What will help a cracked rib

A break in the thick tissue cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone may also be called a fractured rib, even if the bone itself is not broken. The most common cause of a fractured rib is a direct blow to the chest, often from a car accident or a fall.

Coughing hard can also fracture a rib. This is more likely to happen if you have a disease that has made your bones weak, such as osteoporosis or cancer. The muscles used for breathing pull on the ribs, so breathing may be very painful when you have a fractured rib. It is important to see a doctor after a rib injury. A blow that is hard enough to fracture a rib could also injure your lungs, spleen, blood vessels, or other parts of your body.

A common injury when you have a fractured rib is a punctured or collapsed lung pneumothorax. Flail chest is a serious problem that happens when three or more ribs are broken in more than one place. If you have flail chest, the broken area can't hold its shape when you take a breath. This leaves less space in your chest for your lungs to open and air to flow in. It also makes it harder for the muscles to work well, so it's harder to take a breath. You may need to have an X-ray or other imaging test if your doctor isn't sure about your symptoms.

But rib fractures don't always show up on X-rays. So you may be treated as though you have a fractured rib even if an X-ray doesn't show any broken bones. Most fractured ribs are treated at home and will heal on their own over time.

Home treatment will help you manage the pain while you heal. Pain relief can help you feel better and let you take deeper breaths. A fractured rib usually takes at least 6 weeks to heal. To help manage the pain while the fracture heals:.

While you are healing, it is important to cough or take the deepest breath you can at least once an hour. This may help prevent pneumonia or a partial collapse of the lung tissue. If you have fractured your ribs and you have not injured your neck or back, it is a good idea to lie on your injured side.

This may seem odd at first, but it will let you take deeper breaths. In the past, it was common to tape or tightly wrap the injured rib area. But you should not do this, even if it eases your pain. It can keep you from taking deep breaths, and it could cause parts of your lung to collapse or could increase your risk for pneumonia.

If you are experiencing symptoms or your pain hasn't resolved over time, we are here to help. Nebraska Medicine surgeons are now offering rib and sternal fracture surgery that is speeding up recovery from chest wall injuries by increasing mobility, reducing pain and use of narcotics and lowering mortality.

Learn how the Trauma Center helped a critically injured patient survive after a traumatic car accident. The Nebraska Medical Center Level 1 trauma center has a comprehensive availability of resources to provide an entire spectrum of care any time of the day or night to address the needs of children and adults. Learn how the trauma center helped one young family survive a horrific head on car accident.

By signing up, you are consenting to receive electronic messages from Nebraska Medicine. Help broken ribs heal faster — how to know if you're healing normally. Published April 19, twitter facebook. Breadcrumb Home Trauma Help broken ribs heal faster — how to know if you're healing normally. Published April 19, How long does it take for rib fractures to heal? What can I do about the rib pain? Typically, nonoperative treatment includes a pain medication regimen such as: Scheduled acetaminophen with a combination of ibuprofen as needed Neuropathic pain medications target nerves specifically Lidocaine patches Prescribed muscle relaxants and narcotics We always encourage aggressive pulmonary hygiene with deep breathing and coughing to help with volume expansion How do I know if the pain has gone on too long?

Are there surgical options for broken ribs that don't heal? During the physical exam, your doctor will press gently on your ribs. He or she might also listen to your lungs and watch your rib cage move as you breathe. Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Restricting activities and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief. It's important to obtain adequate pain relief — if it hurts to breathe deeply, you may develop pneumonia.

If oral medications don't help enough, your doctor might suggest injections of long-lasting anesthesia around the nerves that supply the ribs. Once your pain is under control, your doctor might prescribe breathing exercises to help you breathe more deeply because shallow breathing can put you at risk of developing pneumonia. In the past, doctors would use compression wraps — elastic bandages that you can wrap around your chest — to help splint and immobilize the area.

Compression wraps aren't recommended for broken ribs anymore because they can keep you from breathing deeply, which can increase the risk of pneumonia. Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition. Because many broken ribs are caused by motor vehicle accidents, you may find out you have a broken rib in a hospital's emergency department.

If you break a rib because of repetitive stress over time, you'll likely see your primary care provider. Take a family member or friend along, if possible, to help you remember the information you're given. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Advertising revenue supports our not-for-profit mission.