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Dr. Andrew Rynne
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Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Heart Pain And Ribcage Pain With Breathlessness?

I was going down the stairs last Saturday when I suddenly slipped, I don t remeber how I fell, I just knew I was suddenly sitting and I was choking. I grabbed my brother s arm and tried to tell him I couldn t breathe. He started pumping on my chest til I was able to get some air again. After the incident, my ribs & back hurts, my left rib cage is hurting more than the right. I m having a hard time getting up or even looking at the back, it s like my upper body couldn t even rotate sideways. My heart is also hurting whenever I bend down and I lose breath. Whenever I laugh, cough or sneeze, there s a sudden pain in my back and ribs. Should I have it diagnosed? Or it s just normal for people who fell down the stairs?
posted on Thu, 24 Jul 2014
Twitter Mon, 31 Aug 2015 Answered on
Twitter Tue, 1 Sep 2015 Last reviewed on
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Cardiologist,  's  Response
Ho, due to the fall there has been an injury to the rib cage, a sprain or maybe fine hairline fracture. However be reassured, for rib fracture is always treated conservatively and it heals on itself so the pain will go of it some days. You may take an OTC analgesic if needed, however don't overdose and don't take it for long periods.
Lastly if there is severe backache, do get screening test of spine done, as that is something we should not miss.
The pain on bending down is nit cardiac and due to rib only as in this position all the ribs come near to each other aggravating pain.
Hoping I could help
Regards Dr Priyank Mody
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What Causes Heart Pain And Ribcage Pain With Breathlessness?

Ho, due to the fall there has been an injury to the rib cage, a sprain or maybe fine hairline fracture. However be reassured, for rib fracture is always treated conservatively and it heals on itself so the pain will go of it some days. You may take an OTC analgesic if needed, however don t overdose and don t take it for long periods. Lastly if there is severe backache, do get screening test of spine done, as that is something we should not miss. The pain on bending down is nit cardiac and due to rib only as in this position all the ribs come near to each other aggravating pain. Hoping I could help Regards Dr Priyank Mody