Refusing to scan or X ray

[Xraydilemma]

My husband was hurt while playing sports over 1 week ago in the rib area. He spoke to the GP on Tuesday when they opened again. The GP has said that they will not refer him for an x ray and not to bother going to the walk in centre/urgent treatment as they will not x ray him. If he goes he will just be wasting his time. To just take paracetamol. The thing is he’s in so much pain still and it hasn’t improved at all. Every movement hurts him, he’s having trouble sleeping and thing’s like coughing and sneezing really hurt. Should he go to the hospital or just leave it? I can’t believe they won’t x ray ribs, what if part of the bone has splintered off or is poking out? So many things could go wrong in that area.

I've broken a rib on 3 separate occasions. I was also told to just go home and take pain killers, nothing they can do for it unless he becomes very short of breath, fever, coughing up bloody/off coloured mucus etc. Bless him though, it does bloody hurt.

When I broke my ribs in a car crash I was told they had to scan them to make sure a lung wasn’t punctured. Can you afford a private scan? There’s an osteopath in my town with an X-ray machine where they scan for injuries.

They will only take action if he's coughing up blood and then they do a chest drain unfortunatly, and if the lung is puctured. Rib injuries are particularly painful because the rib cage is constantly moving to breath and the ribcage is protecting vital organs

My DP fractured his ribs playing football and he went to A&E he got scanned. Only had pain, no other issues.

The reason they won't x ray is because it will not change the management.

A chest x ray is significant radiation exposure and must be justified.

The management is pain relief and maintaining normal movement as much as possible.

There is nothing you can do for broken ribs that are not displaced.

They used to be strapped up but this was found not to be helpful.

If they were displaced or affecting the lung there would be respiratory symptoms.

That’s all so helpful in understanding why they don’t scan. I wasn’t sure of the reason. Thanks guys