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Warning-sign checks

Ribcage pain: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services now if ribcage or chest pain:

    • Feels heavy, crushing, squeezing, or pressure-like
    • Spreads to an arm, shoulder, jaw, neck, or back
    • Occurs with severe breathlessness, fainting, confusion, or blue-grey lips
    • Is accompanied by sweating, nausea, or a sense of severe weakness
    • Starts suddenly with difficulty breathing or coughing up blood
    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Get urgent same-day medical help if you have pain with fever, worsening cough, new shortness of breath, or a fast heartbeat.

    You should also seek prompt care after a major injury, or if the chest looks misshapen.

    After a rib injury, new abdominal or shoulder pain, increasing breathlessness, or rapidly worsening pain should be assessed urgently.

    These symptoms may indicate an injury beneath the ribs.

    And for anyone, someone who:

    • has abdominal pain that is severe, constant, or getting worse
  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Arrange a routine appointment if the pain continues, repeatedly returns, disturbs sleep, or limits normal activity.

    Book an appointment if there was no clear injury, you have unexplained weight loss, or a painful blistering rash appears on one side of the chest.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Ribcage pain. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.