My son's rib pain

Last Saturday my son came home after Judo practice and complained about chestpains resulting from a Judo grip. Like the first author we thought he'd strained the rib muscle, or that he pulled a muscle. There was no real pain until about 72 hours later.

Since Monday he started to have pain under the right breast area/rib area. He had an x-ray taken today which came back fine, no signs of internal injuries, broken ribs or else. The doctor told us to give him pain medication (tylenol), to have him start to breath deeply and to take it easy otherwise.

He is still in pain and has trouble breathing when he walks fast, walks up the stairs or runs, sometimes even when he stays too long in one position and then moves. To him it feels like stiches between the ribs. Does this sound like he has a strained muscles, or should we get a second opinion?  

Any help would be appreciated.  Thank you!


This discussion is related to Rib Pain.

[basketballgirl]

Hi Petra, I'm no expert, except that something very similar happened to me. Read my post 'untreated partial pneumothorax'.
I bet your son also has a partial pneumothorax, especially if the pain is related to his breathing (ie, it hurts more if he coughs, etc). I would go see a pulmologist, personally.
I wish I could help more, but I am here for the same reason that I can only find a doctor who wants to give me pain killers for it.
Good luck to you,
Jamie

[bhups1]

Hi, in case you are not satisfied with X ray findings, go for CT but what seem to me intercoastal muscle injury or soft tissue injury causing inflammation or contusion, could be associated with nerve injury too.

Pneumothorax is remote possibilty, X rays show up puemothorax. Please keep on taking pain killers like diclofenac, tramadol etc, try rib belt also as immobility of ribs due to rib belt will hasten recovery.

Relax, he will be fine in 15-20 days

[Petra232]

Thank you Jamie, and thank you bhups1

I appreciated your input. I dont' think he has a partial pneumothorax, because the x-ray was clean. I'll call the dr.'s office to ask for diclofenac or tramadol.

I was just concerned, because he has a pretty high pain tolerance, and if he says something hurts, I know from experience he's really hurting bad.

So, let's see how this one will be in 2-3 weeks.

Thank you again,
Petra