Falling and got hit in the chest area may cause the ribs bruised, cracked, or broken. Sometimes severe coughing can also lead to a rib injury in people who suffer from osteoporosis and cancer.
When ribs bruised, cracked, or broken, you will experience tremendous pain. But with a proper care, this pain will slowly goes away after three weeks to one and a half months because the rib structure is able to recover naturally.
In most cases, a broken rib can be handled with care at home. These ways can you do to take care of the injured ribs.
Rib Injury Home Remedy Treatment
- Taking painkillers. You can choose ibuprofen or paracetamol. Consider the use of the drug according to instructions on the package. Aspirin can also be used for adults.
- Breathing exercises. When a rib get injury, you will feel pain when breathing deeply so that makes you tend to inhale slowly and shallow. Actually, you are advised to keep breathing normally. The purpose is to prevent chest infections and helps remove mucus from the lungs. As a form of breathing exercises, you can inhale a deep breath then exhale slowly. Do this 10 times every hour. Then you also can do exercises to perform mild cough every two hours.
- Do not bandage the injured ribs. Bruised, cracked, or broken rib should not be covered with bandages (elastic bandage) wrapped around the chest area. Pressure from the bandage on the upper body area can hamper breathing and increases the risk of pneumonia.
- Rest a Lot. If your job requires a lot of physical movement, we recommend you take time off. Similarly, if the condition of your ribs is considered as a severe injury and agonizingly painful.
- Do not lying down for too long. Avoid lying position for too long, or being in the same position for a long time. In the first few days, you are advised to sleep in an upright position.
- Being active. You are advised to keep moving once in a while, such as walking around and moving the shoulder. Remain mobile will help clear your lungs of mucus.
- Compress the chest. To reduce swelling and pain, compress your chest regularly. Use ice cubes or frozen food wrapped in a towel and apply on the chest area. Do this especially on the first few days.
- Use a pillow if you want to cough. If you want to cough, hug a pillow to hold the chest to absorb the pressure.
- Avoid the following things for a while. You are advised not to carry or lift heavy loads. Avoid straining too strong and avoid smoking. Just wait until your condition get better.
You have to really pay attention how to take care of your bruised, cracked, or broken ribs, as described above. Do not let your lack of attention worsen the situation and make the recovery process becomes longer.
Immediately see a doctor if you experience high fever, shortness of breath, severe chest pain, coughing up blood, cough accompany with yellow or green mucus, and pain in the abdomen or shoulder. You should also see a doctor if the pain does not relieve in a few weeks after taking care as mentioned above.
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