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What Causes Protruding Lower Left Rib Along With Pain In The Area?
Question: I recently experienced my lower left rib is protruding and there is pain in the area.
Brief Answer:
Go to your doctor for palpation and possible Xray.
Detailed Answer:
Hello - I had a look at the photo you attached.
I advise that you be seen to have this evaluated in person. If there is a lot of pain, go in to the ER or an Urgent Care clinic. If it is only mildly tender, you can probably wait to see your primary doctor if you can get in to see him or her in the next 7-10 days.
The first thing the doctor will do is palpate the area to see if the protrusion is the normal contour of the rib or if there is a growth on the rib itself. The doctor will also palpate the abdomen underlying the rib (by pushing gently upward below the rib) to see if there is a palpable enlargement of underlying tissue there.
He or she may next get a Chest Xray to see if he/she can gain more information about the structure of that rib, and the associated rib cage. It's possible to have fracture or displacement, and an X-ray will help clarify that.
If it appears that there is something in the soft tissue underneath pushing the rib out, a CT or MRI may be ordered next.
Without an evaluation in person, and subsequent imaging studies if necessary, it is hard to say what is going on. The problem may be in the soft tissue over the rib (such as a benign lipoma which is a noncancerous fatty growth), a fracture or displacement of the rib from twisting or some trauma, a bony growth, or something enlarging underneath (which can be benign or not).
So go in and have it checked. It is the only way to sort it out.
Go to your doctor for palpation and possible Xray.
Detailed Answer:
Hello - I had a look at the photo you attached.
I advise that you be seen to have this evaluated in person. If there is a lot of pain, go in to the ER or an Urgent Care clinic. If it is only mildly tender, you can probably wait to see your primary doctor if you can get in to see him or her in the next 7-10 days.
The first thing the doctor will do is palpate the area to see if the protrusion is the normal contour of the rib or if there is a growth on the rib itself. The doctor will also palpate the abdomen underlying the rib (by pushing gently upward below the rib) to see if there is a palpable enlargement of underlying tissue there.
He or she may next get a Chest Xray to see if he/she can gain more information about the structure of that rib, and the associated rib cage. It's possible to have fracture or displacement, and an X-ray will help clarify that.
If it appears that there is something in the soft tissue underneath pushing the rib out, a CT or MRI may be ordered next.
Without an evaluation in person, and subsequent imaging studies if necessary, it is hard to say what is going on. The problem may be in the soft tissue over the rib (such as a benign lipoma which is a noncancerous fatty growth), a fracture or displacement of the rib from twisting or some trauma, a bony growth, or something enlarging underneath (which can be benign or not).
So go in and have it checked. It is the only way to sort it out.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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