Did I break a rib?
January 8, 2016 6:50 PM Subscribe
As I was recently reminded, a few years ago I thought I broke a rib, went to the Dr. , was prescribed medicine, and got an X-Ray, in that order. I never heard the results of the X-ray, so never officially confirmed that the rib was actually broken. Do you think it was?
Like I mentioned, this situation was about five years ago now, so I am not asking for medical advice, it is long resolved. I was just reminded of it recently, and realized I never got a definitive answer, so I'd like your best guesses of what happened based on my description (whether you have medical expertise or just anecdotal "my friend had the exact same thing" evidence) I'd like to hear what you think.
Also, I know I could ask my doctor, but my insurance no longer covers that doctor, and I have no real need to know other than curiosity.
The Situation:
I am prone to pneumonia, and have had it about four times now. I've known someone else who broke a rib from coughing, (so that does happen.)
Anyway, this particular time I got pneumonia once again, and it was particularly bad. I eventually went to the Dr. and got medication for it after it became obvious that it wasn't just a cold or bronchitis. I had a wracking cough. The kind where you are doubled over and need to leave the room. After some days of this, I developed a sharp pain in my side. I couldn't sleep, couldn't move certain ways, it was very painful. I thought at first I must have pulled a muscle from coughing, but as it went on, I remembered my friend and thought I might have fractured a rib.
As my pneumonia got better my side still hurt just as much. Then one day I had a bad coughing spasm and my rib POPPED. It hurt, but wasn't terribly painful - but, I already have a high pain tolerance, and I had been in a significant amount of pain for a couple weeks already, so at that point I was used to it.
After it popped, something was sticking out along my rib cage, and I could push it in, and it would pop in and out, somewhat painfully. I could move it in and out about a centimeter or half an in h. From all this my thought was that I must have fractured my rib, and then when I coughed again, it broke all the way through.
I went to the Dr., and like I said, told him the story and was given pain meds and told that nowadays, they don't really do anything else for broken ribs, just let them heal.
After the X-Ray, I never got back confirmation of what was actually going on, I was just left to take my meds and wait for it to heal, which it eventually did. It certainly felt broken, but broken ribs are associated with excruciating pain. My pain was bad, and kept me from sleeping and moving certain ways, but lasted so long I got used to it, and by the time it popped thru, I didn't find it that much more painful.
Since I never got the results or the X-ray, I started to wonder if it was really broken. An alternative explanation I considered was that maybe I somehow tore loose the cartilage between my ribs, and that is what was popping in and out.
I do want to emphasize the most dramatic part of all this was I could literally press on a section of my ribcage and independently move it in and out. I had other people feel this and confirm it, it wasn't just in my head.
Finally, I can no longer see this doctor, and he was always extremely rushed and uncommunicative. I've always liked him, but he is the type to come in and hand you a script after a two minute exam, and that's it. Never seemed to have time for questions or discussion.
So, what do you think it was? Broken, fractured, cartilage, pulled muscle? Let me know if you've experienced something similar, or are a medical professional. This was pretty had to describe, so I hope it's clear, and I'm a little fuzzy on the timeframe of how long things took, but it was weeks between being sick, the popping, and being finally healed.
One final thing, I think a lot of people will say "If your rib was broken you would have Known, and gone to the Dr. immediately." This is part of why I've questioned what it really was, but pain is so subjective. So I do just want to reiterate that this kind of happened in stages, so I had time to acclimate, and I do have a very high pain tolerance anyway.
Like I mentioned, this situation was about five years ago now, so I am not asking for medical advice, it is long resolved. I was just reminded of it recently, and realized I never got a definitive answer, so I'd like your best guesses of what happened based on my description (whether you have medical expertise or just anecdotal "my friend had the exact same thing" evidence) I'd like to hear what you think.
Also, I know I could ask my doctor, but my insurance no longer covers that doctor, and I have no real need to know other than curiosity.
The Situation:
I am prone to pneumonia, and have had it about four times now. I've known someone else who broke a rib from coughing, (so that does happen.)
Anyway, this particular time I got pneumonia once again, and it was particularly bad. I eventually went to the Dr. and got medication for it after it became obvious that it wasn't just a cold or bronchitis. I had a wracking cough. The kind where you are doubled over and need to leave the room. After some days of this, I developed a sharp pain in my side. I couldn't sleep, couldn't move certain ways, it was very painful. I thought at first I must have pulled a muscle from coughing, but as it went on, I remembered my friend and thought I might have fractured a rib.
As my pneumonia got better my side still hurt just as much. Then one day I had a bad coughing spasm and my rib POPPED. It hurt, but wasn't terribly painful - but, I already have a high pain tolerance, and I had been in a significant amount of pain for a couple weeks already, so at that point I was used to it.
After it popped, something was sticking out along my rib cage, and I could push it in, and it would pop in and out, somewhat painfully. I could move it in and out about a centimeter or half an in h. From all this my thought was that I must have fractured my rib, and then when I coughed again, it broke all the way through.
I went to the Dr., and like I said, told him the story and was given pain meds and told that nowadays, they don't really do anything else for broken ribs, just let them heal.
After the X-Ray, I never got back confirmation of what was actually going on, I was just left to take my meds and wait for it to heal, which it eventually did. It certainly felt broken, but broken ribs are associated with excruciating pain. My pain was bad, and kept me from sleeping and moving certain ways, but lasted so long I got used to it, and by the time it popped thru, I didn't find it that much more painful.
Since I never got the results or the X-ray, I started to wonder if it was really broken. An alternative explanation I considered was that maybe I somehow tore loose the cartilage between my ribs, and that is what was popping in and out.
I do want to emphasize the most dramatic part of all this was I could literally press on a section of my ribcage and independently move it in and out. I had other people feel this and confirm it, it wasn't just in my head.
Finally, I can no longer see this doctor, and he was always extremely rushed and uncommunicative. I've always liked him, but he is the type to come in and hand you a script after a two minute exam, and that's it. Never seemed to have time for questions or discussion.
So, what do you think it was? Broken, fractured, cartilage, pulled muscle? Let me know if you've experienced something similar, or are a medical professional. This was pretty had to describe, so I hope it's clear, and I'm a little fuzzy on the timeframe of how long things took, but it was weeks between being sick, the popping, and being finally healed.
One final thing, I think a lot of people will say "If your rib was broken you would have Known, and gone to the Dr. immediately." This is part of why I've questioned what it really was, but pain is so subjective. So I do just want to reiterate that this kind of happened in stages, so I had time to acclimate, and I do have a very high pain tolerance anyway.
I don't understand, you said "and then when I coughed again, it broke all the way through."
What does that mean? Like through the skin? Obviously not. And if you coughed at all and didn't die of pain, I think you didn't have a broken rib. Fracture, possible, but what do I know, I wasn't there.
A broken rib is painful as hell everytime you breathe. Or move. Every movement is a core movement. Breathing deep is hell. Kill me if I sneeze.
I'll be that guy to say that if you broke a rib, you WILL know it.
(Source: have had a broken rib)
posted by sanka at 7:23 PM on January 8, 2016
What does that mean? Like through the skin? Obviously not. And if you coughed at all and didn't die of pain, I think you didn't have a broken rib. Fracture, possible, but what do I know, I wasn't there.
A broken rib is painful as hell everytime you breathe. Or move. Every movement is a core movement. Breathing deep is hell. Kill me if I sneeze.
I'll be that guy to say that if you broke a rib, you WILL know it.
(Source: have had a broken rib)
posted by sanka at 7:23 PM on January 8, 2016
I do want to emphasize the most dramatic part of all this was I could literally press on a section of my ribcage and independently move it in and out.
This is possible to do on unbroken ribs. I'm doing it right now. Ribs aren't solid bone, they're independent spindly bits attached to each other with cartilage. Some people have wobblier cartilage than others. I have wobbly cartilage and moveable ribs and with some effort (it's not comfortable, but this is for science) I can basically play piano on these little dudes. This doesn't necessarily mean anything.
What you should do is call your doctor's office on Monday and ask to speak with an admin/office manager so they can send you your medical records. You don't have to interact with the doctor you don't like at all. You don't even have to go into specifics, just that you would like copies of all of your records from this office and that you were a patient between 20XX and 20XX and saw Dr. Soandso. Some day you might have troubles with this rib again and it'll be really helpful to let your new doctor know what actually happened the last time, and not just what some schmos on the internet thought it might have been.
posted by phunniemee at 7:49 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
This is possible to do on unbroken ribs. I'm doing it right now. Ribs aren't solid bone, they're independent spindly bits attached to each other with cartilage. Some people have wobblier cartilage than others. I have wobbly cartilage and moveable ribs and with some effort (it's not comfortable, but this is for science) I can basically play piano on these little dudes. This doesn't necessarily mean anything.
What you should do is call your doctor's office on Monday and ask to speak with an admin/office manager so they can send you your medical records. You don't have to interact with the doctor you don't like at all. You don't even have to go into specifics, just that you would like copies of all of your records from this office and that you were a patient between 20XX and 20XX and saw Dr. Soandso. Some day you might have troubles with this rib again and it'll be really helpful to let your new doctor know what actually happened the last time, and not just what some schmos on the internet thought it might have been.
posted by phunniemee at 7:49 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
You don't need an appointment to get copies of your records.
If you wanted a copy of the X-ray, they might ask for a reproduction charge.
posted by amtho at 7:57 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
If you wanted a copy of the X-ray, they might ask for a reproduction charge.
posted by amtho at 7:57 PM on January 8, 2016 [2 favorites]
Also: I'm a fan of knowing your own medical history; it might be worth knowing if it comes up again. Not only knowing, but being able to give solid information to a future doctor.
posted by amtho at 7:59 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by amtho at 7:59 PM on January 8, 2016
Another data point. I broke a rib a couple of years ago. Confirmed by docs and x-rays. It wasn't excruciating at all. It was what I'd call a serious ache. Annoying as hell but not debilitating. You might not know for sure if your rib was broken. Anyway, phunniemee and amtho have given you sensible advice.
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:32 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by JimN2TAW at 8:32 PM on January 8, 2016
You might have sprained your rib. That was my diagnosis from 2 MDs (urgent care plus my general practitioner) a few years ago after I got special one-on-one instruction from my Muay Thai instructor. Sore as hell, hurt to move, may even have been bruised. I went in assuming it was a broken rib and was surprised at the diagnosis given how much pain I was in.
posted by univac at 8:36 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by univac at 8:36 PM on January 8, 2016
I've broken multiple ribs from severe coughing with undiagnosed asthma, whilst heavily pregnant. I broke two ribs at least on one side, according to my physio who checked me out. I then had to lie on my broken ribs on my side (you can't lie on your back or tummy while pregnant.) It was agony, I couldn't take painkillers and I basically sobbed and coughed and got no sleep for three solid months. To date, it's been the worst, most miserable experience of my life. You have all my sympathies, and yes, it does sound like a broken rib. There's nothing a doctor could do for it, if it makes you feel better.
posted by Jubey at 8:47 PM on January 8, 2016
posted by Jubey at 8:47 PM on January 8, 2016
Best answer: They may not know from the xray. I've cracked ribs twice in hiking accidents-- once it was visible on the xray, and once it was not. Both times were hella painful, tho. The doctor the second time told me they only bother to xray to rule out flail chest-- they manage the treatment the same no matter what they do or don't see on the xray.
posted by frumiousb at 12:53 AM on January 9, 2016
posted by frumiousb at 12:53 AM on January 9, 2016
Best answer: I have an old torn cartilage injury in my ribs that behaves much like the phenomenon you described.
My mother broke ribs twice in her life, and did not know she'd done anything that bad to them. Both breaks were later confirmed by doctors, but she didn't go to the doctor at first because she had no clue she'd actually broken something. So, another data point for "you can break a rib and not know it".
posted by Coatlicue at 7:23 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
My mother broke ribs twice in her life, and did not know she'd done anything that bad to them. Both breaks were later confirmed by doctors, but she didn't go to the doctor at first because she had no clue she'd actually broken something. So, another data point for "you can break a rib and not know it".
posted by Coatlicue at 7:23 AM on January 9, 2016 [1 favorite]
I don't understand what the problem is here. Just go get your records. If you're in the US you have a legal right to them. If it's a large system you may be able to access them online even if your insurance has changed. You probably won't see the actual X-ray online, but there should be a written diagnosis.
posted by desjardins at 10:21 AM on January 9, 2016
posted by desjardins at 10:21 AM on January 9, 2016
Response by poster: Thanks for your responses. Like I said, this is just curiosity. Also, I just remembered now (like I said, it was a long time ago), the X-Ray was done for the initial pneumonia diagnosis, and when I returned later for the rib pain, I declined an X-Ray since the doctor said it wouldn't impact his treatment either way. So that's actually why I never knew for sure.
When I said it "broke all the way through" I mean I think my rib was already fractured, had been hurting for a while already, and then I injured it a second time, and that's when it started popping in and out. And Phunnieme, I know ribs do/can move a bit, this was distinct. I know the exact moment when I began to be able to move it (after I had a coughing spasm and felt it pop), and it stopped being able to move after it healed, so something definitely wasn't where it was supposed to be.
Sorry I wasn't here to clarify sooner, but thanks for all your answers. I'm guessing it was at least fractured, based on your responses, and still unclear on whether the popping was the bone, or cartilage. And now I remember that it was my own fault that I'll never know for sure, because I didn't want the second X-Ray.
posted by catatethebird at 3:29 PM on January 9, 2016
When I said it "broke all the way through" I mean I think my rib was already fractured, had been hurting for a while already, and then I injured it a second time, and that's when it started popping in and out. And Phunnieme, I know ribs do/can move a bit, this was distinct. I know the exact moment when I began to be able to move it (after I had a coughing spasm and felt it pop), and it stopped being able to move after it healed, so something definitely wasn't where it was supposed to be.
Sorry I wasn't here to clarify sooner, but thanks for all your answers. I'm guessing it was at least fractured, based on your responses, and still unclear on whether the popping was the bone, or cartilage. And now I remember that it was my own fault that I'll never know for sure, because I didn't want the second X-Ray.
posted by catatethebird at 3:29 PM on January 9, 2016
Contact the doctor and ask for a copy of the x-ray and the report. If the x-ray was taken at a facility other than the doctor's office, you can probably just contact them directly. They might charge you a nominal fee. You'll get a CD-ROM that comes with software to read the films. The report will tell you what the radiologist saw on the films.
It's probably a good idea in general to have the films and report. If something happens in the future and you need another x-ray, the doctors can compare before and after.
posted by radioamy at 7:34 PM on January 9, 2016
It's probably a good idea in general to have the films and report. If something happens in the future and you need another x-ray, the doctors can compare before and after.
posted by radioamy at 7:34 PM on January 9, 2016
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