What does bruised ribs feel like?
The skin overlying the bruise may turn blue, purple, or yellow. The bruised area is tender and sore. You may feel pain both when you move and while at rest. Breathing, coughing, laughing, or sneezing can all cause or increase pain.
Are bruised ribs as painful as broken?
But the treatment for a bruised rib is often the same as treatment for a broken one. An injury to the ribs can cause pain. The pain may be worse when you breathe deeply, cough, or sneeze. In most cases, a bruised rib will heal on its own.
Is heat or cold better for bruised ribs?
Cold helps reduce pain and swelling. After two days, apply heat (tub soaks or warm wet washcloths) to help the bruise heal more quickly.
Does a broken rib make a popping sound?
If your rib is broken, you may notice: A cracking sound or feeling inside your chest. Intense chest pain, especially when you take a deep breath. Swelling.
How do you lay down with a broken rib?
Sleeping While Sitting Upright Ideally, this is the best sleep position for patients with a broken rib. This position can help your ribs heal quickly than lying down on the bed. Sleeping while lying down may exert unwanted pressures on the spine, which might be transferred to the ribs.
How long does it take for a bruised rib to heal?
Bruised ribs are notorious for their long healing time. Unfortunately, unlike other bones of the body, ribs cannot be placed in a cast, which is why we need to wait for them to heal on their own. Typical healing time for bruised ribs is anywhere between 3 to 6 weeks. However, some may take even longer.
How long do broken ribs take to recover?
Broken ribs recovery is slow. It takes a good 6 to 8 weeks for fractured or broken ribs to heal. During this time it is imperative to observe for and treat any complications that could turn into emergency situations. Unfortunately, pain will continue throughout the entire recuperation time.
How do you repair a broken rib?
Put ice over the fractured rib. Apply an ice pack, frozen gel pack or bag of peas from the freezer onto your rib injury for about 20 minutes every hour you are awake for the first two days, then reduce it to 10 – 20 minutes three times daily as needed to reduce pain and swelling.
What is the best treatment for cracked ribs?
The best broken rib treatment is simple pain medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are best. If you go to the ER for your broken rib, the doctor is likely to give you a prescription pain medication as well as a NSAID .