Question 1

cracked ribs at a festival - what's the best method of pain relief? / best recovery options?

Accepted Answer

OTC Meds: The pain from fractured ribs can be fairly severe especially if you sneeze or cough. It might require some narcotics initially but afterwards nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or Acetaminophen should work just fine. This assumes you have no significant underlying hepatic or renal disease.

Question 2

taking meloxicam for a possible broken rib from coughing. cough is mostly better now. 2+ hrs after pill, no pain relief whatsoever. what should i do?

Accepted Answer

Tylenol (acetaminophen): Can take Acetaminophen along with Meloxicam and see if provides better relief. Also can put local cold compress on area to reduce pain. Will be very sore for about 10 days, then dull down to ache for about 4-6 weeks. Good luck!

Question 3

my left and right arm hurt all day yesterday no s.o.b or chest pain today i woke up and my left arm only hurts. i took otc pain relief but no relief?

Accepted Answer

?: Your age of 25 makes degenerative arthritis unlikely and inflammatory or septic arthritis would have other associated symptoms. I suspect you have myalgia: muscle pain. The issue is why? It can be a viral syndrome - do you have fever or rash or sore throat or diarrhea? It can be from overuse. Been chopping wood? or carrying a baby? Cause is hard to determine with such limited information.

Question 4

on ranatadine & gaviscon for gastritis. im getting no relief my chest aches/burns all day, even wakes me up. can't take omeprazol. what's a good pain relief option? i've changed my diet, risen my bed, i don't drink or smoke. or eat 3hrs before bed.

Accepted Answer

I have a few: thoughts, but you will need to continue to work closely with your gastroenterologist. Sometimes a different (from omeprazol) PPI may be effective, i.e pantoprazole or esomeprazole. Maximal doses of the H2 blocker (ranitidine) and PPI if tolerated (twice daily). Try sulcrafate. Baclofen can reduce the rate of sphincter relaxation; pain modulator such as trazodone; surgery as last resort.

Question 5

my pcp oncall says tums & flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl) should give me quick relief of chest pain that keeps me up at night. but she didn't say how much to take and how soon to expect pain relief?

Accepted Answer

Tums &amp; Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl): I see you have reflux and are on several acid-reducing medications, so I wouldn't expect that Tums would provide much additional benefit.  Directions for the Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl) should already be on the bottle.  Something seems slightly odd here as the combination of Tums and Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl) strikes me as  unusual.  Flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl) isn't a smooth muscle relaxant. I would advise you to discuss this with your regular doctor

Question 6

can broken ribs cause periocarditis?

Accepted Answer

No: Pericarditis is inflammation of the sac surrounding the heart.

Question 7

can an x-ray determine the cause of broken ribs.

Accepted Answer

Yes: Coupled with medical history, one can possibly determine  if this fracture pathological in nature or secondary to an injury.

Question 8

can the pain from broken ribs in upper back radiate?

Accepted Answer

Yes: The pain tends to radiate down the length of the rib and can actually seem like chest pain.  Hope this helps!

Question 9

is it very easy to get broken ribs while receiving cpr?

Accepted Answer

Yes: People doing CPR are vigorously trying to save a persons life.   With their exuberance, they try to send the blood to all parts of the body with chest compressions.  With strenous compression, ribs are often broken.

Question 10

could hydrosephalus shunts cause broken ribs in children?

Accepted Answer

NO: I have never heard of anything like this.  The broken ribs are a result of a significant blunt trauma to the are unlikely to happen during the placement of the shunt of after.  This is most probably related with other kind of injury

Get Virtual Care

For Businesses

About Us

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Doctor answers about:

Pain relief for broken ribs

A member asked:

Cracked ribs at a festival - what's the best method of pain relief? / best recovery options?

A member asked:

Taking meloxicam for a possible broken rib from coughing. cough is mostly better now. 2+ hrs after pill, no pain relief whatsoever. what should i do?

A member asked:

My left and right arm hurt all day yesterday no s.o.b or chest pain today i woke up and my left arm only hurts. i took otc pain relief but no relief?

A member asked:

On ranatadine & gaviscon for gastritis. im getting no relief my chest aches/burns all day, even wakes me up. can't take omeprazol. what's a good pain relief option? i've changed my diet, risen my bed, i don't drink or smoke. or eat 3hrs before bed.

A member asked:

My pcp oncall says tums & flexeril (cyclobenzaprine hcl) should give me quick relief of chest pain that keeps me up at night. but she didn't say how much to take and how soon to expect pain relief?

A member asked:

Can broken ribs cause periocarditis?

A member asked:

Can an x-ray determine the cause of broken ribs.

A member asked:

Can the pain from broken ribs in upper back radiate?

A member asked:

Is it very easy to get broken ribs while receiving cpr?

A member asked:

Could hydrosephalus shunts cause broken ribs in children?

HealthTap Online Primary Care Doctors Accepting New Patients

Telemedicine

Primary Care

Manage Your Conditions

Women's Health

Children's Health

Men's Health

Senior Health

Wellness, Prevention & Lifestyle

Sexual Health

Mental & Behavioral Health

Travel Medicine

Urgent Care

Didn't find what you're looking for?

More of what we treat

Allergies

Antibiotics

Asthma

High Blood Pressure

Prescriptions

Type 2 Diabetes

For Businesses

Company

Health Content

Join Us

Download HealthTap

Questions?