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Jul 31, 2019 · Children. When to see a doctor. Outlook. The ribs can become bruised or broken after a traumatic injury to the chest. Symptoms include pain, trouble breathing, muscle spasms, and more....
Feb 15, 2023 · Treatment. Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Being less active and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief. Medicines. It's important to relieve pain. Not being able to breathe deeply because of pain can lead to pneumonia.
Sep 7, 2022 · Most of the time, a bruised rib will heal on its own within two to six weeks. What Are Symptoms of Bruised Ribs? It may be difficult to tell if a rib is bruised or broken because symptoms can be the same, and may include: Intense pain in the chest area. Pain may be worse when inhaling, coughing, or sneezing.
Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. After 2 or 3 days, if your swelling is gone, put a heating pad set on low or a warm cloth on your chest. Some doctors suggest that you go back and forth between hot and cold. Put a thin cloth between the heating pad and your skin.
Jan 10, 2024 · You have a broken or bruised rib and: It could mean a broken rib has damaged something else, like your lung, liver or spleen. Find out about how long it takes injured ribs to heal, how to look after yourself until you're feeling better, and when you should get medical advice.
Mar 20, 2024 · Updated March 20, 2024. Bruised ribs are a common injury that can cause significant pain and discomfort. Typically, the result of an impact or blow to the chest area is bruised ribs, which occur when the soft tissue around the ribs sustains damage without breaking the bones.
What to Expect. Bruised ribs recover in the same manner as fractured ribs, but a bruise takes less time to recover than a rib fracture. Healing takes about 4 to 6 weeks. An x-ray, MRI, or CT scan is rarely needed to confirm the diagnosis.
