Really sharp pain in rib - cracked? sprained diaphram?

[Tracy418]

I had an upper respitory infection for a couple of weeks and the coughing was really bad!!  Now I have this severe pain in upper left rib care area.  Pain goes from right under the breast on left side over to my side. The doctor gave me IBprophen 800 but it is barely even touching the pain. Hurts to breath. HORRIBLE pain when I cough or sneeze. Even just sitting here it hurts, also seems to be worse laying down. Any suggestions??? Could I have cracked my rib/bruised it from coughing maybe?

[Mich1995]

Tracy,
I have "unstable ribs" that get out of joint once in a while. That is what it sounds like to me. It can be very painful. Hard to breathe... can't find a comfortable way to lay... mine go out when I have bad coughs too... worth checking into. Go to the chiropractor.. Take some advil (or a muscle relaxer) before you go. It helps with putting it back in. If they are good, you will walk out feeling better.

[Tracy418]

Thanks for your help sondiekoelie! I am going to the med center tonight. Even if they can't cure the cracked/bruised ribs, I will at least hopefully get some good pain meds. This *****!  Thanks again!!!!

[sondiekoelie]

i used to get the cough from hell. i thought i had cracked a rib in coughing. went to doc and he felt all over there and said it was not cracked. so gave meds. but he did say you can crack ribs just from bad coughing. i get flue shots now and that has cured my cough from hell! i don't think they can do anything for cracked ribs, except maybe wrap them. my husband went around in pain for several months not realizing he had 2 broken ribs. saw them all healed nicely at a ct for something else! boy did his jaw drop!