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Dr. Andrew Rynne
MD
Dr. Andrew Rynne

Family Physician

Exp 50 years

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What Causes Sharp Pain In The Upper Right Rib Cage And Pain While Walking?

Hi. How can I tell whether I have a fractured, multiple-fracture or bruised ribs? I have been suffering going on week four with a terrible sometimes extremely sharp pain in my upper right rib cage accompanied with heavy deep breaths, painful to do any walking, movement or activity. This might be completely unrelated but I feel most comfortable trying to sleep away my pain curled up on the injured side after a huge meal as in I ve been way over eating. I have been avoiding an appointment with my PCP fore two reasons; an explanation of cause and after some research I discovered all that can be done is x-rays, gauge wrap & pain medicine. I have been taking Advil and prescription Soma350 but I feel is doing absolutely nothing. Could this be life threatening? How and with what(as in names of medications) is this usually treated worse case senario here in Naples, FL say if I went to NCH? What do you recommend? Thank you, Brittany
Thu, 28 Nov 2019
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General Surgeon,  's  Response
Hi.

Noted your history of severe pain in upper rib cage for 4 weeks, taking Advil but not helping and so on.
Since the pain is pointed and severe unable to walk without pain it is best to do the following:
Consult your Doctor as an actual palpation of the area and auscultation can give clinical diagnosis to be confirmed by X-ray of chest in two views for the ribs and lungs too as the cause may be fractured ribs, pleurisy and so on.
If required a confirmatory CT scan of the affected area may be needed to confirm or rule out a certain possibility and get treated as per the cause found.

Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further.

Regards,
Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon
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What Causes Sharp Pain In The Upper Right Rib Cage And Pain While Walking?

Hi. Noted your history of severe pain in upper rib cage for 4 weeks, taking Advil but not helping and so on. Since the pain is pointed and severe unable to walk without pain it is best to do the following: Consult your Doctor as an actual palpation of the area and auscultation can give clinical diagnosis to be confirmed by X-ray of chest in two views for the ribs and lungs too as the cause may be fractured ribs, pleurisy and so on. If required a confirmatory CT scan of the affected area may be needed to confirm or rule out a certain possibility and get treated as per the cause found. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Regards, Dr. T. Chandrakant, General Surgeon