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Medical advice required.

(28 Posts)
Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 19:13:41

Can anyone with a medical background help with this problem.

Eight days ago my DH slipped on wet grass and fell into a 3ft deep trench at the bottom of our garden. In this (temporary) trench I had a large plastic planter which broke his fall but part of it snapped and caused a nasty gash and bruise on his RH side. The bruise is fading and the gash is healing well but he is experiencing extreme discomfort from an area on the same side about 2 or 3 inches below his lowest rib.

Being his usual stubborn self, is refusing to go to hospital to have it checked out but I am concerned he may have damaged an organ.

MargaretX Mon 25-Jul-16 21:36:44

I had a bruised rib and A&E did nothing at all. It was caused by a car braking fast. I had to fly home to Germany alone but I juat asked for help with my cases and people were very kind and considerate but I was glad to see DH waiting for me at the gate. Altogether it took 5 weeks I think that's normal and suddenly it was gone.

Luckygirl Mon 25-Jul-16 21:15:34

My OH broke his ribs leaning over the back of a sofa to pick something up from the floor; and another time lifting up a light plastic canoe which caught under a rock and suddenly freed and hit him in the chest. He is very thin, so his ribs are near the surface! I have broken ribs coughing before now. It definitely hurts!

rubylady Mon 25-Jul-16 21:09:49

Aw, bless him. Pander to his every whim for a day or two, I'm sure he deserves it really. smile

HildaW Sat 23-Jul-16 15:14:41

Great news Linsco58....it did sound a bit like ribs to me....my OH did them 'jumping a stream as if he was a 16 yr old so got no sympathy from me'....anyway glad you got him looked at as these things do need to be seen, one never knows what lies beneath!

Try and develop a little selective deafness!

Linsco56 Sat 23-Jul-16 14:27:55

Just a little update. He has been seen by a GP. It is his ribs causing the pain and he is now taking co-codamol 30/500mg and is much more comfortable. He's now milking it to the full, so I know he's feeling better! Thanks again.

rubylady Mon 18-Jul-16 01:45:55

My ex husband once had a steering wheel caught in his pants, he said "this is driving me nuts!"

I agree with the above, go to A and E, although I am a bit late now as you are probably in bed. If you have not been to hospital then make sure he goes to the docs first thing in the morning. Good luck. smile

mumofmadboys Sun 17-Jul-16 09:41:43

If he clinically has a broken rib and his breathing is ok and no underlying chest problems A and E are unlikely to do an XR as it doesn't change the management whether he had a broken rib or a bruised one. If it hurts for six weeks it is likely it was a fracture. Only know with the passage of time.

Charleygirl Sun 17-Jul-16 09:18:11

He needs an xray so take him to A&E asap. It does sound like a broken rib or two which are notoriously painful but he must get it checked out. Would he be so stubborn if you were not there to run around after him?!!!

Newquay Sun 17-Jul-16 09:12:25

What is it with men not seeking help? Drives me nuts! Hope all will be ok.

LullyDully Sun 17-Jul-16 08:41:12

I would take him to A and E as soon as possible with no argument. It is foolish to waste time , he needs a check up,

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 22:34:45

Thank you mumofmadboys. I still have some cocodamol 8/500mg tables which were prescribed for me last year. I had forgotten I still had those. He may get a better night's sleep taking those.

Will still get him to a doctor on Monday.

mumofmadboys Sat 16-Jul-16 22:23:01

Sounds like a fractured rib but would be best to be examined by a doctor to be sure Linsco. Could buy over the counter lower strength cocodamol ( 8 mg codeine ,500 mg paracetamol ) and take two four times daily if paracetamol alone are not enough to control the pain.

Anya Sat 16-Jul-16 22:02:30

These are he same symptoms I experienced when I cracked a couple of ribs. I didn't have any treatment except pain killers. Pulling on my seat belt in the car was horrendously painful for a few weeks.

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 21:59:18

Hi Galen No crackly feeling above his collar bone. All his discomfort is in his R side a couple of inches below his lower ribs. Initially he thought the pain was coming from the bruising and the wound but as those are healing he feels the pain is more internal.

Galen Sat 16-Jul-16 21:47:37

No crackly feeling above his collar bone?

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 21:43:40

Thanks everyone.

mumofmadboys Yes, taking a deep breath makes the pain worse, as does movement and he has difficulty in getting out of bed. I have been giving him paracetamol and 400mg ibuprofen every 6 hours and that is making him a little more comfortable.

grannylyn65 Sat 16-Jul-16 21:34:46

Sounds like rib to me x

Deedaa Sat 16-Jul-16 21:32:09

My neighbour's little boy once had a fall in the garden and it was several days before she took him to hospital where they found that he had a piece of twig buried in his abdomen. She was a nurse and she had missed it! It's always worth getting these things checked out.

mumofmadboys Sat 16-Jul-16 21:31:12

Hi, I'm a retired GP. Does taking a deep breath make the pain worse? Does he get a sudden pain in his R hand side when he breathes or moves or rolls over in bed? He could have fractured a rib. If so the treatment would be pain killers and it will take six weeks to repair. Or he may have a torn muscle. Unlikely he has hurt his liver as this is well protected. I think he needs seeing medically if it isn't improving or you have concerns.

By all means PM me if you wish. Hope he is better soon.

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 21:18:51

Unfortunately we don't have a walk in clinic...I don't think they have them anywhere in Scotland.

He will insist on saying "I'm fine, stop fussing!" but he's anything but fine. He can barely manage to get out of a chair without wincing in pain.

BlueBelle Sat 16-Jul-16 21:05:08

do you have a walk in clinic nearby just go there if there are worries they ll send him to A and E then you dont have to wait until Monday

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 21:01:05

I will phone GP surgery first thing Monday for an appointment. His internal discomfort is definitely getting worse rather than better.

HildaW Sat 16-Jul-16 20:57:50

Anyone with a medical background would tell you the same thing. Seek professional help - this would need to be looked at by someone who knows what they are doing.

SueDonim Sat 16-Jul-16 20:36:39

It's possible that whilst the outside looks as thought it's healing, underneath there's something brewing. He needs a professional opinion, really.

Linsco56 Sat 16-Jul-16 19:53:35

Thanks Mumsy but he had a mishap with the hedge trimmer last year and had a tetanus jab then so I think it may be more than an infection.