Bruised ribs?

[Neona]

Has anyone had bruised ribs from retching or coughing? I am in so much pain but hoping it isn't something more sinister. The lowest left rib is excruciating but it hurts all round a bit.

[Kryssy]

Absolutely Neona. Six weeks ago I was in the throws of flu and coughing 24/7 for two weeks non stop. It felt as if my left ribcage had bust a few ribs. Having actually done that in a car crash many years ago I knew what the pain felt like. When I was laying down and needed to cough - which was all the time actually - I had to sit up quickly as the pain of it was too much in the prone position. I then had to hold my ribcage tight whilst coughing otherwise I would cry. Hurt to breathe too. I used Diclofenac twice a day rubbed in and it eased a bit but didn't completely heal until I started doing basic Tai Chi daily three weeks ago. I've actually managed to do some gardening this afternoon, the first since diagnosis last July, and to be honest it's aching a little but nothing like it was. So I hope that helps you a bit. Oh yes, forgot. About 2 months ago I fell asleep in an awkward position and woke up with a pain just below my lower right ribcage at the back - same area as kidney. When I checked I had been laying on my scrunched up dressing gown cord for a few hours. Having lost over 25kg I don't have much padding these days. It doesn't hurt while I'm mobile or anything but it is tender to touch in one particular spot. The Diclofenac hasn't touched it to be honest. I've all sorts of horrors going on inside my head about kidney cancer but with my PET scan looming I'll soon know hopefully. I'm sure if it was the cancer on the march it would hurt all the time and it's only just under the surface and I think the kidneys must go a bit deeper. Nothing shows on my kidney test every three weeks so it just goes to show how we get paranoid about every ache and pain if we're not careful.

I do hope your chest improves soon. Bon chance. xxx

[Neona in reply to Kryssy]

Thank you so much. I do have a scan coming up . I have heard that bruised ribs can be very painful. I have been worried about kidneys too but nothing has shown up so far.

[Mrsf49]

Hi neona, yep, I had flu just before my last chemo about a month ago and had to delay a week, I ached all down my left side and didn't know whether to hold my side or my stoma in case I got a hernia I coughed that much. As my chemo was delayed I convinced myself the pain was sinister but it faded when the coughing eased. Hope you feel better soon.

Fiona x

[Hidden in reply to Mrsf49]

had a very bad cough and sore ribs and muscles with the flu, paracetamol helped a bit, it is a dreadful bug to get hope you feel better soon

[Neona in reply to Hidden]

Yes this awful bug certainly seems to be doing the rounds.

[Neona in reply to Mrsf49]

I get pain in my stoma too when I cough- always worried about getting a hernia. This virus is really the pitts!

[Cropcrop]

Hi Neona, When I was diagnosed it was found that I also had hypercalcaemia and a pulmonary embolism , one of the joys of the hypercalcaemia can be extreme nausea or as I call it throwing up for England morning, noon and night and I had a persistent cough from the PE. Because of the wrenching and coughing I actually did damage to the costal cartilage and thought I’d broken something, fortunately a CT scan showed no permanent damage so I guess the answer to your question is yes, it is possible but if you’re at all concerned ask your medical team for reassurance. I hope you feel better very soon ❤️Xx Jane

[Neona in reply to Cropcrop]

Thank you- I think it has been caused by persistent retching and now I have this virus as well.

[Katmal-UK]

Yes definitely, in fact my dr reckons I could have cracked a rib. v painful, just took time to subside x Hope yr feeling better soon xx

[Neona in reply to Katmal-UK]

Thanks- unfortunately I can't stop retching when I'm on the treatment so I don't know how it is going to get better. Anyway will see the dr again on Thursday.

[Katmal-UK in reply to Neona]

Hi. are you taking anti sickness?

[Neona in reply to Katmal-UK]

The only one that worked was Ondasetron but it was adding to my low magnesium problem so have tried to avoid it as the cramping is so painful. I am thinking of trying Omeprazole again but probably won't help as swallowing pills starts off the gagging reaction. One thing just leads to another .........

[LittleSan]

Such a problem juggling meds. I had pneumonia (again!) last month and ended up in A+E. The pain was excruciating and only morphine got on top of it. They think it was a torn ligament around a rib. Once the main spasm passed and it was merely very painful, two paracetamol and one ibuprofen four times a day kept it under control. It took 3 weeks to be able to stop the pain relief.

Hope you find a balance soon.

Sandra xx

[Neona in reply to LittleSan]

Oh my goodness that sounds awful! I'm afraid to take my penicillin and paracetamol in case it starts me retching but I suppose I'll just have to go for it.