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Can It Be The Ribs Or Muscle Which Is Painful Due To A Fall?
I fell on a tiled floor this morning, sort of skidded on the side of my 'low' heeled boots and went headlong. sort of my right upper body taking the brunt of the fall. I felt quite severe pain sort of behind my right breast. the pain got worse so I went to the hospital where I was told that it is not their policy to xray this type of injury because no treatment would be recommended. Managed to get a few hours sleep with painkillers but the pain is very severe again now they've worn off. The hospital said that it could be ribs or muscle - what do you think please?
Thu, 16 Jan 2014
Hello and welcome to HCM,
Falls can result in bone injury or soft tissue injury or both.
Since you feel on upper part of the body and experiencing the pain in the chest region it is possible to get a rib fracture and/ or soft tissue injury.
In case of only soft tissue injury, pain killers and bed rest are required for atleast 2-4 days.
In case of rib fracture, strapping has to be done to prevent the movement of the chest. Rest will aid in fracture healing.
A X-ray of the chest is required to confirm the rib fracture.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
Falls can result in bone injury or soft tissue injury or both.
Since you feel on upper part of the body and experiencing the pain in the chest region it is possible to get a rib fracture and/ or soft tissue injury.
In case of only soft tissue injury, pain killers and bed rest are required for atleast 2-4 days.
In case of rib fracture, strapping has to be done to prevent the movement of the chest. Rest will aid in fracture healing.
A X-ray of the chest is required to confirm the rib fracture.
Thanks and take care
Dr Shailja P Wahal
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