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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Got Hit On Upper Arm, Had Bruising On Elbow. Now Very Dark In Color. Now Has A Lump. Have Pain In Rib Cage. What Does The Finding Mean?

My female friend got assulted by a male and got throw across the kitchen and hit her upper under arm on the bench and she had bruising from the armpit to her elbow and on the back rib and about 9cm at its widest and it is 45cm long very dark in colour, and now she has a lump in her armpit that is very tender? What could that be? she is complain of pain in the rib cage that now has move to the front under her breast and pain when she coughs and sometime trouble breathing.. we do not know what to do??
Tue, 12 Nov 2013
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Pain Medicine & Palliative Care Specialist,  's  Response
Hi,
Your friend has suffered extensive bruising from the assault. The lump in her armpit is most likely to be a collection of blood or hematoma related to the bruising. This may feel tender for another few days but is not serious in the long-term. She has also suffered significant bruising of her ribs. This will be the cause of her trouble breathing. She may have suffered fractured ribs. An x-ray would make this diagnosis.
I suggest for pain she could take paracetamol and ibuprofen. Try to rest as much as possible. The trauma to her ribs may take up to a week to settle down. An x-ray at this stage is probably would not needed as even if fractured ribs were found, the treatment would be the same which is pain relief.
I hope she feels better soon.
Regards,
Dr K A Pottinger,
MBChB FRCA
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Got Hit On Upper Arm, Had Bruising On Elbow. Now Very Dark In Color. Now Has A Lump. Have Pain In Rib Cage. What Does The Finding Mean?

Hi, Your friend has suffered extensive bruising from the assault. The lump in her armpit is most likely to be a collection of blood or hematoma related to the bruising. This may feel tender for another few days but is not serious in the long-term. She has also suffered significant bruising of her ribs. This will be the cause of her trouble breathing. She may have suffered fractured ribs. An x-ray would make this diagnosis. I suggest for pain she could take paracetamol and ibuprofen. Try to rest as much as possible. The trauma to her ribs may take up to a week to settle down. An x-ray at this stage is probably would not needed as even if fractured ribs were found, the treatment would be the same which is pain relief. I hope she feels better soon. Regards, Dr K A Pottinger, MBChB FRCA