why my pain level would be a low (1) for a week....then suddenly shoot to a 10?????
Brief Answer:
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in with an update.
I understand your anxiety as you were absolutely fine for a week and suddenly you have a sharp pain. It is possible that you had a recent muscle spasm in the injury region or on repeated coughing the muscles have become more pain sensitive and possible pinching of a nerve which was not felt earlier.
If its a muscle spasm, it should get better on applying pain relievers and muscle relaxants and controlling cough.
Please check the skin over the injury and should you have any discoloration of skin in the region then please talk to your doctors immediately.
You can send me an image of your X ray for a second look if you wish to have it seen by me.
A second X ray or CT scan chest might be advised if your pain remains at level 10 for more than 3 days, considering a rare possibility of conditions which have manifested following a week after the fall.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Please find details below
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Thanks for writing in with an update.
I understand your anxiety as you were absolutely fine for a week and suddenly you have a sharp pain. It is possible that you had a recent muscle spasm in the injury region or on repeated coughing the muscles have become more pain sensitive and possible pinching of a nerve which was not felt earlier.
If its a muscle spasm, it should get better on applying pain relievers and muscle relaxants and controlling cough.
Please check the skin over the injury and should you have any discoloration of skin in the region then please talk to your doctors immediately.
You can send me an image of your X ray for a second look if you wish to have it seen by me.
A second X ray or CT scan chest might be advised if your pain remains at level 10 for more than 3 days, considering a rare possibility of conditions which have manifested following a week after the fall.
Hope your query is answered.
Do write back if you have any doubts.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Thank you...that helped to answer my questions and I appreciate your time. Willl be closing this discussion..thanks for your help!!
opps..the closing discussion bar disappeared.. :(
opps..the closing discussion bar disappeared.. :(
Brief Answer:
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome and wishing you good health with seasons greetings.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Welcome
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXX,
Welcome and wishing you good health with seasons greetings.
Regards,
Dr.Vivek
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
Get personalised answers from verified doctor in minutes across 80+ specialties
