Rib pain when coughing

definition

When rib pain occurs when coughing, the two symptoms are usually linked. Rib pain is a pain that can affect both the right and left rib areas. The pain can be sharp or tense and can sometimes persist after the coughing fit. Cough is expulsion of air as part of a cough stimulus via the cough reflex or voluntarily. The most common cause of a cough is the common cold.

causes

Rib pain when coughing can be due to various causes. It is possible that rib pain may arise as a result of a prolonged cough from a protracted cold. The rib muscles, along with other muscle groups, are involved in inhalation and exhalation. Heavy strain on the rib muscles can lead to sore muscles in the rib area during an infection, which causes pain when coughing. In addition, pain in the rib area when coughing can be caused by pleurisy or pneumonia, or as a result of a broken rib or a bruised rib. In the case of left-sided rib pain in particular, the cause can lie in various organs and indicate symptoms of the spleen, heart, pancreas or colon.

Broken rib

A broken rib is a bony injury to a rib that can arise directly or indirectly. Rib fractures are sometimes diagnosed only after a few days because of the pain. Typically, with such a fracture there is pain over the affected side, which is significantly worse when breathing and coughing.

You can read more here: Broken rib

pleurisy

The pleura, called the pleura, is a fine connective tissue skin that surrounds the lungs and lines the chest around the lungs. The pleura in the area of ​​the ribs is also called pleura. In pleurisy, there is an infection between these skins. For example, pleurisy can result from pneumonia or bronchitis. When coughing, this typically results in a sharp pain in the rib area.

You can read more here: pleurisy

accompanying symptoms

The symptoms that accompany rib pain when coughing depend on the cause of the symptom. A broken rib causes pain over the affected side, which increases with forceful inhalations and exhalations, sneezing, coughing, and movement. Pressure on the broken rib also causes pain. In addition, you can often feel a build-up of air in the skin over the affected area. Sometimes you even feel the break as a step.
If there is pleurisy, those affected often suffer from pronounced chest pain during breathing and coughing. The doctor can hear rattling noises with the stethoscope. Those affected mostly adopt a protective posture. Pleurisy can also be accompanied by a fever and cause shortness of breath or shoulder pain. If the pain in the ribs when coughing is the result of a cold or flu, symptoms such as a sore throat, fever, runny nose or aching limbs can occur.

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diagnosis

Rib pain when coughing requires a thorough examination and anamnesis. When taking the anamnesis, the doctor first asks about a trauma, accident or the like and details about the complaints. The lungs and heart will be monitored as part of a physical exam. Since a common cause of rib pain when coughing is a break in one or more ribs, a chest x-ray is often done to rule out a broken rib.

therapy

Depending on the cause of the pain in the ribs when coughing, these may require treatment to different degrees.
Sore rib muscles as part of a long cold typically only requires treatment for the underlying disease. There are various treatment options for a broken rib.
A single broken rib can often be held in place with a bandage to make breathing easier. This protects those affected from pneumonia. Rarely, if it is a complicated fracture of multiple ribs, surgery may be necessary. In some cases, pain relief medication is all that is needed for a broken rib.
If pleurisy is the cause of rib pain when coughing, it is extremely important to treat the underlying disease accordingly. Antibiotics, painkillers and antipyretic drugs can be used for this. If there is also a pleural effusion, discharge using a chest tube is indicated to suck out the fluid. If the cause of the pain lies in diseases of organs such as the spleen, pancreas, heart or intestine, a targeted treatment of the underlying disease in addition to pain medication is part of the treatment of rib pain when coughing.

Duration

Depending on the cause of the discomfort, rib pain can be acute or chronic. A broken rib takes time to heal, so rib pain can last four to six weeks. If complications arise, the duration of the complaints can be prolonged. In pleurisy, how quickly and successfully the inflammation is treated is decisive for the duration. Prompt, targeted treatment has a positive effect on the duration and prognosis.

forecast

The most common cause of rib pain when coughing is a broken rib, which is mostly harmless and heals without complications. If several ribs and the pleura are affected, complications such as a pneumothorax, also known as an air breast, can be triggered. Without therapy, such a disease can be life-threatening. The course of the disease in pleurisy is determined by the severity, cause and treatment.
In young people affected, pleurisy usually has a very good prognosis. In elderly and immunocompromised patients, adhesions of the pleura can develop, which can permanently restrict breathing. Early treatment usually has a positive effect on the prognosis. Basically, rib pain when coughing can lead to avoidance of deep breathing due to the simultaneous occurrence of pain when breathing deeply in and out. This creates the risk of pneumonia, especially in elderly and immunocompromised patients.