can you break a rib coughing?

[Sol75]

I have had a fairly severe sinus/upper respiratory infection the past few days.  Last night, I went into a VERY severe coughing fit while I was in bed.  All of a sudden there was a sharp pain on my side, right over the last rib on my right.  Now, it has a dull ache constantly, and a sharp pain whenever i inhale.  It also hurts like HELL when I cough or sneeze.  Feels like someone stabbing me in my side.  Also, if I inhale deeply and run my finger over the spot, there is a small bump protruding.  Of course this HURTS LIKE HELL to do... as any pressure on the spot hurts, and breathing hurts.

Not sure if this is possible or not, and dont care for an E-room visit just to get laughed at.

Sol

[Helm]

Probaly not unless it was allready fractured ....you probably pulled a muscle  ...or stressed your rib cartillage ....soak in a hot tub might make you feel better ....


Helm ...out

[Curval]

I have thrown out my back coughing before.

Don't like the sound of the bump protruding, I'd get it looked at.

[Rolex]

Sounds like you need to go to the doctor. That is precisely what pneumonia feel like.

[Bronk]

I have thrown out my back coughing before.

Don't like the sound of the bump protruding, I'd get it looked at.

IIRC people have herniated discs from coughing.

[sluggish]

All you boneheads need to stop smoking.  There are much cheaper and quicker ways to kill yourself.

[Delirium]

Yes, you can break a rib coughing although this generally happens to those with already brittle bones (osteo old ladies for example).

Generally, they don't do much for a broken rib unless there is a risk of further injury.

[Curval]

IIRC people have herniated discs from coughing.

Yup, in my case the disk was already past the herniation stage...it had burst.  So, I always have to be very careful when coughing and sneezing and too much pressure would force more fluid out of the partially mended disk and into the nerve bundles.  The I'd hobble around like an old man for a few days until the fluid dissipated and I'd be back to normal.  (Normal meaning constant pain but not enough to have me hunched over).

Now the disk is barely even recognisable on an MRI...essentially it is just scar tissue now.

[Bronk]

Yup, in my case the disk was already past the herniation stage...it had burst.  So, I always have to be very careful when coughing and sneezing and too much pressure would force more fluid out of the partially mended disk and into the nerve bundles.  The I'd hobble around like an old man for a few days until the fluid dissipated and I'd be back to normal.  (Normal meaning constant pain but not enough to have me hunched over).

Now the disk is barely even recognisable on an MRI...essentially it is just scar tissue now.

Feel for ya. I have had surgery to correct my disc issues.

[WyoKId]

Happens all the time.

[dkff49]

Actually my wife broke a rib coughing once when she had whooping cough, she does not have brittle bones or a preexisting broken bone neither.

Without looking at it I would say,  the protruding lump is something to have looked at but typically the doc's won't do anything for a single broken rib. You pretty much have to have several of them and develop what is known to us in the medical profession as a flail chest (visible abnormal movement when breathing/ simplest explanation I can come up with)

here is a link to a description

http://rds.yahoo.com/_ylt=A0geu.7224VJKiYA4SRXNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTEzNWQzbmJrBHNlYwNzcgRwb3MDMQRjb2xvA2FjMgR2dGlkA1FSVzFfMTE1/SIG=11srqn77b/EXP=1233595766/**http%3a//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flail_chest

edit: however if you do see the doctor he will most likely give you some high powered cough medicine to help keep you from aggrevating things any further.

[Sol75]

the lump was certainly not there before this incident.  This hurts like all hell.. probably will go to the doc if for nothing else, some pain meds.

[Vulcan]

workmates missus did it late last year.

[Chalenge]

I have cracked ribs twice in my life from coughing spasms and after that even clearing your throat hurts like blue fury.

[mechanic]

more likely that you have strained a muscle than broken a rib, but still, get it checked out if its not better within a week.