Rib Pain 101: Is It Broken or Bruised? | Aleks Physio
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- Опубликовано: 10 сен 2024
- Let’s Talk Rib Fracture vs Rib Contusion
1. A rib fracture will show on CT and usually show on x-ray. Medical imaging is the gold standard in detecting a rib fracture.
2. Exquisite Tenderness on Palpation
Rib fractures tend to be extremely tender on the specific point associated with the fracture whereas with contusions the pain tends to be more global.
3. Severity of pain/characteristic of pain
Least significant (in my opinion out of the 3) as pain is a subjective experience. But generally, with rib fractures, it tends to be quite severe and sharp and lasts a longer period of time versus rib bruises.
Other aspects that are crucial:
Subjective history- Knowing the mechanism of injury, force, impact, speed, object (if any) will assist in determining the likelihood of a fracture. For example, falling from standing height onto the grass is different from falling from 10 feet onto cement.
Past medical history will also play a role for both the likelihood of a rib fracture occurring versus it being a rib contusion (history of osteoporosis or osteopenia) as well as medical status can affect recovery (smoking, diabetes, can delay recovery).
Have you injured your ribs recently? Feel free to share your experience below! ⬇️
*Disclaimer*
The content found on this channel and any affiliated websites are not considered medical advice. The information presented is for general education and entertainment purposes only. If you need medical attention, seek care from your physician or physical therapist. You agree to indemnify and hold harmless Aleks Physio, its employees and independent contractors for any and all injuries, losses, or damages resulting from any claims that arise from misuse of the content presented on this channel or associated websites.
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#ribfracture #crackedrib #ribs #fracture #bruise #contusion
Thanks for the video. 5 days ago I broke my ribs in a kite boarding accident. I have been looking for videos with informative explanations. This was excellent.
CT scan and X-ray have confirmed 3 fractures. The pain was initially 10/10.
Hi Jim, oh no unfortunate to hear! Glad you were able to seek the appropriate medical care quickly. Thank you for the kind words. Check out my other videos where I go into some further detail. Hoping for a speedy recovery and take care of yourself! Cheers, Aleks
Thank you so much for this vid! 💫💫💫You've taken away some serious anxiety about my 2nd bout of "rib bruising" from heavy coughing (covid-19 and my horrible smoking habit) it's easier to take mindful care of myself these days with this kind of content. You have a new subscriber! ....(...i know! i know!...I'm quitting! )
Hi Jennifer, thank you so much for your kind words! Remember this isn't medical advice, just education. Coughing does have a tendency to provoke the rib area region due to all of the muscles that are around this area that are working overtime when you go from not coughing to coughing frequently (too much load on the muscles too soon). Some people, especially the elderly, who have more brittle and weaker bones, (eg. individuals with osteoporosis or osteopenia) can actually fracture their bones with seemingly trivial movements such as coughing. So it isn't something that can be reliably ruled out unless there is an x-ray or CT performed. Smoking cessation is so tough! Hang in there and keep me posted on your overall progress! :) Cheers, Aleks
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I think mine is bruise since I didn't fall but was lifting heavy load in the gym scan shows not broken but the pain is with me for over 4 yrs now
Yeah pain is tough. Especially when it becomes more chronic in nature. There are a lot of structures around this area that can become sensitized and irritated after an initial injury. Pain management and coping strategies are key to help not necessarily eliminate pain but find ways to lessen severity so it doesn’t affect quality of life. Hang in there and thanks for sharing! See your GP and Physio to see if there is something they can provide to help. -Aleks
My CT scan showed nothing - and here I lay on the couch on ibuprofen and a heating pad - it’s hard to take a deep breath and hurts like crazy. I’m thinking either bruised ribs or maybe a hairline fracture. Maybe hairline fractures don’t show up on scans. I don’t know- all I do know is it hurts and it’s been 4 days since it first started hurting. I don’t know what I did.
Hello, it would be difficult for me to know without knowing the story. Generally, CT scans can see the smaller fractures as well. However, it can still be quite sore for both bruise and break especially in the earlier days. Still 4 days Post so you’re relatively early in the recovery, understanding that it can last up to 3 months to fully recover. With that being said, it’s pretty unusual to break your rib without a mechanism of injury or trauma, unless you have osteoporosis or a condition that affects your bone quality, in which you can break it from a simple sneeze. Watch for red flags and keep monitoring and see your GP as needed. Hope this helps. Remember, not medical advice. Regards, Aleks
Jumped while playing basketball landed on a players shoulder into my left rib. My symptoms are that of a bruised rib. pain only when I put pressure or crunch. I did hear a sound when I injured my rib tho. Two pops like I was cracking my knuckles. Kinda assumed they were broken because of that. Any idea?
Not necessarily re: the popping. But get it checked out if you’re concerned. Recovery would of course be longer for a broken vs bruised rib. However, generally even with a simple fracture treatment is conservative. No surgery. Regardless, an X-ray or CT can rule a fracture out and give you more reassurance. Should slowly get better as time passes. Keep me posted. -Aleks
I have a lot of pain coming from my ribs and sometimes it hurts to breath could this be a bruised rib?
Did you have an injury or a known mechanism of injury? It’s always hard to know without doing an exam and looking at images. See your GP for more guidance. Wishing a speedy recovery. Keep me posted. -Aleks
I think I popped a rib testing out a yoga pose/freeze. I have no idea what the name of it is but it involves resting on my elbows and lift my legs off the ground. Immediate sharp. I stopped immediately for fear of making it worse. The weird thing is that I was relatively pain free until 2 days after this happened, then like a ticking time bomb, massive pain. I noticed a popping sound/sensation where I poke the area. Also, I get some pain at the back of the rib whenever I do poke the sore spot
Hmmm interesting. It would be difficult to know what exactly is going on without a thorough exam and possible imaging. See a PT or your family physician and keep me posted on your journey! :) Cheers, Aleks
I got the same thing what happened with your diagnosis? How ling did it take to heal
I was trying to move a heavy couch which caught on the carpet edge and it made me twist and I felt a pop and horrible pain. Oddly using a heating pad made it much worse. So I just stuck with the ice packs. I haven’t gotten checked out, it’s been a few days and I’m surprised I went from being in so much pain to feeling better within a few days. Maybe I’m not too old to heal yet 😂
Hi Maryann, unfortunate to hear! But fortunately you’re making gains within a short period of time which is a great sign. Hopefully you can continue to make small improvements as each day goes on. Heat generally isn’t indicated in the early days after an injury as it can exaggerate the inflammatory process! Heat generally is better tolerated in the later stages if there is more stiffness or soreness fyi. -Aleks
I guess I need to call the doc. I had to take someone down who was melting down in a busy public park. I’m 61 yrs old. It’s been a week and my right side rib area feels a lot of pressure when laying on back, sides or stomach. Usually the pain will last for a minute or less when I switch how I’m laying. Can’t tell if it’s swelling or pressure from something else. Hurts to cough,sneeze,laugh etc. I’m able to take in a pretty decent breath of air before the pain comes. No bruising on skin. I’m not sure if it’s worth going to doc and the X-rays. What would the pressure I feel be from?
Hi, it depends on how you landed when you took the individual down. Amount of force? Any pre-existing bony or health conditions? If it’s getting better within a relatively short time then this is generally good news. The feeling of pressure can be from swelling or irritation in the area. It’s best to see someone who can do a proper evaluation and determine if any further medical interventions may be warranted. As of course, I cannot do an exam over RUclips and I’m not your provider. Keep me posted. Cheers, Aleks
Of bruised what to do?
Hi Ev, speak to your family physician or PT. Bruised ribs are less severe than fractured ribs and as a result, you can be comfortable with pushing to what you can tolerate and allow pain to be your guide with various activities. The premise is that rib bruises should heal quicker, generally, compared to a rib fractures. Check out my videos on rib fractures where I go over some exercises that can be performed to help with healing. Our body does have a tremendous ability to heal as well. Remember, this is not medical advice, education only. Hope this helps! :) Cheers, Aleks
I played basketball and i collided with my opponent and i felt pain on my rib area near my right armpit where the impact was. I continued and finished the game. After few days that is when the annoying pain started, no bruises or redness on the area and It doesnt hurt on deep breathe and coughs but it hurts on streches specially when i try to rotate and extend my head to the right and also when i sneeze so hard. I tried to look for tenderness but the pain seems to be general not on a particular site. I will do some x ray tomorrow and comment here what could have happen. I just hope ita just a bruise or anything lesser than a crack or fracture. I've got big games coming and i dont want to miss a game.😔
Keep me posted. Movement that hurts particularly when you move your head to the right may not be a rib injury. Any other symptoms? Numbness or tingling in your hands? Weakness in that arm or pain shooting down? Keep me posted. See your GP and hopefully it helps quick! I understand the difficulty with not knowing and having important games coming up. But it’s better to play close to 100% then prolonging recovery and playing at 60-80% capacity. Hang in there. -Aleks
K so I wrecked my bike going about 10 to 15 mph and I landed on a curb on my arm /side and I have legal problems and don't want to go to the hospital how can I tell if it is life-threatening
Hi spencer, it would be hard for me to know without knowing the full story and performing a full exam with imaging as well. Best thing would be to go see your GP. Be mindful of coughing up blood, extreme unrelenting pain that is worse at night, fever, chills, nausea, night sweats, changes in stool/urine colour, nausea/vomiting, pale/clammy skin, shortness of breath, chest pain, etc. Hope this helps. Regards, Aleks
Someone kicked me in the ribs and for two weeks now my rib, where the blow was, hurts in whatever i do. I do feel an huge hqrd bulge in my rib where it hurts. Havent seen a doctor yet but i assume that is also an indication of an broken rib?
I wouldn’t be able to know for sure. It would be reasonable to look into medical imaging to rule in or rule out. Most rib fractures heal conservative but depending on the force of the kick(s), you would also make sure that nothing else was injured in the process. Hoping for a speedy recovery. Sounds like quite the ordeal. -Aleks
So i fell from a ladder at home right on the edge of a granite top, piercing inside my left back rib...
Dunno why doc has taken a chest x-ray instead of back?
Secondly chest xray has no fractures shown,but the pain while i turn n try to get up is tremendous...
If you could answer my queries and suggest some good excercises to heal faster,it would be really kind of you..😊
And im aching to start my gym n workout,when should i ?
Hello, thanks for your message and questions. They may have done chest X-rays in order to see if there were any rib fractures on the front but chest X-rays can also show some back pathology as well. There is significantly more radiation exposure with a spine X-ray versus a chest X-ray as well, and if you are of child bearing age it could expose your ovaries to more radiation than a chest X-ray (these are just assumptions, I am not sure and you would have to talk to your doctor for the reasoning). Remember, just because there isn’t a fracture, doesn’t mean that the pain experienced won’t be severe. Lots of structures are around that region (muscles, joints, ligaments, etc),l. As a result, there is likely some inflammation and bruising in the region. Best thing to do is to monitor for any red flag symptoms (fever, chills, nausea, night sweats, extreme unrelenting pain with no intervention that makes better). Regarding exercise, I do have a video on rib fractures and what to do for exercises on my page that you can check out. See a physiotherapist or your GP for more specific recommendations as remember, this is not medical advice, just education. Hope this helps! Thanks for watching 🙂
@@aleks_physio i so so appreciate your kind detailed explanation about my problem...that's so helpful...I'll be checking your excercises of rib fracture..thnk you so much...love your channel and wish you get million followers soon..😊
@@Fitlover24 Wow. Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m glad that you are finding value in the content! Have a great day and all the best in your recovery 🙂
@@aleks_physioWow. So you absorb more radiation from back x-rays than front x-rays? I'm curious now why that is. Nerves and arteries in the spine? Lungs and other organs being closer to the skin surface? Exposure to the neck region? 🤔
Hi Alec , it’s me again & I wud like to thank you for your response . The result of my Xray about bula that the walk in doc was concerned last time nd sent me to d ER . Cuz she said , it’s big in size of 5 cm that Cus compress my lungs . Bit till now , I’m ok in my breathing nd it’s only the pain of my broken ribs that’s all . Right now , no choice of me but to sleep by sitting nd put up my feet on d stool . Or yet if I lie down , then to get up ? I use to roll on my side first where there’s no broken ribs nd slowly getting up by really leaning my elbow . Everyone have a difff tech how we hear our body . I follow your technique as well just to help me for the pains . Hopefully the pains will last nd heal my broken ribs at least 2 wks or so . I have a question ? Do you think CT Scan is more appropriate than X ray ? I’m only concern of my head too . I know ribs is kind of hard to read fr Xray .
Hi Lydia, what’s big that it can compress the lungs? Bula? Rib fracture? Did they recommend any further treatment? X-rays can see rib fractures but more challenging to see smaller fractures. CT is better but can take longer and costs more. But if you have the option, CT would be more preferable. Continue to follow up with medical provider and keep me posted! -Aleks
Hmm. What is the best way (position, rather) to sneeze for a person of advanced age? Or in general?
Makes me sad to think I can't have myseld a hardy sneeze when/if I get old.
Hello, that’s not what this video is about and the premise is not to instill fear or worry when sneezing. There’s not really a specific technique. However, if you have some sort of abdominal procedure or injury (like a rib fracture or bruise) or nasal procedure (sinus precautions), they may say to sneeze with your mouth open to reduce sinus pressure or intraabdominal pressure. With a rib injury, hugging a pillow and bracing your abdominal muscles may help with symptom control. It’s also difficult to know the magnitude of the sneeze as well. If you do get immediate pain after a sneeze and you are elderly and have a history of bone disease such as osteoporosis, that force can be enough to cause a fracture. But this of course, would be dependent on the individual. Please see a healthcare provider if you are having pain after a sneeze. Not medical advice. Hope this helps. -Aleks
Got punched in the chest closer to my shoulder (dont ask it was a stupid dare and idk why i went through with it) i thought it was just a bruise but am now thinking otherwise, the pain is localized but started spreading after 24 hours but if i thouch it only 2 smaller points in my ribs hurt like a bitch. It feels like getting stabbed when i breath a little. It hurts to move my upper body and its hard to oven extend that arm more than halfway. Its more tword where they should connect around my collarbone area and one pint in my back i cant pinpoint due to pain restricting movement. I can feel it in my armpit and bicep also which i think that itself is bruising besides the sharp pain behind my arm goi g into my armpit. Kinda fucked i just got over breaking my toe and dislocating a few things just from existing (it happens so much i have to ask a friend to help me, it doesn't hurt so much anymore definitely still a 5 on the painscale up to an 8 -9 for new joints ive never dislocated dislocating.
Hard to say if it is broken without more information. See your GP to order X-rays and monitor for any other symptoms. Most rib fractures in isolation in the absence of any other injury generally tend to heal well without any intervention although can be up and down in the early stages, trend should be towards overall improvement. Keep me posted. -Aleks
Sound is very very less. Can't be heard.
My apologies. You do have to turn it up more than normal. I can’t edit it back now unfortunately. -Aleks
Can't not hear
Thanks for the feedback. -Aleks
I walked into the side of a metal cart and hit my right side ribs , hurts bad
Oh no! Hang in there. Based on what you described, it would generally appear more commonly associated with a bruise. But of course I wouldn’t know definitively without the appropriate imaging so take that general advice with a grain of salt. Rib fractures require quite a bit of force, unless you are more predisposed to fractures due to an underlying medical condition such as osteoporosis. Regardless, if you’re concerned you should see you GP to rule out anything. If it is indeed a bruise, it will start to feel better after a few days. Hang in there! Cheers, Aleks
I went down a water slide the other day and got thrown into the corner of it and yeah thank you for this video. Pretty sure it's broke. I'll be going to the hospital now
Hi Steven, oh wow, must have been quite the impact. Hang in there and hoping for a speedy recovery! Cheers, Aleks
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