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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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Slight Swelling And Tenderness Below The Rib Cage. Am I Having Cracked Rib?

I'm having pain in my left side under my rib cage. I thought perhaps i had cracked a rib but now I'm not sure. I had a bronchial type virus about a week ago and had a lot of coughing. That has all stopped. It's tender to touch and if I raise my arms over my head it feels like the skin is pulled tight on the left side and looks like there may be some swelling.
Mon, 16 Dec 2013
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Pathologist and Microbiologist,  's  Response
Hi!
Welcome to HCM!
It's muscle soreness since you had a lot of coughing and it is very commonly seen .There are muscles between your ribs. They're called the intercostal muscles, though "soreness in ribs" might also be caused by soreness in your pectoralis minor (which connects to the front of the rib cage) or your serratus anterior (which connect your back to the side of your rib cage). You can take ibuprofen if pain is too much but since your cough has stopped this will also disappear.Take rest!
Take care!
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Slight Swelling And Tenderness Below The Rib Cage. Am I Having Cracked Rib?

Hi! Welcome to HCM! It s muscle soreness since you had a lot of coughing and it is very commonly seen .There are muscles between your ribs. They re called the intercostal muscles, though soreness in ribs might also be caused by soreness in your pectoralis minor (which connects to the front of the rib cage) or your serratus anterior (which connect your back to the side of your rib cage). You can take ibuprofen if pain is too much but since your cough has stopped this will also disappear.Take rest! Take care!