I'm 38, male. Yesterday I went to Six Flags. I was on the Tidal Wave, a ride where you go down a steep, watery incline, then hit water at the bottom to splash your car and people on a bridge. I bent down to avoid getting splashed, placing my rib cage against the crashbar. The full weight of my body slammed into the bar and knocked the wind out of me.
I was sore, but not thinking a lot about the. We rode three more roller coasters, by the time I rode the last one (which was after a break for dinner), I was in serious.
I was screaming through the whole ride, not from excitement but from the of getting jerked around. I can't tell if the ribs are cracked or bruised. I don't think they're broken.
I know that bone breaks feel like and the 'electric ' isn't present. I'm able to move about pretty well, but lying on my back is exceptionally painful. I'm wrapped with ace bandages and have put Tiger Balm on the skin around the painful areas.
I've also been taking Arnica Montana. There's been marked improvement since yesterday, but I still hurt. Wondered how you can tell, without an X-Ray, whether it's a bruised bone or a cracked bone?
Any other suggestions for non-invasive (I consider an X-Ray 'invasive') treatment? I've not been in enough to warrant killers.
And how long will this hurt? - Tue Jul 31, 2007 3:53 pm. It's been a week and a day, now.
I'm still hurting. I can't sneeze. I can twist about in bed a little better. I'm not sure if the is gone of if I've simply learned to live with it. I have eschewed pills because the day after I took them for the first time, I was in more -like I did too much the day before. Today something was different, though.
On the left side, the more injured side, it felt like there was some 'shifting' taking place. It wasn't really painful, just strange. It felt as though my ribs either shifted against one another or against some cartilidge or something. It was almost a 'grinding', though it only lasted for a moment.
There was no extra, but it did hurt when I did moved so that it caused that 'shifting' sensation. I'm seeing my doctor tomorrow on a routine visit, but I'm going to definintely mention the injury. Someone today said that rib injuries 'never go away', is that true? - Wed Aug 01, 2007 7:31 pm. I saw my doctor today.
He's of the opinion that it's either a crack or a bad bruise. Either way, it'll hurt for awhile. Sometimes it seems like it's getting better (I can get in and out of bed with only a little, now) and at others it seems worse (every formerly comfortable position I could sleep it causes -which has damaged my sleep patterns-and I'm extremely sore and achy in the mornings). He listened to my chest a lot with the stethiscope while I breathed and didn't have any indications of a break. Beginning number theory neville robbins pdf to excel. He felt around and said my responses to his touch seemed more in line with a bad bruise or a crack. He offered to send me for x-rays.
I asked if it would make a difference to the treatment-'no'. Why waste my HMOs money and have invasive, damaging rays sent through my body if it won't help? I opted not to go. Thanks for your responses, by the way.:) - Thu May 28, 2009 6:30 pm. Hello, Sorry to hear about the injury. During deep breathing can results from strained or sprained muscles between the ribs, contusion (bruising) of the rib area, fracture of the ribs, or irritation of the lining of the chest cavity (less likely from trauma).
Also, the lung tissue can be punctured or damaged releasing air into the chest cavity. It is good to have chest x-ray done following trauma to the ribs especially with lasting. And take the appropriate amount of relief meds to help make breathing easier. Obviously, you should review the overall situation to evaluate the need for some lifestyle changes to prevent further problems. Trusted friends or family or church members often provide wisdom during times like this. Thu Sep 10, 2009 7:16 pm.
Hello, I am a 37 yr. I was playing in a basketball game the other day and I went up for a lay up and got fouled. After I had hit the floor a player landed on me and knocked the wind out of me. It took a couple minutes before I was breathing normally again. I continued playing in the game and a also in a game right after that.
I felt constant in the middle of my chest just below my sternum but it wasn't too bad. Later that night and the next day I was experiencing terrible on my right side ribs, which is the side i was laying on when the player landed on me. It hurts almost everytime I breathe and every time I take a deep breath.
How To Sleep With Bruised Ribs
There is a slight bruise but it isn't very noticable. Do you think this might be a bruised rib? - Mon Mar 22, 2010 10:24 pm. Hello aml1221, This new may or may not be a reinjury of your first incident. Often, areas in the ribs that have been bruised or damaged can be a triggering point for other types of such as (inflammation of the lining of the lungs/chest wall) or costochondritis (inflammation of the area where the cartilage and bone meet in the ribs). The area you describe initially would be a classic spot for costochondritis to develop (which also classically follows a traumatic injury).
Both these issues are not dangerous but can be quite painful. If your is not improving, I would recommend you see your doctor again for a reevaluation. This will allow for proper recommendations for treatment. Fri Jul 23, 2010 6:38 pm.
Hello I have had bronchitis, and have been violently for just over a week. I have been on and getting better.
Yesterday my top left rib (under the breast near the diaphragm) began hurting. Today as the the day progressed, the got worse and worse. It hurts to breathe, sneeze or even get up from laying down.
I know you can hurt your ribs from, but if it would have cracked wouldn't I have felt it instantly? Does it sound like I have a bruised rib? I would go to the doctors, but I recently lost my health insurance, and cannot afford to go without it. Thank you so much for your time!.
A broken bone is a fractured bone and vice versa. If you had a crack in your car windshield and someone asked how long it had been broken, would you correct them? Would you say it's not broken, it's just a fracture?
Probably not. In fact, you'd probably talk about the rock that did the deed on the freeway. We all regularly use the terms fracture and break interchangeably. It's not any different in the medical field. It's All in the Presentation Watch patients interact with physicians, even on television or in the movies. When a tiny little break is barely discernible on an x-ray, the doc will point it out—usually with a ball-point pen—and say, 'here's the fracture.'
Difference Between Bruised And Cracked Ribs
Why not say 'Here's the break'? Probably because it doesn't sound doctorly. The same physician is going to walk out of the room and tell her colleague that the patient broke his whatever. Docs like to sound educated, but they let their guard down with peers. Not that you could tell without an x-ray.
Fractures and breaks are bone problems. Sprains are joint problems. You can break a bone, but you can't break a joint. Here's an example using the ankle. Your ankle is made of three bones: tibia, fibula, and talus. You can break any of them. If you do, technically you have a broken tibia (or talus or fibula).
You can also stretch or tear the ligaments and tissues holding all three bones together; that's called a sprain. They both hurt really, really badly. Without an x-ray, we can't tell whether it's a broken bone or a sprained ankle.
As far as first aid goes, it doesn't matter. We treat them both the same. We also say it wrong all the time. We meaning healthcare professionals. We say broken ankle when we are talking about a broken bone near the ankle joint.
It's a shortcut, but if it confused you, we take the blame.
Broken ribs A fractured rib occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. A broken rib is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks.
The most common cause is chest trauma, such as from a fall, motor vehicle accident or impact during contact sports. Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken into separate pieces. A jagged edge of broken bone can damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lung.
Symptoms The pain associated with a broken rib usually occurs or worsens when you:. Take a deep breath. Press on the injured area. Bend or twist your body When to see a doctor See your doctor if you have a very tender spot in your rib area that occurs after trauma or if you have difficulty breathing or pain with deep breathing. Seek medical attention immediately if you feel pressure, fullness or a squeezing pain in the center of your chest that lasts for more than a few minutes or pain that extends beyond your chest to your shoulder or arm.
These symptoms can indicate a heart attack. Causes Broken ribs are most commonly caused by direct impacts — such as those from motor vehicle accidents, falls, child abuse or contact sports. Ribs also can be fractured by repetitive trauma from sports like golf and rowing or from severe and prolonged coughing. Risk factors The following factors can increase your risk of breaking a rib:.
Osteoporosis. Having this disease in which your bones lose their density makes you more susceptible to a bone fracture. Sports participation. Playing contact sports, such as hockey or football, increases your risk of trauma to your chest. Cancerous lesion in a rib. A cancerous lesion can weaken the bone, making it more susceptible to breaks.
Complications A broken rib can injure blood vessels and internal organs. The risk increases with the number of broken ribs. Complications vary depending on which ribs break. Possible complications include:. Torn or punctured aorta. A sharp end of a break in one of the first three ribs at the top of your rib cage could rupture your aorta or another major blood vessel.
Punctured lung. The jagged end of a broken middle rib can puncture a lung and cause it to collapse. Lacerated spleen, liver or kidneys.
The bottom two ribs rarely fracture because they have more flexibility than do the upper and middle ribs, which are anchored to the breastbone. But if you break a lower rib, the broken ends can cause serious damage to your spleen, liver or a kidney. Prevention The following measures may help you prevent a broken rib:. Protect yourself from athletic injuries. Wear protective equipment when playing contact sports. Reduce the risk of household falls.
Remove clutter from your floors and clean spills promptly, use a rubber mat in the shower, keep your home well-lit, and put skidproof backing on carpets and area rugs. Strengthen your bones. Getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet is important for maintaining strong bones.
Aim for about 1,200 milligrams of calcium and 600 International Units of vitamin D daily from food and supplements. Karlson KA. Initial evaluation and management of rib fractures. Accessed Oct. Eiff MP, et al. Rib fractures. In: Fracture Management for Primary Care.
Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2012. Accessed Oct. Inpatient management of traumatic rib fracture. Accessed Oct. Preventing falls and related fractures. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases.
Accessed Oct.
While it is ideal to speak with a professional healthcare provider regarding any injuries that you may have sustained, it is also ideal to consider whether or not you have strained your muscle or if it could be a broken rib., but one requires immediate medical care compared to another. Regardless, if you feel that something is out of place then it is essential that you seek the medical care that is required. Broken Rib Signs and Symptoms Broken ribs are more severe than strained muscles or bruised ribs.
This is because the rib is out of place, the bone is broken, and will need to heal properly back in place. It is essential that an X-ray is taken to rule out the possibility of a break. In the event of having a broken rib, there are treatment options available.
Extreme pain, feeling breathless or unwell and having that area be extremely tender to touch then there could be an issue. If there is poking or protruding coming from the rib area, or you feel a sharp stab inside, then prompt medical attention is required. You want to ensure that the rib is not puncturing anything that it might come into contact with – including your internal organs.
Due to having bones that are more elastic. Serious force would be needed for them to break one of their ribs. However, adults and seniors have a higher chance of fracturing or breaking one of the rib bones. This can be due to a fall, an accident of some sort or other injury that happens in the mid-section of the body. Strained Muscles in the Ribs: Signs and Symptoms Strained muscles are not generally a cause of concern or a medical necessity that needs immediate care. However, in order to get relief from the pain of the strained muscle, it is recommended that a healthcare provider is seen to provide the necessary treatment plan so that the pain is done, and the patient is able to resume normal everyday activities.
Can include pain in the area, swelling, redness, bruising or even an open cut depending on the injury in the area. If any of these are noted, it is essential that you speak with a doctor. They can provide pain medication, as well as an anti-inflammatory so that the swelling goes down, taking pressure off the area and relieving some of the pain. Those that play sports and even children are more likely to have a bruised or strained muscle in the rib area over those that do not. However, falling, slipping and other accidents can cause bruised or strained muscles in the ribs that require medical attention. There are ways to get relief from having this type of injury, and speaking with a healthcare provider regarding the treatment plan is the ideal way to go.
The Difference between the Two There are differences between having a sprained muscle in the ribs, or a broken rib. A broken rib tends to be more painful, may or may not protrude and can cause extreme swelling and bruising. A muscle strain will have bruising, swelling and pain but it will not protrude and will be less severe.
Having a strained muscle will take a few weeks or days to heal depending on the severity. However, broken ribs may need a cast in place, and will take months depending on the age and general overall health of the person that has broken them. It is recommended that while playing sports, the person wears protective gear so that this does not happen to the mid-region of the body. This can tear through the skin, but it can also puncture vital organs inside the body and cause internal bleeding which is a larger issue at hand. It is important to speak with a healthcare provider if after something such as an injury or accident does occur.
This can rule out serious injuries that would need to be medically provided for. Treatment Plan for Both a Broken Rib and Strained Muscle There are treatment plans available for both broken and strained muscles. Depending on the severity and the specific case, there may be a different treatment plan set in motion to ensure that the person receives adequate care of the rib area. Broken ribs require a cast in the rib area, and for the person to be on strict rest for a few weeks. From then on, they can start doing more but are still on a restriction and will still need the cast.
At times, it can take a month or more for the rib to fully heal and be placed back to its original position. This can set the person back some, but it can provide them with a way to get the relief that they need. During this time, antibiotics, pain medicine, and anti-inflammatories will be prescribed to help combat pain and swelling, and any infections that might occur. With a bruised rib, and the patient will need to be put on rest for a week or so. They will also be provided with a prescription for anti-inflammatories and pain medication to help combat the symptoms that might follow.
Summary is essential. While either are not life threatening, finding relief of the symptoms that come from both is required. In order to heal and get back to normal, everyday life, you will have to seek the help from us that can create a healing plan specifically for the injury that was sustained. It is important that you seek this help to ensure that you do not have underlying problems that might have occurred due to the injured rib. Set up your with us today by calling 360-260-6903. We want to help you start living a better, healthier life today!
I had bruised ribs painful for about 3 - 4 weeks rode a week later that just made it worse so rested up and all was well after the 3rd week and fixed on the 4th I could breathe without pain but bending, lying on them, pressing them in any way and rough surfaces was uncomfortable. Someone I rode with broke a rib and he suffered much more pain, breathing, sneezing, laughing etc. And that took 6 or so weeks to get better.
Yours sounds a little worse than mine, I would suggest a trip to A&E it you want to be sure rather than forum health diagnostics, I didn't but probably should have. A few years ago when i worked with horses, i was helping to start a youngster, Thorobred(5yr old). I got bucked whilst lying over the saddle and landed smack on the pommel onto my side. I was sure that i had broke a rib, the pain was agonising, when i got to the Hospital for an x-ray, it turned out that i had bruised the top rib. I've been ensured that breaking it hurts alot more by some. And have been told by others that bruising the rib hurts more. As i havent broke any yet, i can only comment on the bruising and that sure hurt alot.