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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Could Ribcage Pain On Breathing With Skin Indentation Be A Broken Rib?

Hello I m a 32 yr old male I was at work pulling a packer out of the truck my ribs were touching the tailgate and I pulled as hard as I could My rib between my side and sternum made a click there was little to no pain after work I felt very light pain when breathing deep and rolling my back with a yoga roller I have a very slight indent on my skin and there s light pain when I push on my sternum and a little when doing sit ups could this be a broken rib or something else Thanks so much
Tue, 30 Dec 2014
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Internal Medicine Specialist,  's  Response
hello
welcome to hcm
well yes the clinical history you have mentioned suggests that you have a rib fracture...if i were your treating doctor i would have advised you to get a xray of chest for the confirmation of a fractured rib...as far as the treatment is concerned,patients with rib fractures are usually advised only simple analgesics on AS AND WHEN REQUIRED basis because rib fractures usually heals spontaneously with time,as you dont have much pain at present you just need to wear a RIB CAGE BELT while doing any physical work and if possible for you than during sleep too,what a rib belt does is that it holds the fractured rib in its place to prevent any possible injury to lungs and pleura by the broken sharp ends of fractured rib...apart from rib cage belt and analgesics you dont need any other specific intervention,just take care not to do heavy physical work and avoid lifting heavy objects....
take care
hcm
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Could Ribcage Pain On Breathing With Skin Indentation Be A Broken Rib?

hello welcome to hcm well yes the clinical history you have mentioned suggests that you have a rib fracture...if i were your treating doctor i would have advised you to get a xray of chest for the confirmation of a fractured rib...as far as the treatment is concerned,patients with rib fractures are usually advised only simple analgesics on AS AND WHEN REQUIRED basis because rib fractures usually heals spontaneously with time,as you dont have much pain at present you just need to wear a RIB CAGE BELT while doing any physical work and if possible for you than during sleep too,what a rib belt does is that it holds the fractured rib in its place to prevent any possible injury to lungs and pleura by the broken sharp ends of fractured rib...apart from rib cage belt and analgesics you dont need any other specific intervention,just take care not to do heavy physical work and avoid lifting heavy objects.... take care hcm