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Suggest Treatment For Tender Spot On Chest Area Post Injury
Question: I hit my chest last Sunday , no marks but has hurt in front to around back every since. If I push or touch that area fells like something either out of place or broke
Brief Answer:
A clinical assessment along with an x ray chest might help
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX ! Good evening. I am Dr Shareef, a general surgeon answering your query.
As the injury is one week old now, and you are quite ok excepting for the pain and the weird feeling of something being put out of place, I am of the opinion that your trauma might be so serious enough to warrant any emergency invasive management. However, to be certain, in addition to a clinical assessment by your treating doctor, you could opt for a X ray chest to rule out rib fracture and other resulting problem in the lungs if any. A routine blood sugar, and an ECG would be worthwhile in your age group.
In case of an uncomplicated fracture of the ribs, the treatment would aim only to relieve the pain and discomfort with the help of warm compress and anti inflammatory drugs for a few days. In case the x ray shows any kind of complication resulting out of the trauma, like an gradual increasing effusion, or any other lung pathology, the management would be different accordingly.
For the present you could continue with advil till the investigations are done. If your pain and discomfort are going down day by day and there is no difficulty in breating, you might not need a chest x ray as such. Please add a proton pump inhibitor as well till you continue with advil.
I hope this information would help you in discussing with your family physician/treating doctor in further management of your problem. Please do not hesitate to ask in case of any further doubts.
Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. I wish you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.
A clinical assessment along with an x ray chest might help
Detailed Answer:
Hi XXXXXXX ! Good evening. I am Dr Shareef, a general surgeon answering your query.
As the injury is one week old now, and you are quite ok excepting for the pain and the weird feeling of something being put out of place, I am of the opinion that your trauma might be so serious enough to warrant any emergency invasive management. However, to be certain, in addition to a clinical assessment by your treating doctor, you could opt for a X ray chest to rule out rib fracture and other resulting problem in the lungs if any. A routine blood sugar, and an ECG would be worthwhile in your age group.
In case of an uncomplicated fracture of the ribs, the treatment would aim only to relieve the pain and discomfort with the help of warm compress and anti inflammatory drugs for a few days. In case the x ray shows any kind of complication resulting out of the trauma, like an gradual increasing effusion, or any other lung pathology, the management would be different accordingly.
For the present you could continue with advil till the investigations are done. If your pain and discomfort are going down day by day and there is no difficulty in breating, you might not need a chest x ray as such. Please add a proton pump inhibitor as well till you continue with advil.
I hope this information would help you in discussing with your family physician/treating doctor in further management of your problem. Please do not hesitate to ask in case of any further doubts.
Thanks for choosing health care magic to clear doubts on your health problems. I wish you an early recovery. Dr Shareef.
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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