A 47-year-old member asked:
what are the differences between a rib fracture, muscle strain, and bruise?
1 doctor answer • 3 doctors weighed in
Dr. David Salkoanswered
Family Medicine 20 years experience
Similar pain: All three of these injuries can have a similar presentation of chest wall pain and pain with movement and expansion i the rib cage. The difference may come in the mechanism of injury and recovery time. A rib fracture and bruise can take 4-6 weeks to full recover while a muscle strain could heal quicker. A x-ray can locate a fracture but treatment is similar. Assure good deep breaths and rest.
5.7k viewsReviewed >2 years ago
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Last updated Apr 9, 2017
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