Cracked ribs...

[wiggal]

How much do they hurt or can they hurt as I think I have one, or maybe 2 :-(

Can only think it came from when I had a bad cough, but that went over a month ago, however since then I have had a sore bit under my arm in my ribs. Over the last week or so since Christmas, it has got so much worse and I have been taking nurofen every 4 hours in the hope it would do something, but even that doesnt have any affect now.

I'm wanting to go to the Dr's, but from what I have been told they cant really do much anyway apart from tell me to rest?

Sneezing and coughing are now pretty unbarable without bringing tears to my eyes, and the area, although only a small area is extremely painful to touch.

Any advice, help or anything please - its sore!

x

[Dagman]

Go to the docs, ignore unprofessional advice. Maybe just a torn muscle or something that simple, but best get checked out especially if it has gone on for so long.

[Postdog]

Don't assume it is your ribs. A few weeks ago I started to get pain reminiscent of bruised or cracked ribs, and it was so painful if I coughed or breathed heavy I went to casualty. Turns out it wasn't the ribs, but some inflammation inside. Got prescribed stronger piainkillers, and need to have it checked (gallstones suspected in my case) by having a scan.

[masonma71]

hi, yes i can confim from personal experience, they are extremely painful. and from the symptoms you describe about coughing / sneezing and feeling that sharp pain, it does sound exactly like you have either cracked or bruised ribs. i remember even taking a deep breath felt awful. unfortunately, only time will heal them. i found nurofen to be a half decent pain killer when i cracked my ribs

[wiggal]

I had bruised/pulled muscles round my ribs before a few years ago and had to get some stronger pain killers from the Drs, but this is alot worse then that was!

Before it was just coughing or sneezing or moving a certain way that hurt, but now it is constantly painful, even just breathing normally I can feel it is sore :-(

[ladyalex]

Might be pleurisy.
Go to the docs or walk in centre or NHS Direct/NHS24.
If it is you'll need anitbiotics.

[Sqad]

I have never known anyone crack normal ribs from coughing.

The pain is likely to be fibromuscular, but a Chest X-Ray would not go amiss.

See your GP.

[joggerjayne]

I think you know when you've broken a rib ...

(as someone who has a close relationship with the handlebars of my mountain bike)

[seadogg]

Ditto JJ, could be intracostal inflammation, tissue between the ribs, but to have to check with the local quack.

[wiggal]

Hey guys, thanks for your advice. After yet another sleepless night I decided to go to the walk in clinic at the hospital today as could not get a Drs appt.

The Dr I saw was not sure exactly what it is, but checked me all over and has given me Co codamol and diclofenac, and said if it is not any better then I have to go to my own Gp in a couple of days to get x rays done.