If you have ever been unfortunate enough to have experienced an impact in the rib area hard enough that you wondered if you broke or bruised a rib you know that it can produce a pain like no other.

A broken or bruised rib will feel very painful sometimes to the touch and even breathing in. It makes movement difficult as you feel muscles you didn’t even realize you had.  You will likely also have bruising and swelling at the site of injury. Ribs are strong bones. It takes a good amount of force to break them, but hairline and small fractures are fairly common.

Avoid coughing and breathing deeply since those actions put you at risk for a chest infection.

It may hurt, but is important to let your body work naturally and not try and suppress it. Doing so may even lead to pneumonia.

Ribs cannot be splinted and wrapping them tightly constricts airflow. It is best to leave them alone and let your body heal with rest and proper care.

What to do:

• Painkillers & Anti-Inflammatory drugs over the counter – painkillers as prescribed or naproxen (Aleve) works very well. Natural anti-inflammatories work well too, such as turmeric (capsules or powder internally), peppermint and frankincense oils (topically).
• Ice – 20 minutes on 20 minutes off for the first 72 hours as often as needed to help take down swelling and pain.
• Rest – Listen to your body and do not overdo it.
• Stay mobile and take breaks from resting – Light movement such as walking and daily tasks that do not involve lifting.
• Breathing exercises – take 10 slow, deep breaths every hour, letting your lungs inflate fully each time. This will help to keep your lungs clear of mucus.

Ribs take up to 6 weeks to heal – during that time:

• Avoid lifting anything heavy
• Do not let anyone hug you tightly or pick you up for a bear hug (it can re-break a partly mended rib)
• Take time to rest – your body needs more sleep and more down time when it is healing.
• Take Vitamin C as a supplement – it helps with bone repair
• Eat foods rich in calcium – milk, yogurt, cheese, black beans and spinach.

When should you go see your doctor?

• If you experience increasing breathing issues
• If you have increasing pain levels
• If you are having pain in your stomach area or shoulder
• If you start to cough up blood
• If you cough up yellow or green mucus
• Or if you begin to run a high fever 100.4F or above

If you experience any of the above listed symptoms please go straight to the ER or consult with a qualified physician from www.ipalc.com.

Damaged ribs are painful and inconvenient. There isn’t much that can be done other than making sure to rest and care for yourself and of course to be more careful in the future.