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What Causes Pain In Rib Area With Normal X Ray And Ultrasound?
Question: I was in a car accident a week ago and had some rib pain then. I had an x-ray and ultrasound at the ER right after and everything checked out fine. However, I am still experiencing a lot of pain in my rib area, especially with deep breaths and general movement (especially leaning forward). It is greatly, but not by any means completely reduced with ibprofen. My question is since I had the x-ray and they said there were no broken or fractured ribs, is this just bruising that I simply have to deal with until it heals or should I be concerned enough to get it checked again?
Brief Answer:
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Usually such symptoms are present with broken rib. To diagnose broken rib it is important to perform TWO tests: ribs x-ray and chest x-ray. First tests shows bones, second shows lungs. So if you have had both x-rays, rib fracture is rather impossible. If you have had only chest x-ray, fracture could remain undetected.
The other thing is that rib fracture (detected or not) does not need special treatment and heals by its own. Bruising can sometimes act like fractured rib and give similar symptoms.
So if you have no shortness of breath, I suggest you to wait a week or two and see if you are improving or not.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Detailed below.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
Usually such symptoms are present with broken rib. To diagnose broken rib it is important to perform TWO tests: ribs x-ray and chest x-ray. First tests shows bones, second shows lungs. So if you have had both x-rays, rib fracture is rather impossible. If you have had only chest x-ray, fracture could remain undetected.
The other thing is that rib fracture (detected or not) does not need special treatment and heals by its own. Bruising can sometimes act like fractured rib and give similar symptoms.
So if you have no shortness of breath, I suggest you to wait a week or two and see if you are improving or not.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
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
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