So I believe I have some broken ribs. I had some x-rays taken, and I won’t hear back from the radiologist until Monday.
I am hoping someone here is able to really read an x-ray, and might be able to tell me what they see.
I have the images and can share the link.

Can anyone here help?

My professional opinion:

Two doctors told me I had two broken ribs,
( Gravity and ice was my down fall)

Neither bothered with ex rays and both told me that they would heal if I was very careful.

No wrapping, taping, no braces, no splints no nothing and they were correct.

Unless you’ve broken three consecutive ribs in two places each, or you’re coughing up blood from a pierced lung, or have a pneumothorax from a rib jutting from your torso, there’s not much done for busted ribs these days.

If it hurts when you move, breath, or just think about moving, you probably have broken ribs!

There's another thing called costochondritis which is the cartilage between the ribs, and while it hurts at times it is nothing like a cracked or broken rib.

So there's a quick internet diagnosis, and I'm not a doctor.

Email me the images.

If you don’t mind me asking, what happened/what symptoms are there that makes you think you broke your ribs?

quote:

… and I won't hear back from the radiologist until Monday.

I have never had an X-ray taken where the results weren't known in a few minutes. (The last time was in 2012.) Broken bones would be obvious, I would think. A hairline fracture might not be, however. Pleurisy is a possibility. That can cause a sharp pain when you breathe or exert yourself.

Sure

I tell my patients broken ribs hurt for a month and half, bruised ribs hurt for 6 weeks.
Nothing to do but wait it out

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Email me the images.

Email sent.

As to how I broke them, coughing.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:

quote:

Originally posted by 12131:
Email me the images.

Email sent.

Nothing on my end.

Q,
Replied to your email and sent.

quote:

Originally posted by Fly-Sig:
If it hurts when you move, breath, or just think about moving, you probably have broken ribs!

There's another thing called costochondritis which is the cartilage between the ribs, and while it hurts at times it is nothing like a cracked or broken rib.

So there's a quick internet diagnosis, and I'm not a doctor.

I've had both and can confirm your diagnosis.

quote:

Originally posted by Beancooker:
Q,
Replied to your email and sent.

Replied.

I'm not a doctor, but I've broken way too many, many ribs motorcycle racing and have some practical experience. And I can say that xrays are not a reliable indicator unless the situation is pretty severe. And a CTscan or MRI might also provide some more definitive info, but for what? Unless you have an emergency situation with your lungs the prognosis is exactly the same...mostly they heal on their own in 6-8weeks. Your goal is to work really hard to make sure you don't have a pattern of shallow breathing.

Non displaced rib fractures often do not show up unless the angle is ideal. They might have to take several images before they can see a fracture. Generally, wait a few weeks and they will heal sufficiently that the pain is minimal.

quote:

Originally posted by Sig2340:
Unless you’ve broken three consecutive ribs in two places each, or you’re coughing up blood from a pierced lung, or have a pneumothorax from a rib jutting from your torso, there’s not much done for busted ribs these days.

I haven't broken any ribs, but I've bruised some, and that tracks with what I was told.

Basically, unless they're severely broken (which is potentially life-threatening), there's nothing to be done for basic broken ribs or bruised ribs, other than wait them out, take it easy, and try not to cough or laugh.

Similar to broken toes, of which I've broken two. Unless they're severely broken or displaced, there's nothing to do but take it easy and wait.


My first broken toe was from a soccer game while working at a summer camp, and I went to see the on-site doctor. (Yes, it was big and fancy enough to have a doctor on staff.) He said, "Yep, it looks broken, but not badly. Take it easy, and I can give you 1000mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours for it. Or if you want, we can send you to the hospital for xrays, but all they're going to do it tell you 'Yep, it's broken, take it easy' and give you something a little stronger, then charge you and your insurance out the wazoo, all for the same result. Here's some ibuprofen."

So the next time I broke a different toe ~10 years later, I quaffed 1000mg of ibuprofen every 4 hours, took it easy, and didn't even bother to go to the hospital/doctor.