Upper Rib injury directly under the rt. breast area - how does a .Dr./P.A determine the extent of the injury?

Question:

I accidently tossed my keys along with the trash. I quickly hoisted myself up to lean over the side of the dumpster , I felt "something" @ the top of the ribcage.I knew I had injured myself. The next day I went to the Dr. He wasn't in , so the P.A. saw me. He did not take any xrays - saying that it was probally cartlidge. it's been amost 8 days - I'm still in pain -it hurts in the center of & under the rt.breast It hurts when I lay down , when I laugh, cough, or try to clear my throat & sometimes when I walk. I can breath okay - my allergies are acting up. I've missed work (hairsalon) , My blood pressure has elevated to 128/86 and 137/91 - it's usually low to normal? any suggestions?
ed

Answers:
Chances are you probably broke a rib when you were leaning over. An x-ray would in fact confirm this, however, even if you did pay the money for the x-ray, there really isn't anything the doctor or PA will do for you after that (you can't really cast your ribcage) The best thing to do is to try and take it easy, try not to cough too much, and see if your doc can give you some pain meds.

Some alternative ways to see if it is a fracture is to take a tuning fork and hit it in your hand and then place the end over where you have pain. The vibrations from the tuning fork will cause your bone to vibrate and if there is a fracture then you will know it. You can also use ultrasound to diagnose the problem but you probably don't have that handy

Good luck!

Go back and insist that they take x-rays. That is the only way to know for sure what you are dealing with. You have to stick up for yourself with them.
I hope you feel better soon!

Upper Rib injury directly under the rt. breast area - how does a .Dr./P.A determine the extent of the injury?

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