Read and follow all instructions on the label. As your pain gets better, slowly return to your normal activities. Be patient. Rib bruises can take weeks or months to heal. If the pain gets worse, it may be a sign that you need to rest a while longer.
For example, call if: You have severe trouble breathing. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have trouble breathing. You have a fever. You have a new or worse cough. You have new or worse pain. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if: You do not get better as expected.
Current as of: October 19, Home About MyHealth. Include Images Large Print. Actions for this page Listen Print. Summary Read the full fact sheet. On this page. Structure of the ribs Symptoms of rib injuries Blunt force is the common cause of injury Soft tissue injuries Rib fracture Flail chest is a serious injury Risk of serious injury Diagnosis of rib injuries Treatment of rib injuries Where to get help Things to remember.
The ribcage supports the upper body, protects internal organs, including the heart and lungs, and assists with breathing. Rib injuries include bruises, torn cartilage and bone fractures.
Chest trauma may also cause life-threatening injuries such as a punctured lung or a ruptured aorta. Common causes of rib injury include motor vehicle accidents and falls. Treatment aims to relieve pain while the injury heals. Structure of the ribs The ribcage consists of 24 curved ribs arranged in 12 pairs. Each pair is attached to a vertebra in the spine.
At the front of the body, the first seven pairs of ribs are attached directly to the sternum breastbone by cartilage known as costal cartilage. The ribcage is supported by ligaments and muscles, including the muscles between the ribs intercostal muscles. These muscles allow the ribcage to expand when you breathe in and to drop when you breathe out. Symptoms of rib injuries The symptoms of rib injuries depend on the type and severity of the injury, but can include: Pain at the injury site Pain when the ribcage flexes — with movement, with a deep breath or when you cough, sneeze or laugh Crunching or grinding sounds crepitus when the injury site is touched or moved Muscle spasms of the ribcage Deformed appearance of the ribcage Breathing difficulties.
Blunt force is the common cause of injury Rib injuries typically occur when the chest is directly hit. Situations that could cause blunt injuries to the ribcage include: Motor vehicle accidents — for example, slamming the chest against the steering wheel Crush injuries — for example, a heavy object landing directly on the chest Sports-related injuries — for example, a heavy tackle Falling from a reasonable height — for example, off a roof or ladder Assault — for example, getting hit by a baseball bat.
Soft tissue injuries Soft tissue of the ribcage includes the intercostal muscles and the costal cartilage. Broken or bruised ribs heal in the same way and usually get better by themselves within 3 to 6 weeks. You might need stronger painkillers or have a chest infection that needs antibiotics. They can arrange a phone call from a nurse or doctor if you need one.
Go to While bruised ribs are extremely painful, in most cases they heal completely. The injury is referred to as bruised ribs but majority of the pain is caused by injury to the surrounding muscle and rib cartilage. Symptoms will include tenderness and pain over the injured area.
You will also feel pain when you breathe, move, laugh or sneeze. Rib injuries are difficult to treat. Seek medical attention to rule out rib fractures and complications such as pneumothorax or a collapsed lung.
Resting and restricting your activities are the main treatment options for bruised ribs. Ice may help relieve some of your pain and swelling. Since bruised ribs cause pain when you inhale causing you to take more shallow breaths, your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage your pain. Long-lasting anesthetic injections near the site of the bruise may also help temporarily keep your nerves there from relaying pain signals to your brain.
A rib fracture is common in contact sports and usually occurs following a hard impact to the chest by an elbow or similar. Breathing will often be painful and there will typically be especially tender points on the ribs. It is possible that the fracture may cause internal damage so seeking medical advice is recommended, especially if the pain is severe.
One of the most persistent symptoms of a broken rib is chest pain when taking a breath. Inhaling deeply hurts even more.
Laughing, coughing, or sneezing can also send sharp pains shooting from the site of the break. You may also notice swelling and redness around the break. In some cases, you might also see bruising on the skin near the break. Depending on the location of the fracture, bending over or twisting your upper body may also trigger sudden pain. Striking or pressing on the fracture will cause pain for at least several weeks.
Simple fractures will usually heal by themselves. Doctors may recommend resting to facilitate this. People should avoid activities that involve pulling, pushing, or lifting, as they might make the pain worse or cause more damage to the ribs.
If a person has more than one fractured rib, severe damage, or flail chest, they may need surgery.
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