Medication
Your doctor will ask you to do the following if they diagnose a broken rib:
- Restrict activities that might increase pain related to the broken rib. ...
- Massage gently over the affected area with ice wrapped in a cloth or a bag of frozen peas for 15 to 20 minutes about four to five times a day. ...
- Your doctor will prescribe painkiller medications such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen, or naproxen. ...
Procedures
The treatment for a broken rib is simple: it can heal on its own with proper rest, but can take approximately six weeks to completely heal. In the meantime, you may experience a significant amount of pain, which can be remedied with pain relievers and by icing the affected area.
Therapy
The following factors can increase your risk of breaking a rib:
- Osteoporosis. Having this disease in which your bones lose their density makes you more susceptible to a bone fracture.
- Sports participation. Playing contact sports, such as hockey or football, increases your risk of trauma to your chest.
- Cancerous lesion in a rib. A cancerous lesion can weaken the bone, making it more susceptible to breaks.
Self-care
Pendrith has been feeling rib discomfort since the Players Championship in early March, and a recent MRI revealed the fracture. Following doctors' advice, Pendrith will rest until the rib is fully healed. Pendrith is targeting a return in time for the PGA Championship which begins May 19.
Nutrition
See more
What is the best treatment for a broken rib?
What is the healing time for a broken rib?
How easy can you break a rib?
How do you heal broken ribs?
What can you do for a fractured rib?
Dotake painkillers, such as paracetamol or ibuprofen – avoid taking ibuprofen for 48 hours after your injury as it may slow down healing.hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas 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.More items...
How long does it take for fractured ribs to repair?
Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Restricting activities and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief.
Is walking good for broken ribs?
If anything causes you to feel pain around your ribs, stop immediately and hold off until you're healed. During healing, however, it is important to walk around and move your shoulders occasionally to prevent mucus from building up in your lungs.
What are 4 signs and symptoms of a rib fracture?
The main symptoms of a broken rib include:pain in the chest wall that gets worse when breathing, moving, or coughing.bruising or swelling around the ribs.shortness of breath.difficulty taking a deep breath.
Do broken ribs ever fully heal?
In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.
Can a broken rib heal on its own?
In most cases, a fractured rib will heal on its own in about six weeks. Doctors no longer prescribe compression wraps for rib fractures, because they can restrict breathing, leading to pneumonia, or even a partial lung collapse. Pain management is important, especially in the first few days after an injury.
Can broken ribs heal in 2 weeks?
Recovery from rib fractures Rib fractures can take weeks to months to heal, depending on how mild or serious the fracture is. In general, any broken bone will take 6-8 weeks to heal. The worst pain is usually the first 1-2 weeks and gets gradually better after that.
How long does it take for 2 fractured ribs to heal?
Healing takes at least 6 weeks. If you injure other body organs, you may need to stay in the hospital. Otherwise, you can heal at home. Most people with broken ribs do not need surgery.
Causes of Broken, Fractured, and Bruised Ribs
Rib injuries are most commonly caused by chest trauma, as a result of motor vehicle accidents, contact sports collisions, or falling. Ribs can also...
How to Tell If Your Ribs Are Broken
If you’ve experienced trauma to your upper torso or chest area, pay attention to the pain you feel when you breathe in. A fractured, broken, or bru...
Treating Your Broken Ribs at Home
In most cases, ribs are excellent at healing themselves. However, during your recovery time, it’s important that you get adequate rest and tend to...
Diagnosis
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.
Treatment
Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Restricting activities and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief.
Clinical trials
Explore Mayo Clinic studies testing new treatments, interventions and tests as a means to prevent, detect, treat or manage this condition.
Preparing for your appointment
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.
Warnings
Contact a doctor immediately if you develop severe chest pain, fever, chills, shortness of breath, expansive bruising and/or cough up blood.
About This Article
This article was medically reviewed by Jonas DeMuro, MD. Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996.
Causes of Broken, Fractured, and Bruised Ribs
Rib injuries are most commonly caused by chest trauma, as a result of motor vehicle accidents, contact sports collisions, or falling. Ribs can also be bruised from severe coughing.
How to Tell If Your Ribs Are Broken
If you’ve experienced trauma to your upper torso or chest area, pay attention to the pain you feel when you breathe in. A fractured, broken, or bruised rib can feel very painful when breathing in, which may result in taking shallow breaths.
Treating Your Broken Ribs at Home
In most cases, ribs are excellent at healing themselves. However, during your recovery time, it’s important that you get adequate rest and tend to the pain to optimize healing. This includes:
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FastMed Urgent Care owns and operates over 100 clinics in North Carolina, Arizona and Texas that provide a broad range of acute/episodic and preventive healthcare services 365 days a year.
Rib Fracture Healing Time
Rib fractures may take 6 weeks to 6 months to heal. Depending on the health status of the patient, the healing time varies from one patient to another. Factors that affect the healing time include:
Ways to Shorten Your Rib Fracture Healing Time
Although the healing of rib fractures is quite slow, certain therapeutic measures can help enhance healing. During the entire period of recovery, taking enough rest, and avoiding sudden movements that may cause the ribs to displace or break again, are extremely important. Other measures that can help speed up the healing process are listed below.
When to See a Doctor
If you are not sure whether or not you have a rib fracture, consult the doctor at once to confirm the diagnosis. A rib fracture manifests itself as:
How do I know if I have a broken rib?
The most common causes of rib fractures are car accidents, falls, and sports injuries. Believe it or not, severe coughing is a common cause, too. The risk of rib injury increases with advancing age, brittle bones (osteoporosis), and low bone density (osteopenia).
How long do broken ribs take to heal?
Most simple rib fractures are treated at home. However, others, such as injuries from a serious accident, may require hospitalization first. Either way, you’ll have a pain-management plan in place upon your return home.
What are the treatment options for fractured ribs?
Surgery is rarely used for fractured ribs. It may be necessary when multiple ribs are fractured and there are other injuries present (for example, to the lung).
What pain medications can I take for fractured ribs?
Several options for managing your pain are available, but it’s important to be aware of possible side effects. For example, prescription pain medication along with decreased activity, can cause constipation .
Can I do anything to accelerate the healing process?
The expected time it takes for ribs to heal is fairly standard. Although you can’t accelerate the bone healing process, there are many things you can do for self-care during this time.
The bottom line
Healing from rib fractures is a slow process that requires patience. It usually takes about 6 weeks to heal properly. If you develop new symptoms such as increased shortness of breath, fever, or increased pain, get medical help.
Exercises to Help Broken Ribs Recovery
Exercise for broken ribs recovery is a delicate balance. Your condition is quite painful, so you need to keep exercise gentle and allow for plenty of rest. On the other hand, you need to stay active over the next several weeks to reduce your risks for pneumonia and other chest infections, blood clots, or muscle weakness.
Safety Considerations
Broken ribs don't heal overnight, so it's important to not overexert yourself. While you may feel some pain completing the exercises, you should stop if the pain increases. Contact your doctor immediately if you experience colored or bloody mucus, fever, or shortness of breath.
What to Know About Common Rib Injuries
Abby Norman is a freelance science writer and medical editor. She is also the author of "Ask Me About My Uterus: A Quest to Make Doctors Believe in Women's Pain (2018)."
Chest Anatomy
The chest, also called the thorax, contains several key anatomical structures and organs. 1 The ribcage protects some of the most important organs, including the lungs and the heart. The ribcage contains 12 ribs total on each side, divided into three different types.
Symptoms
Both bruised and broken ribs can be extremely painful. Furthermore, unlike injuries that occur in other areas of the body, such as an arm or a leg, which can be wrapped, put in a cast, or more easily rested with crutches or a sling as they heal, the chest wall and ribcage move every time a person breathes.
Risk Factors
While any person who experiences trauma to the chest are at risk for complications, older people or people who have low bone density ( osteoporosis) are more likely to not only experience broken ribs but to develop complications from the injury, such as pneumonia. 10
Diagnosis
Rib injuries are fairly common, but the exact incidence isn't known. Since there is not much that can be done for rib injuries other than treating the symptoms and helping people avoid complications, medical intervention is usually minimal and supportive.
Treatment
The primary treatment for rib injuries is time. It typically takes between four to six weeks for either type of injury to heal, though fractures (breaks) may take even longer. 14
A Word From Verywell
Rib injuries are common and range from minor injuries to severe trauma. While the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of broken and bruised ribs are similar, the conditions are distinct. Be sure to contact your healthcare professional if you have pain associated with your ribcage.
