Rib bruises tend to happen with lower-impact injuries, such as a fall. A broken rib, which is the same thing as a fractured rib, describes an actual break in the bone. It's usually a more serious injury than a bruise.

Do bruised ribs take longer to heal than broken ribs?

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.

What do you do for bruised ribs?

Resting and restricting your activities are the main treatment options for bruised ribs. Ice may help relieve some of your pain and swelling. Since bruised ribs cause pain when you inhale — causing you to take more shallow breaths — your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage your pain.

How long will a bruised rib hurt?

Broken or bruised ribs heal in the same way and usually get better by themselves within 3 to 6 weeks.

Is a bruised rib bad?

In some cases, a bruised or broken rib can result in other health conditions that could even be life-threatening. If a person with a recent bruised or broken rib experiences any of the following symptoms, they should seek medical attention right away: Severe pain that continues to get worse.

How to Take Care of Bruised Ribs

How do you know if your ribs are broken or cracked?

How Can I Tell If I Have a Broken Rib?

1. If you touch the spot where your rib is broken, it will hurt more.
2. Your chest will hurt more when you take a deep breath.
3. The pain will get worse if you twist your body.
4. Coughing or laughing will cause pain. There may also be bruising, depending on the cause.

How do you know if a rib injury is serious?

It is important to see a doctor immediately, seeking emergency care if your rib fracture is accompanied by:

1. Increasing shortness of breath.
2. Trouble breathing deeply or coughing.
3. Fever.
4. Unusual cough, or a cough that produces mucus or blood.
5. Feeling dizzy or weak.
6. Abdominal pain.

Can a bruised rib heal on its own?

In most cases, a bruised rib will heal on its own. You can take pain medicine while the rib mends. Pain relief allows you to take deep breaths. Follow-up care is a key part of your treatment and safety.

How much weight does it take to break a rib?

For some bones, like ribs, a force of about 742 pounds would be required, while harder bones like the femur bone, would require up to 899 pounds of force.

What happens if you leave a broken rib untreated?

When untreated, rib fractures will lead to serious short-term consequences such as severe pain when breathing, pneumonia and, rarely, death. Long-term consequences include chest wall deformity, chronic pain and decreased lung function.

Which ribs are the worst to break?

The middle ribs are most commonly fractured. Fractures of the first or second ribs are more likely to be associated with complications.

Does broken rib pain get worse before it gets better?

The worst pain is usually the first 1-2 weeks and gets gradually better after that. Healing time also depends on the person.

What is the best painkiller for bruised ribs?

To control your pain, start with ibuprofen (which is the same thing as Advil or Motrin) or Naproxen (same thing as Aleve). An hour after you've taken one of them, if it still hurts too much to take a deep breath, you can add a stronger pain medication, such as Tylenol #3 or Percocet.

How should you sleep with a fractured rib?

Sleeping on your side, back and sitting up straight are the only viable positions for this situation. Your choice will be based on your level of comfort. Some doctors recommend sleeping on the injured side to allow more room for your expansion and contraction of the chest cavity to ease breathing.

How long should you be off work with broken ribs?

When pain is not present at rest, the patient can begin to increase his or her activity level but this should be gradually done. Most rib fractures heal within 6 weeks. Many patients are able to resume daily activities much sooner. Virtually all nonpathologic rib fractures heal well with conservative management.