I'm in agony - pulled 'rib' muscle. Does anyone have any advice?

[hollyw]

I've had a cough and have managed to pull a 'rib' muscle. I can barely do anything and now tonight I have done something to my shoulder too because of the way I've been holding myself. I can't lift a kettle , can't drive, it's agony getting in and out of bed and I'm still coughing which hurts like hell :(

I'm 37 weeks and am stressing that I won't be able to labour like this plus the house is falling apart round me and my hb is getting stressed as he can't cope with looking after me and the children whilst trying to work.

Can anyone offer any advice?

x

[pregnantmimi]

I would suggest you go to see a chiropractor a mctimoty one is best they should sort it out for you if you not been before will prob need a consultation so be about 50 pound but week well worth it and mc timoty is betterdoesnt hurt at all. I work at a chiropractorsxx

[Finn77]

I had this in pregnancy, called a pulled intercostal muscle. GP said just grin and bear it, can take 6 weeks to recover which was the last thing I wanted to hear. The best thing I found was that if you need to cough, stand up as straight as possible with hands as if trying to touch ceiling, then cough..looks mad, but def a lot better.
Good luck.

[hollyw]

Thanks both. Eek at the 6 week recovery. I've definitely felt an improvement in the past day or two (after a week of doing as little as possible and lots of extra bed rest) but it is still there. Must make sure that I don't overdo it now.

Not sure that I'll find a mctimoty chiropractor round here but I'll phone round and see

x

[kwzlove]

Hiya - FWIW I had exactly the same happen to me, ripped intercostal due to coughing fit at 37 weeks, ooooohh, the pain! Went to A&E, who sent me to labour ward, (of course all in middle of night w/sleeping toddler in tow), who told me there 'wasn't much to be done, but at least baby was fine'

Seriously, the pain was just awful, I was literally afraid to breathe. I was very worried about trying to labour with it (6 weeks recovery?!?) BUT it really was much much better by the time I hit 40 weeks - didn't interfere w/labour at all. I just took a lot of paracetamol and took it very very easy.

Be careful, though, as I set myself back a bit - about 5 days after it happened I was feeling pretty good and spent the day out walking, cue another 2-3 very bad days. Easy does it!

[hollyw]

Thanks KWZ. I've got to keep telling myself not to do so much - really difficult when I am in full on nesting mode at the moment! Yesterday I felt great but omg last night I only got about an hours sleep as it was playing up so much. I've taken it easier today so I'm hoping for a better night.

x

[figgygal]

I feel ur pain I did this when I had flu and was convinced I'd broken a rib out was so sore took me couple of months b4 was fully gone and I could still feel it 18 months after when was a cold day and moved too quickly. I was told to take nurofen by dr as has anti inflammatory in it not sure if that allowed in pregnancy and as late on as u r?

[Dashi77]

Hi, I know this is a long time ago but did you find any remedies? I’m going through the same thing!!! Feels like I’m gonna die 😆

[GummyBear91]

Totally feel your pain. I have a condition called costochondritis. It's inflammation of the cartilage that holds my ribs together. I only have it on the left hand side. I've had it for years and it tends to lie fairly dormant (apparently it can go away but I've not been so lucky) but occasionally flares up big time. To be diagnosed I had to have lots of heart checks as it genuinely can feel like a heart attack!

It's flaring up now I'm 25w but there is little that can be done. Take paracetamol, find ways to lie/sit that are comfortable (and safe for baby) and rest up. Don't ask me why but when I have it really bad lying on the kitchen table with my legs hanging off helps

Your DH will have to manage because resting is the only real way to solve rib pain from my understanding alongside pain killers and we don't have many options in pregnancy.

You'll be fine through labour as you can accept much stronger drugs so don't stress about that time. Look after yourself.

[BathTangle]

@Dashi77 co-codamol was the only thing that worked for me but check with pharmacist before taking: it can cause hallucinations in some people.

[Girlmama3]

Can you speak to your midwife? You might need to know what options you have incase you go into early labour.

I tore a ligament in my back at 6 weeks pg and the only thing that made it better was rest. Your husband needs to stop being a child and make sure you rest and don't worry.

Do you have any family who could help?

[Melitza]

Get a back of peas wrapped in a thin tea towel for 5 to 10 minutes 3 times a day.
And any permitted painkillers.


I did this with dd early in pregnancy when I caught flu. Couldn't even change gear so no driving and sleeping was awful.

[Melitza]

bag