Rib Injury-need help

[bthomas2]

hi i play semi pro rugby and took a knock on saturday in the front region of the ribs in the middle on the left hand side, what felt like a pop in my chest was quite painful, i prodded and what seemed to feel like another pop (as if something going back into place) pain seemed to get better sunday. then this morning while getting out of bed what felt to be another pop left me in excruciating pain and now im much more uncomfortable now than i was when i originally done the injury because it doesnt seem to have gone back into place.i keep getting shooting pains when i take breaths which didnt happen after original injury.went to hosp to be told that if i was breathing ok theres nothing they can do. i left with no x-ray and im still in lots of pain. can someone suggest what could be wrong. any more info just ask.
thanks

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[MancPie]

Hi mate,

Sorry to hijack your thread, I was looking on the site because I've had an almost identical injury recently.

I play Rugby League, took a knock to the lower left rib cage (approx where 1st false rib joins lower true rib). Felt it 'pop', some pain but not too much, then felt it 'pop' back. Was sore but nothing too bad. Later that night after a few post-game beers the same thing happened, 'popped' and back again. Went to my local hospital the next day to be told nothing they can do, give it a few weeks. No x-ray.

3 days later I was driving, had been in the car about 90 minutes and it 'popped' big time - excrutiating pain, so much so I had to pull off the motorway (was on the M6 Toll), and the toll booth staff called an ambulance. I could barely speak or walk, and breathing was difficult. I was examined in hospital and this time they x-rayed but said no fracture. Was discharged but couldn't walk until the pain killers kicked in.

Since then I've been unable to do much. I can only sleep on my back, can't drive, and sitting down and getting up is painful, as is lifting with my left arm. Went for a short walk 3 days ago and it 'popped' again - my girlfriend had to come and pick me up, excruciating pain again for a short time.

I've been off work (my job involves a lot of driving) for nearly 2 weeks now and getting fed up with it. As bthomas2 has said, it feels like the big 'pop' never went back, and I'm in a lot of pain and discomfort. It seems to be very slowly improving but every so often a random movement can cause severe pain. Coughing, sneezing, hiccups, blowing nose, even passing solids - all very painful.

I've been doing breathing exercises (deep breaths, exhale, cough), plus keeping it moving to keep the ribs supple as I was advised in hospital. The area in question now feels swollen and very hard, and is very sensitive to touch.

Has anyone any suggestions please?

[ronnie.la]

Hi,
Anyone of you need any kind of help just let me know I have good experience about it.

[112inky]

doing breathing exercises (deep breaths, exhale, cough), plus keeping it moving to keep the ribs supple as I was advised in hospital. The area in question now feels swollen and very hard, and is very sensitive to touch.

[IceMan]

To the two original posters: Hopefully your situations have improved. If not see if you can find a physician and or physio who is proficient at treating mechanical rib and spine problems.

If damage occurred to the cartilaginous portion of the ribs an xray (which is a good diagnostic tool for bony injuries) would not reveal the injury. Similarly injury to the surrounding soft tissues and joints, e.g. where the ribs join to the sternum (breast bone) and spine would most likely not be picked up on xray. A clinician experienced at evaluating these types of conditions would be able to determine if there are any soft tissue problems and/or rib subluxations, torsions, inhalation or exhalation dysfunctions etc.

Manual techniques could be helpful for the rib dysfunctions. Cartilage damage is not as easily treated from a physio perspective.