Broken Rib?

[pmac46]

I took a bad fall from my horse 10 days ago. It knocked the wind out of me and I have pain that runs from the breast bone aound my right side to under my scapula. The pain is particully intense when I am lying down and try to roll over or get up. Does this sound like it could be a rib? How should it be treated?  Thank you for being availible to answer this question.

[pmac46]

Thanks for your comments. I am in less pain now - getting better each day - except if I have to sneeze or cough - ouch!

[Anant10]

HI, your symptoms could be due to fractured rib(s). The diagnosis can be confirmed after clinical evaluation and X-ray chest AP view. The recommended treatment for the fractured rib is anti-inflammatory analgesic medications and at times prescription opioid analgesic drugs (e.g. codiene). Try lying on the attected side so that the lung on the other side can expand more and compensate for the decreased air entry on the fractured side. Strapping or lung immobilisation is no longer recommended, as it increases the chances of lung collapse and pneumonia on the affected side.