Broken or bruised ribs
Overview
Bruised or broken ribs can be very painful, but usually heal by themselves.
Symptoms
Broken or bruised ribs are usually caused by a fall, a blow to the chest or severe coughing. Symptoms include: strong pain in your chest area, particularly when you breathe in or coughswelling or tenderness around the affected ribssometimes bruising on the skinfeeling or hearing a crack if it's a broken rib Ribs cannot be easily splinted or supported like other bones, so they're usually left to heal naturally. There's often no need for an X-ray.
Treatment
Broken or bruised ribs usually get better by themselves within 2 to 6 weeks. There are things you can do to help ease pain and speed up healing. use painkillers, such asparacetamoloribuprofengel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed) use painkillers, such asparacetamoloribuprofengel (or ibuprofen tablets if needed) hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the affected ribs regularly in the first few days to bring down swelling hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a tea towel to the affected ribs regularly in the first few days to bring down swelling rest and take time off work if you need to rest and take time off work if you need to breathe normally and cough when you need to – this helps clear mucus from your lungs to prevent chest infections breathe normally and cough when you need to – this helps clear mucus from your lungs to prevent chest infections hold a pillow against your chest if you need to cough hold a pillow against your chest if you need to cough walk around and sometimes move your shoulders to help you breathe and clear mucus from your lungs walk around and sometimes move your shoulders to help you breathe and clear mucus from your lungs regularly take slow, deep breaths to help clear your lungs regularly take slow, deep breaths to help clear your lungs try to sleep more upright for the first few nights try to sleep more upright for the first few nights do not lie down or stay still for a long time do not lie down or stay still for a long time do not strain yourself or lift heavy objects do not strain yourself or lift heavy objects do not play any sports or do any exercise that makes your pain worse do not play any sports or do any exercise that makes your pain worse do not smoke do not smoke