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Suggest Treatment For Fractured Rib
Question: Hello, a week ago I went head first over my bike and had some slight pain on my pelvis and bruising (I assumed) on my left ribcage--it hurt when I worked with my personal trainer doing weights. Then on Friday evening, I laid on my stomach on the floor and my 4 year old laid on top of me and I heard and felt a big crack/pop and had a lot of pain. Now I have this slight cracking/popping sensation in that same area and my back rib area is sore now as well. I spoke with an MD friend who said it sounded like a fractured rib. Does this sound accurate to you? Is this additional pain/sensation just a normal muscle response after cracking/breaking a rib? Is it recommended that I can an xray or is it kind of pointless since there's nothing to do to heal it? Also, what kind of exercise can be done following an injury like this? THanks.
Brief Answer:
It may be fracture rib.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar,
After going through your query I concluded that you may be suffering from fracture rib as you had slight cracking/popping sensation in that same area you were having pain. I think you were having undisplaced fracture but this got displaced as your 4 year old laid on top of you. Second possibility is simple muscle injury. You can got a x ray done but treatment wise it does not make any difference as treatment of both condition is rest and analgesic such as diclofenac till pain relief. In case of muscular injury pain relief is achieved in 2 weeks while in fracture it is achieved in nearly one month time.Only breathing exercises of lung is advisable in which deep inspiration and expiration is done to prevent accumulation of fluid in lung. Other exercises should be avoided in this period.
You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
It may be fracture rib.
Detailed Answer:
Hi,
Thanks for your query.
I'm Dr. Sudhir Kumar,
After going through your query I concluded that you may be suffering from fracture rib as you had slight cracking/popping sensation in that same area you were having pain. I think you were having undisplaced fracture but this got displaced as your 4 year old laid on top of you. Second possibility is simple muscle injury. You can got a x ray done but treatment wise it does not make any difference as treatment of both condition is rest and analgesic such as diclofenac till pain relief. In case of muscular injury pain relief is achieved in 2 weeks while in fracture it is achieved in nearly one month time.Only breathing exercises of lung is advisable in which deep inspiration and expiration is done to prevent accumulation of fluid in lung. Other exercises should be avoided in this period.
You can discuss with your treating Doctor about it.
Hope I have answered your query.
If you have any further questions I will be happy to help.
Wishing you good health.
Take care.
Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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