Bottom rib pain

This is my first post so please forgive the wrong terminolgy if any.

I have an injury to my right rib cage (the bottom rib jus under it and on the bone). I was hit in the ribs following a kick or punch. It had been 5 days, now i feel i aggrevated it a little when i went for a run.

I have started massaging my rib cage, when lying on my back using Deep Heat cream and Ibroufen clear gel. The pain is under the bottom right rib, when i feel the opposite rib feels the same so i dont thinks its broken.Following the massage I try to sleep but it does hurt when i turn either way so I have to sleep on my back.

The pain is not unbareable but is uncomfortable and feels sore when i breathe i can feel a pain inside there. I can not see any bruises its internal -

Now dont know whether to get X-ray but mite take 5 hours waiting or just keep massaging and see what happens, just need some advice from experts so I can stop worrying, because I feel I cant so to the gym because it mite aggrevate the injury again.

Please advise.:eek:

Sounds like most soft tissue injuries to the ribs. Because a lot of musculature attaches to that area it is likely to aggravate it somewhat with running, usually following the run rather than during the run. Unfortunately rib 'sprains' can take 4-6 weeks to heal and there's not a lot you can do for it.

If things don't improve by themselves then it's perhaps worth seeing your local physio to check for any spinal joint that might need some mobilisation to reduce your discomfort. This area often refers pain to the rib and would be implicated along with the rib in rolling from side to side. As for a fracture, well if it feels like it isn't then it probably isn't. In most cases the treatment for a cracked rib is little different. So you might not bother with an x-ray however only a first hand examination could be qualified to make the most informed decision on that. If in doubt there just see your GP.

Best of luck. You can bind the area with a support brace that covers the ribs to ease some of the pain with breathing, more so if it is on the inhale rather than the exhale. :)

Hallo,

In addition to above ,please take care of your self specially air drafts,don't lift heavy objects,don't bend too much,at coughing /sneezing try to support your pain area through putting your hands at sore,...


Regards,