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What Causes Shortness Of Breath And Soreness In Ribs After An Accident?
Question: On Oct 31, 2015, I was pushed and fell rather forcefully onto a bench, where my left side knocked very heavily into a box. My upper left side (ribs on the outside of my left breast) felt very sore, but it never bruised. There was (and still is) some swelling/bulge there. I kept expecting it to bruise - but...no discoloration appeared. Over the course of the next 4-6 days, the pain became worse, to the point where I needed a cane to sit and then rise up...there were 2 to 3 nights where I couldn't sleep reclining at all - and there was little relief even sitting. Nothing I did brought comfort. The worst of it lasted just one evening, where I found shortness of breath along with the pain. Ultimately, the intense pain went away but I was left with discomfort and moderate pain when attempting to lie on my left side. There were two instances where there was blood in my stools - but only those two times. Since then, and it is now January 16, 2016 - I continue to have some discomfort on my left side. I still sleep on my right only turning to my left side if I am somewhat propped up, so there is not full weight on the injured area. For some time, I assumed I had a hernia, until my friend said hernias don't appear on that side...that they appear in the gut or groin. So, now I am wondering if I broke a rib when pushed and landing on the box. Could that have caused the range of pain, the blood in stools, the temporary shortness of breath (some days after the event), and lingering discomfort (although now very little real pain)? If the rib was broken, will I always feel the slight pain; is there anything that can/should now e done to avoid long term ramifications? Thank you in advance for reading this long question.
Brief Answer:
Contused left upper Axillary Chest with Pain / Under Assessment
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear !! Thanks for your long marathon query to HCM.
Read facts of your query and Feel really Concerned about it.
Based on facts of your query without any medical tests and check up information, in My Opinion -You seem to have chronic Contused Chest.
Q-1-Could that have caused the range of pain, the blood in stools, the temporary shortness of breath (some days after the event), and lingering discomfort (although now very little real pain)?
Ans-The severe pain you in your case seems to be from Fracture with Neuralgic entrapment of rib/Costal nerves. This may be related to the injury. Range of pain over last 2.5 mths time is from rib fractures.
However the blood in stools could be
a-if its black-could be from -Gastritis with Gastric(Tylenol- NSAIDs)Ulcers caused by chronic Tylenol use for 2.5 mths
b-if its fresh-blood-it would be from Constipation with accompanied Fissure in ano/proctitis / or accompanied piles,which may be separate unnoticed entity.
Temporary Shortness of breath after event may be related to Post-traumatic Pleuritis at fractured ribs and from fracture rib pains,which restricts respiratory movements,which leads to Short supply of Oxygen.
Q-2-If the rib was broken, will I always feel the slight pain;
Ans-Seasonal recurring pain-due to Rheumatic / fibromyalgia around the fractured ribs,is a possibility. But you will not get persistent pain with this after few more mths, as the bone and contused tissue around the ribs heals in months to come.
Q-3- is there anything that can/should now e done to avoid long term ramifications?
Ans-To opine on this I suggest as follows-
Stop Tylenol and don't use at your will, else you may land up in to Gastric perforating Ulcer/Duodenal Ulcer/ Weakness from Anaemia from blood leakage in stools.
X-ray Chest and Chest Surgeon's Opinion/assessment by physical check up.
Hot fomentation -for recurring seasonal pain. Don't use painkillers to avoid blood in stools.
Take bland diet Now
Add PPI-like Lansoprazole x 2-6 weeks for healing of gastric ulcers and drug induced gastritis currently.
High Protein diet with Calcium +Vit D3- would recoup by fast bone healing.
In a nutshell, yes few of your symptoms could be due to injury and perhaps due to medications that you had for this ache. I will suggest you consider some of the tests I mentioned earlier. You may also consider visiting a surgeon or chest physician and evaluate it further.
Hope this answers all list of queries.
Hope this would help to plan further treatments from doctors there and would reduce your anxiety.
Welcome for any further query in this regard.
I would love to help you 24X7 .Don't Worry at all.Be free to ask more queries if need be.
Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Chest Surgcial Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Contused left upper Axillary Chest with Pain / Under Assessment
Detailed Answer:
Hi Dear !! Thanks for your long marathon query to HCM.
Read facts of your query and Feel really Concerned about it.
Based on facts of your query without any medical tests and check up information, in My Opinion -You seem to have chronic Contused Chest.
Q-1-Could that have caused the range of pain, the blood in stools, the temporary shortness of breath (some days after the event), and lingering discomfort (although now very little real pain)?
Ans-The severe pain you in your case seems to be from Fracture with Neuralgic entrapment of rib/Costal nerves. This may be related to the injury. Range of pain over last 2.5 mths time is from rib fractures.
However the blood in stools could be
a-if its black-could be from -Gastritis with Gastric(Tylenol- NSAIDs)Ulcers caused by chronic Tylenol use for 2.5 mths
b-if its fresh-blood-it would be from Constipation with accompanied Fissure in ano/proctitis / or accompanied piles,which may be separate unnoticed entity.
Temporary Shortness of breath after event may be related to Post-traumatic Pleuritis at fractured ribs and from fracture rib pains,which restricts respiratory movements,which leads to Short supply of Oxygen.
Q-2-If the rib was broken, will I always feel the slight pain;
Ans-Seasonal recurring pain-due to Rheumatic / fibromyalgia around the fractured ribs,is a possibility. But you will not get persistent pain with this after few more mths, as the bone and contused tissue around the ribs heals in months to come.
Q-3- is there anything that can/should now e done to avoid long term ramifications?
Ans-To opine on this I suggest as follows-
Stop Tylenol and don't use at your will, else you may land up in to Gastric perforating Ulcer/Duodenal Ulcer/ Weakness from Anaemia from blood leakage in stools.
X-ray Chest and Chest Surgeon's Opinion/assessment by physical check up.
Hot fomentation -for recurring seasonal pain. Don't use painkillers to avoid blood in stools.
Take bland diet Now
Add PPI-like Lansoprazole x 2-6 weeks for healing of gastric ulcers and drug induced gastritis currently.
High Protein diet with Calcium +Vit D3- would recoup by fast bone healing.
In a nutshell, yes few of your symptoms could be due to injury and perhaps due to medications that you had for this ache. I will suggest you consider some of the tests I mentioned earlier. You may also consider visiting a surgeon or chest physician and evaluate it further.
Hope this answers all list of queries.
Hope this would help to plan further treatments from doctors there and would reduce your anxiety.
Welcome for any further query in this regard.
I would love to help you 24X7 .Don't Worry at all.Be free to ask more queries if need be.
Dr.Savaskar M.N. XXXXXXX Chest Surgcial Specialist
M.S.Genl-CVTS
Note: Revert back with your health reports to get further guidance on your gastric problems. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Answered by
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