My 80 year old grandfather fell and is having pretty bad pain on one side of his chest, especially when he breathes. As far as I know this sounds like a bruised or broken rib, though in addition to the pain he is coughing making it all the worse. Could coughing be symptomatic of a punctured lung, or is there any risk of damage from a cracked rib that would require a trip to the emergency room rather than a visit to the doctor on Monday?

Quoted: My 80 year old grandfather fell and is having pretty bad pain on one side of his chest, especially when he breathes. As far as I know this sounds like a bruised or broken rib, though in addition to the pain he is coughing making it all the worse. Could coughing be symptomatic of a punctured lung, or is there any risk of damage from a cracked rib that would require a trip to the emergency room rather than a visit to the doctor on Monday?

Go to ER now as at 80, you should TAKE NO CHANCES !

Quoted: Quoted: My 80 year old grandfather fell and is having pretty bad pain on one side of his chest, especially when he breathes. As far as I know this sounds like a bruised or broken rib, though in addition to the pain he is coughing making it all the worse. Could coughing be symptomatic of a punctured lung, or is there any risk of damage from a cracked rib that would require a trip to the emergency room rather than a visit to the doctor on Monday? Go to ER now as at 80, you should TAKE NO CHANCES !

Bingo.... at age 20, i'd wait for blood...   at age 80, its ER time.


- BG

Sometimes hard to tell if a rib is fractured on an x-ray.
Better to use a 128 mhz tuning fork, violent pain is pos indication.
Rib dislocations are big finding in my office.
I suggest monitor, ice, ace bandage, asprin.
If condition persist/degrades...    911
IM me if necessary for PH#.



Doc

He needs to go to the ER ASAP (same advice as above).  He needs a Chest X-ray to rule out a fracture and make sure he doesn't have a pneumothorax.  Unlikely, but still has to be checked.  They'll probably give him some pain meds so that he can breath with less pain.