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Normal To Have Clicking In Arm And Pain When Taking Deep Breath Due To Injured Rib?

Posted on Wed, 5 Mar 2014

Question: I tripped and banged my left back ribs into a wooden cabinet. It was extremely painful at first. Lots of bruising and swelling on the side rib area. I can function but I notice now that when I move my arm there is a clicking that occurs in that area. I also have pain when I take a deep breath. Otherwise I feel ok. Are these symptoms normal with an injured rib?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer: X-ray should be done. Detailed Answer: Hello! Thank you for the query. This symptoms indicate that rib fracture is possible. This is quite common effect of chest injury. Broken rib itself is not XXXXXXX however during the injury some air could appear between the lung and chest wall (it is called pneumothorax). Such air in some cases can be life threatening. That is why, every chest trauma should be checked with an X-ray. Please visit your doctor, have chest X-ray and ribs X-ray. In case of rib fracture, pain killers will be necessary as it is quite painful (as you may notice right now). The pain can last even for few weeks. Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions. Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (18 minutes later)

This injury occurred yesterday early evening. Can I wait until tomorrow to get an X-ray or can I wait until tomorrow and go to my regular doctor?

Answered by Dr. Grzegorz Stanko (2 minutes later)

Brief Answer: . Detailed Answer: If you do not have any shortness of breath, no sweating, fever, no pain radiating to the arm, heart rate is lower than 100, you can wait till to tomorrow to see your regular doctor. Regards.

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Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar