Bruised rib/pulled muscle from coughing??

Petunia844

Anyone ever had this?  Yesterday I started getting this sharp pain on the right side of my rib cage (right under my right boob-ish) when I cough or take a deep breath.  I've been trying to just like observe it and it feels very much like a bruise or muscle injury, bothers me when I move certain ways, etc.  It hasn't gotten worse or spread since it started yesterday... DH thinks I pulled a muscle from one of my many coughing fits, it feels more like a bruised rib to me.  Anyone ever had something like this? I'm reluctant to go to the Dr. since I don't want an x-ray or anything and it isn't getting any worse....

ksulli

I had a staff member crack a few ribs from coughing when he had mono. It's possible. And painful. I'm so sorry.

NSAbby

It could be anything from a sore muscle to a cracked rib. I get bad URIs and usually end up with sore muscles around my ribs, which make it painful to breathe. Good luck, I hope its nothing serious!

Petunia844

Thanks ladies, it still definitely hurts... but my cough is definitely finally improving today and that's what hurts it most, so I'm just trying to refrain from too much lifting and hoping it goes away on its own soon enough.

pineconey

That was me a few weeks ago from a sinus infection. I thought I had a hernia... Nope, just a painful pulled muscle. No fun!

voplo

I had just the same with my first pregnancy. They made me an ultrasound in the ER and I felt like dying (they were pushing like the push in our bellies to see the baby). Apparently they could diagnose it with it, no X-ray needed. I ended with a fracture and having to take Tylenol 3 due the pain. I had to rest for 3 weeks without moving since they couldn't put me a wrap (I was 7 months pregnant). After taking Tylenol 3 for 2 days and feeling totally zombie, I decided not to take it and go on with regular Tylenol... I cried every day for the first 2 weeks. Sleeping was the worst, plus the baby kept kicking and the pain was unbearable (and I still had the cough). Still I don't know if I did good or not, but hey, in that moment it felt the right decision.  I still survived, the baby was totally fine (now a 2.5 toddler) but it was one of the most horrible pains I ever felt in my life. 

Junebug060609

I had similar happen years ago when I had bronchitis. It hurt so much. I hope you feel better soon!

Ps. Cute giraffe ticker

Petunia844

@junebug060609 I love that you noticed that!  

Yea- I don't know, the cough is really dwindling but the rib is still not fun.  I'm not sure if I should like not lay on that side? It hurts when I move onto it, but then when I do it's fine... but now I feel like it's worse this morning, so I'm guessing laying on it is a no-no.  

Avion22

I had that kind of pain at about 26-27 weeks.  I was convinced I had a fractured rib....turns out it was just my ribcage expanding as the baby grew.    But I just noticed your ticker says your 5w4d, so I'm guessing it's probably too early for that :-)   

Having said that, it IS possible to get hairline fractures from coughing.   Unfortunately, there really isn't much that a doctor can do for a fractured rib anyway, except give you good drugs for the pain (which they won't do because you're pregnant) and tell you to avoid things that cause pain.

So I think that leaves you with Tylenol, heating pads (okay for short periods of time) and ice packs, which may or may not help.   Sorry :-(

Junebug060609

Petunia844 said:

@junebug060609 I love that you noticed that!  

Yea- I don't know, the cough is really dwindling but the rib is still not fun.  I'm not sure if I should like not lay on that side? It hurts when I move onto it, but then when I do it's fine... but now I feel like it's worse this morning, so I'm guessing laying on it is a no-no.  

When I saw it I was all, "Aww, Peyton's giraffe". Made me think of his pins/shirts from the MOD walk. Big brother watching over him/her

You could always call your doc and see what they say.

Allison7

I bruised my ribs once with bronchitis. They x-rayed me to make sure I didn't fracture them, but I wasn't pregnant so it wasn't a big deal. I had to watch how deeply I breathed and how I moved until it healed. I hope it gets better soon!

salsa_wifey

I did this once! Bruised my rib couging. They perscribed me cough medicine with codeine (but I wasn't pregnant). Sorry. I know it's pretty painful - especially if you still have the cough.