Broken or bruised ribs – how to feel better

Injured ribs can feel really painful but they often heal on their own – there are things you can try to help with the pain and healing in the meantime.

What are the symptoms?

When to get emergency help

What are the causes and who’s affected? 

Self-care tips for injured ribs

When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

What’s the treatment?

Can you prevent rib injury? 

Sharp pain when you breathe in, bruising and tenderness around your chest area – these are signs of a broken or bruised rib. It can happen after an accident such as a fall or a type of blow to the chest or ribs. Find out how to ease the pain, and when to see a doctor.


Your rib cage, made up of 12 pairs of ribs that stretch around your chest, protects some of the most important organs in your body, such as your heart and lungs, from damage.

But when one (or more) of your ribs becomes bruised or broken, known as a rib fracture, it can feel uncomfortable and painful, and make going about daily activities difficult. 

Rib fractures are pretty common and usually happen because of a hard impact from a fall or through playing contact sports, such as rugby.

Bruised or broken ribs usually heal on their own over time, but in serious cases, medical help may be needed. 

## What are the symptoms?

If you’ve bruised or broken a rib, you may feel:

- pain in your chest area – this is usually sharp, strong pain, while moving or at rest. You may notice it especially when you breathe in or breathe deeply, cough, laugh, sneeze, bend, or twist your body
- swelling and tenderness – causing soreness
- bruising or your skin changing color near to the damaged rib – it may turn blue, purple or yellow.

If your injured rib was caused by an accident or blow to your chest, you may also have felt or heard a crack when it happened.

Get help with this

## When to get emergency help

Get emergency medical help if you have a broken or bruised rib and you:

- were involved in a serious accident, such as a car accident
- have pain in your belly or shoulder
- have chest pain and it’s getting worse
- are short of breath 
- are coughing up blood.

Go to an urgent treatment center if:

- the pain hasn’t got any better within a few weeks
- you have a high fever (temperature) or feel hot and shivery
- you’re coughing up yellow or green mucus (which could be a chest infection).

## What are the causes and who’s affected? 

Most rib injuries are triggered by direct impact (trauma) to the chest, such as from a: 

- car accident
- sports injury
- fall.

But sometimes an injured rib can be triggered by:

- coughing
- certain illnesses – like [osteoporosis](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/osteoporosis), or cancers that affect bones.

Anyone can injure their ribs, whether it’s a fracture or some bruising, but it’s more likely to happen if you:

- __play sports often__ – especially contact sports, such as hockey or football. These increase the risk of injury to your chest
- __are older__ – meaning you may be more likely to have a fall
- __have osteoporosis__ – a condition that increases the risk of breaking bones.

## Self-care tips for injured ribs
Most cases of fractured and bruised ribs heal on their own in 2 to 6 weeks, with rest.

But there are ways to speed up the recovery process and reduce pain, such as:

- __taking painkillers__ – including acetaminophen (paracetamol) or NSAIDs like ibuprofen (check this is safe for you to take)
- __holding an ice pack to your chest__ – in the first few days after injury. This can help to reduce swelling and numb the pain
- __resting__ – take time off work if you need to
- __breathing normally with slow and deep breaths__ – and coughing when you need to, which can help clear mucus from your lungs and prevent chest infections. You could try breathing exercises, too
- __holding a pillow next to your chest when you need to cough__ – to cushion any pain
- __walking around__ – and moving your shoulders from time to time. This can help to get rid of mucus in your lungs
- __sleeping upright__ – this may be more comfortable in the first few nights after your injury
- __avoiding lifting heavy objects__
- __not smoking__.


## When to see a doctor and getting diagnosed

Go back to the section [When to get emergency help](https://www.livehealthily.com/health-library/conditions/rib-injuries#getting-urgent-help) to check which symptoms need immediate medical attention.

Otherwise, see your doctor if you have symptoms of a rib injury. They will want to run you through a physical exam first – they might press gently on your ribs, listen to your lungs, and watch your rib cage move as you breathe.

Tests are not usually needed for rib injuries. But you may need 1 or more of the following tests to check for damage to your organs, such as:

- __an X-ray__ – to check for broken ribs and bone damage
- __a CT scan__ – can show bone breaks in more detail as well as injuries to soft tissues, such as muscles, nerves, and blood vessels
- __an MRI__ – may reveal smaller bone breaks and any damage to soft tissues and organs 
- __a bone scan__ – to view cracked bones (stress fractures).


## What’s the treatment?

The ribs cannot be easily supported with a splint like other bones in your body, so they're usually left to heal on their own over time.

But if your bones haven’t healed back together properly (called a nonunion or malunion), you have internal injuries, or you’re unable to breathe properly and need a respirator, you may need surgery – but this is rare.

## Can you prevent rib injury? 

You can’t prevent yourself from bruising or breaking a rib completely, but you can reduce your risk by:

- wearing a seatbelt in the car
- wearing the right protective equipment for activities and sports you take part in
- watching for trip hazards in your house
- using the proper tools or equipment at home to reach for things – don’t stand on chairs, tables, or countertops, for example
- following a diet and exercise plan that will help you maintain and strengthen your bones – focus on getting enough calcium and vitamin D in your diet.


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References

Amelia Glean

Jo Wheatley

Dr Emily Blount

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Injured ribs can feel really painful but they often heal on their own – there are things you can try to help with the pain and healing in the meantime.
