How do you know if a rib is outta place?
I got hit on Sunday at work and the pain hasn't gone away yet. It hits to move from side to side and taking deep breaths makes it hurt. It twiches and keeps pulling like crazy. I can't use pressure on my right side, so grabbing a door with my right hand, causes my ribs to hurt. I don't know what to do and going to the doctor is the next step, but I'd rather not spend the money on x-rays if what I have doesn't sound like a rib outta place. Thanks.
Update:Its also stiff and hurts like no other to lay on my right side. I can't sit at angles, but I can barly sit with just my back to the back of the sofa. If I take corners too fast in my car, it throbbs and throughtout the entire past few days, it feels like a cramp. Twichting, then pulling.
Comments
It never hurts to have this checked out. Everyone has a different level of pain tolerance, and it is possible that you might have a small rib fracture. Usually, unless it's severe, the will not do anything to treat a rib fracture except give you pain medication. On rare cases, a fractured and displaced rib can puncture the lung, but you would probably already be in the ER if that was the case. If it is a lower displaced rib, there is potential for a severe fracture to lacerate internal organs in the abdominal cavity. Only you know how much pain you're in and any other symptoms you're feeling... go with your gut.
At times you can actually see that the rib is out of place. Lay flat on your back, take a deep breath in, as your rib cage rises, you may see a part that is not moving with the rest of your body. Other than that, xray.
Feel better
You should go see the doctor. There's a decent chance your rib is broken, and could need to be set (although hopefully it's just cracked). If your rib is broken, it presents the danger of puncturing your lung, and that is NOT fun (not to mention making it almost impossible to get any air).
Go ASAP - preferably now. In any case, the sooner the better; good luck.
I really doubted you would have fractured a rib - it takes quiet a massive amount of tauma and force to break a rib!
Most likely you have bruised or stretched the ligaments in the chest area. Try taking some pain relief such as nurofen for the pain and take it easy.
There's workman's comp for that. Go to the doctor because you may have fractured a rib or torn a muscle. File an incident report and have your job pay for it.
Take care of yourself and good luck.
Hon, you could have a broken rib, but, you also could have a collapsed lung. My ex husband got popped playing football, thought he just pulled a muscle, turned out (lung) it was 75% decreased by the time he finally got medical attention. Just don't wait too long. Let your job pay for it.
If it used to be a damaged rib he could have problem respiring. Check his gums to peer if they're faded (oxygen deficiency). He could have a tumor, so get that looked at as rapid as feasible.
it may just be that it is badly bruised but best see the doc just
in case it's cracked or broken .hope you feel better soon.oh
and i had a cracked rib last year and it took three weeks before it eased off ,hop yours heals quicker.byeeee