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. Some patients are able to return to work within a few days, depending on their occupation.
How long should I stay off work with broken ribs?
It takes about six weeks for broken ribs to heal on their own. During this time, you should avoid activities that could further injure your ribs. That means sports and heavy lifting are off the table. If anything causes you to feel pain around your ribs, stop immediately and hold off until you’re healed.
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.
Can I drive with a fractured rib?
This will make performing common takes such as lifting objects or getting dressed quite difficult. If you have been diagnosed with a fractured sternum, you should avoid driving your car until you are completely healed.
How do you rest with a broken 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.
Is it OK to walk with a fractured rib?
Most broken ribs resolve within six weeks. You’ll need to take it easy during this time, but you should still be able to walk around and do your daily activities. If you find that the pain isn’t getting any better, see a doctor to rule out any additional injuries that could be causing your symptoms.
Why is my broken rib pain getting worse?
The risk of rib injury increases with advancing age, brittle bones (osteoporosis), and low bone density (osteopenia). A break in one or more ribs can make the area painful to touch. The pain can worsen with a deep breath, laughing, or body movements like twisting and turning.
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. Diagnosis can be made based on symptoms and supported by medical imaging.
Is a hot tub good for broken ribs?
Apply cold to the injured area off-and-on the first two days. Cold helps reduce pain and swelling. After two days, apply heat (tub soaks or warm wet washcloths) to help the bruise heal more quickly.
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.
What exercise can I do with broken ribs?
Gentle exercise for broken ribs can also help to clear your mind and prevent depression or anxiety from developing. Breathing exercises are the main type of rehab, but chest-stretching exercises for broken ribs are effective as well. Each type should be done slowly and gently, with a gradual increase as you heal.
What helps broken ribs heal faster?
- Take a break from sports to allow yourself to heal without hurting yourself again.
- Put ice on the area to relieve pain.
- Take pain medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen. …
- Take deep breaths to avoid pneumonia. …
- Don’t wrap anything tightly around your ribs while they’re healing.
What should you not do with broken ribs?
- do not wrap a bandage tightly around your chest to stop your lungs expanding properly.
- do not lie down or stay still for a long time.
- do not strain yourself or lift heavy objects.
- do not play any sports or do any exercise that makes your pain worse.
- do not smoke – stopping smoking may also help your recovery.
Can you workout with bruised ribs?
Can you exercise with broken or bruised ribs? It is best to avoid exercise and other activities that make your pain worse or that involve lifting heavy objects while your ribs are healing.
Can you jog with bruised ribs?
If you have pain while sitting, there will probably be a lot of pain with running. If you can maintain good running form despite the pain, there is no reason that you cannot resume running. Applying ice to the bruised chest wall following running may help with the pain.
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.
Why do broken ribs hurt more in the morning?
Usually, they prop themselves up with pillows or sleep in a recliner. Lying flat makes the pain worse because the chest has to rise against gravity to get that deep breath in and sitting upright takes gravity away. Morning is perhaps the worst time of day.
Should you wear a brace with broken ribs?
In the past, doctors would use compression wraps — elastic bandages that you can wrap around your chest — to help splint and immobilize the area. Compression wraps aren’t recommended for broken ribs anymore because they can keep you from breathing deeply, which can increase the risk of pneumonia.
What are 4 signs and symptoms of a rib fracture?
- 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.
How should you sleep with bruised ribs?
Try to sleep in a comfortable semi-upright position for the first few nights. You can do this by placing a few pillows under your neck and upper back. This position will help you breathe more comfortably. Begin to sleep on your unaffected side after the first few days of injury.
Can you lift with fractured ribs?
Do not lift, wherever possible, and avoid strenuous exercise. Chest infections are a very common problem after minor rib injuries. It is vital that at least five minutes of deep breathing exercises are undertaken every hour while the pain persists to try to avoid an infection developing.
Does walking help bruised ribs?
Take a walk. Walking remains one of the best low-impact exercises you can do to stay active. However, you should not overdo it during your bruised rib treatment. The primary goal here is movement, so take it easy rather than trying to beat your personal best for walking a mile.