How do you tell if you have a punctured lung?

Question

I fell whilst snowboading and have very sore ribs on the upper left side, it hurts to brethe deeply and is sore to touch. I think they may be bruised or broken but my big worry is that i have punctured my lung, I am catching a plane in 5 days so don't want to take any risks with that. I am in a fairly remote place and not a lot of english is spoken so any advice would be great, cheers

Answer 1

If you had a punctured lung you wouldn't be sat there now on that computer. You would be coughing up bright red frothy blood and it would probably also be coming out of your nose.
The pain would be excruciating and you would need hospitalisation.
What you actually have is bruised ribs and they will heal with time and rest.

Answer 2

I think you should go to a doctor to see if anything is wrong. I am pretty sure you don't have a punctured lung. You probably just have a little injury. Below are signs of a lung injury. STEP 1: Look for signs of respiratory distress immediately after a major impact to the chest: rapid and shallow breathing, an elevated heart rate, a bluish tint around the nose and mouth, no detectable breathing. If any of these signs are present, suspect a lung injury. STEP 2: Look for the signs of a punctured lung: increasing difficulty breathing, coughing up blood. STEP 3: Have somebody put an ear to both sides of the injured person's chest and listen to the breathing: Can you hear air entering both sides of the chest? If air is entering only one side, suspect a lung injury. STEP 4: Look for an open chest wound or an impaled object in the chest. If either of these is present, suspect a lung injury. STEP 5: Treat immediately: Maintain an open airway, seal any open chest wounds, stop the bleeding, stabilize any impaled objects, have the person sit or lie in the position of greatest comfort. STEP 6: Evacuate immediately, monitoring for respiratory distress. The person will not be able to walk out and must be carried.

Answer 3

You would know if you had punctured a lung as you would be breathless the whole time and would be a very ill person indeed.
As it is, you have either bruised or cracked a couple of ribs. This can take 6 weeks to heal and there is no treatment, not even worth an X Ray if you are still up and walking about.
Control the pain with ibuprofen (so long as not allergic) or paracetamol, even paracetamol with codeine and you will be fine.

Answer 4

It sounds like you are bruised and possibly have broken a rib(s). For which the treatment is basically pain management. As mentioned, it is not likely to be a puncture or pneumothorax. You should see a doctor anyway just to be certain and to get you some much needed pain medication. Tylenol or ibuprofen may not be enough to help you while you are healing it just depends on your pain tolerance. Flying should be fine. You have 5 days of healing ahead (prior to flight) and would certainly know if it is more serious by then. Good luck and be careful.

Answer 5

Well the fact that you can take a deep breath, tells me that you probably do not have a punctured lung ( pneumo ). Also you would have a shifted trachea witch you could see in a mirror. I would recommend an xray as soon as possible, but my guess is that you bruised your intercostal muscles witch is why it hurts so bad to take a deep breath ! And no you do not necessarily cough up blood ! If the pain persists get an xray just to be sure !

Answer 6

It sounds like you are badly bruised. You'd sure know about it if you had punctured a lung as you'd be in a collapsed state. It will hurt when you breathe as the 'bruise' and hurt ribs will move each time and causing it to hurt more

Answer 7

punctured lungs will be diagnosed listening to your breath sounds if they are muffled then there is a good chance its punctured, you would also be very short of breath, feeling really apprehensive and agitated, altered level of consciousness, heart rate will also increase. as your feeling fairly OK apart from being sore you are probably fine.

but you still might have broken a couple of ribs and doctors don't treat them any more but they will take a few months to heal, so you will be sore for a while yet, consider paracetamol and ibuprofen for the pain and swelling if your OK to take them.

paramedic

Answer 8

Highly doubtful that you have a punctured lung or a pneumothorax if you want to get technical. The fall probably bruised your ribs or caused a slight fracture. If you were to have a pneumothorax you would have significant respiratory distress. Your body would be running on one lung, and your oxygen saturation would drop significantly. Site below will give you more in depth answers and x-rays of a pneumothorax to ease your mind. Good Luck and safe flying.

Answer 9

If your lung is punctured you won't stay conscious long enough to read this answer. You will cough up blood and bleed out anywhere from a few minutes to an hour.

It's likely your rib is cracked or you have a deep-tissue bruise. Flying won't make it worse. Not much can be done about it, so get as much rest as possible, and take aspirin or Tylenol to help with pain and swelling.

Answer 10

I think you probably have just bruised your ribs, you would definately know if you had punctured your lung. You'd be breathless etc. If this still does not comfort you, go see a docture just to make sure :)