i was going to ask the very same question about the x rays? did she bother to actually do THAT much for you? or was her dx a big old 'guess" here? did she even palpate the ribs both lying down and standing up? just considering the fact that it did not take a whole lot from what you stated happened before(did you mention that to her?), i would think just taking that simple x ray would kinda be a no brainer for your doc to just have done for this type of situation?
just what was the mechanism of injury that caused this? a fall or hit?? whatever the situation was, the mere fact that you are actually 'hearing' or even feeling things at all in that area right now, espescially upon movement, this really does need a good X ray at this point just to either rule it in or out for certain. if this were 'just' muscle, you would not be hearing things coming from there since its usually just a bit of a pull away from the ribs when its muscle alone? do you hear or feel any type of bone on bone grinding or scraping going on inside that area at all? i would definitely go back to her and simply tell her you really DO feel that these is actual movement in there and you NEED to know if there is indeed any type of break going on in there. while they do not, or should not be doing the rib wraps anymore since it can in many people create a worse situation with possible pneumonia as they have found over the years, so treatment would be about the very same as you are already doing. you need to know just 'how' any break just 'is' or appears upon the x ray being done. some types of real fractures just can in somecases be impacting certain organs depending upon how the break itself is. this just IS in the best interest of the patient to know if you have any types of real fractures at any time, ya know?
depending upon just what forces were involved, posistion upon impact and alot of other factors as well, anyone can have a fracture happen within the rib areas. i just only fell from the top rung of a ladder like when i was 25 and landed on the very top of what was only a step ladder and not a huge fall and i DID fracture the lowest rib. so who knows ya know? just get that x ray done so you can see what the area looks like and more importantly if the type of break could possibly be enough to maybe impact certain organs too. if that lower rib area fractures or breaks off, what is left there can be very sharp. that is mainly why you need to know just what could be a real fracture.
you can either wait for an appt with your doc or you can also find out much more quickly like today by simply going to an urgent care facility. they WOULD do the x ray for you and you do not have to deal with your primary. she should have just done this for you at that appt. that 'sound' you are hearing or feeling in there now really ups the need for an x ray, so the urgent care thing may be a better idea for you right now too.
good luck with this and i do hope things are not too bad in there. please let us know what you find out. FB
