My right side is killing me

James Bond

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2005
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So, nearly a week ago a few of us got really shitfaced at my house, which somehow turned into wrestling.

I don't weigh very much compared to a couple of my friends and I got my ass tossed a couple times -- One of these times, I met the corner of the couch pretty good with my right side. I had a pretty large bruise the next morning (6" around), but didn't think much of it.

Since then, I have had a dull pain on my side... it actually didn't feel like my ribs, more like the area directly below it (or possibly the underside of my bottom rib?). It has gotten a little worse the past few days, and last night I couldn't sleep on it.

Today I'm at work (on a job site, post-support after re-designing their network), and I coughed. Something wasn't right, and I all of a sudden had this extreme shooting pain, mid-cough. Since that fateful cough, I am in some pretty constant pain: bending over is near-impossible, walking is painful and awkward, applying *any* pressure with my right side hurts like hell (just plugging in a cat5 cable into the patch panel hurts like a bitch).

Hopefully they decide that they don't need my services for too long, because I really want to get this checked out...

Just thought I would share.

Edit: Here is an excersize: Cough, once. Now, prepare to cough. The instant before a cough, you should feel your chest and abs tighten up to brace for the cough. This feeling is what messed my side up. Strange?
 

Wheezer

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
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you either broke cracked or bruised a rib....not much you can do except not sleep on that side...use a pillow to keep you from rolling around at night...it's gonna take a few weeks, but you'll be ok....
 

James Bond

Diamond Member
Jan 21, 2005
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Originally posted by: Wheezer
you either broke cracked or bruised a rib....not much you can do except not sleep on that side...use a pillow to keep you from rolling around at night...it's gonna take a few weeks, but you'll be ok....

Am I at any risk for damaging something else inside?

I just switched jobs a couple weeks ago, so I don't think my insurance has kicked in yet.. I would like to avoid the doctor if possible.
 

Goosemaster

Lifer
Apr 10, 2001
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Originally posted by: Tizyler
Originally posted by: Wheezer
you either broke cracked or bruised a rib....not much you can do except not sleep on that side...use a pillow to keep you from rolling around at night...it's gonna take a few weeks, but you'll be ok....

Am I at any risk for damaging something else inside?

your liver, your ticker, and the co-pilot...:laugh:
 

FoBoT

No Lifer
Apr 30, 2001
63,084
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fobot.com
Originally posted by: Tizyler
.. I would like to avoid the doctor if possible.

you don't need a doctor , you have us


didn't you ever watch MASH/Bonanza? a broken/cracked rib doesn't need no doctor, just suck it up for a few weeks and it'll mend just fine
 

Uppsala9496

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 2001
5,272
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Originally posted by: Tizyler


Am I at any risk for damaging something else inside?

I just switched jobs a couple weeks ago, so I don't think my insurance has kicked in yet.. I would like to avoid the doctor if possible.

Did you have health insurance at your old job? If so you shouldn't have any gap in health insurance.
 

Wheezer

Diamond Member
Nov 2, 1999
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Originally posted by: Tizyler
Originally posted by: Wheezer
you either broke cracked or bruised a rib....not much you can do except not sleep on that side...use a pillow to keep you from rolling around at night...it's gonna take a few weeks, but you'll be ok....

Am I at any risk for damaging something else inside?

I just switched jobs a couple weeks ago, so I don't think my insurance has kicked in yet.. I would like to avoid the doctor if possible.

not unless you take a severe blow to that area again. Years ago I either cracked or broke a rib when I slipped off some equipment at work....it hurt like hell...should I have gone to the Dr.? Probably but I didn't. Luckily I did not have any of the symptoms associated with a punctured lung or internal bleeding.

I am not going to tell you to not go to a Dr.

If for nothing else , your own peace of mind you should...however if you do not right away make sure you monitor yourself closely for the next 5-7 days......if you notice ANY severity in symptoms don't hesitate. Increased coughing, increasing bruising, pain, coughing up blood or urinating blood or blood in your stool....go....you defiantly have a problem.


 

TheNinja

Lifer
Jan 22, 2003
12,207
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I doubt your rib is broken. My guess is that you either have deeply bruised ribs, or perhaps you tore some connective tissue around your ribs. You'll be fine. And usually the Doc won't do anything for a broken rib unless it's like cracked and there is a danger of it poking through your skin or into your lung.