Difference Between Bruised And Broken Ribs

Bruised or Broken Rib. As long as you can breathe (gently) and you aren’t showing other symptoms (weak pulse, huge swelling, bloody cough), the only difference between a bruise, sprain (lower ribs are mostly cartilage in front), or broken rib is how long it will take to heal. You can apply some tape to the skin above the injury,…

Broken and bruised ribs are generally treated in the same way, so it’s not usually necessary to have an X-ray to determine what your exact injury is. You generally only need to seek medical advice if things get worse or don’t improve, or if you were injured during a serious accident.

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.

Bruised ribs are notorious for their long healing time. Unfortunately, unlike other bones of the body, ribs cannot be placed in a cast, which is why we need to wait for them to heal on their own. Typical healing time for bruised ribs is anywhere between 3 to 6 weeks.

Bruised ribs are notorious for their long healing time. Unfortunately, unlike other bones of the body, ribs cannot be placed in a cast, which is why we need to wait for them to heal on their own. Typical healing time for bruised ribs is anywhere between 3 to 6 weeks. However, some may take even longer.

Broken ribs recovery is slow. It takes a good 6 to 8 weeks for fractured or broken ribs to heal. During this time it is imperative to observe for and treat any complications that could turn into emergency situations. Unfortunately, pain will continue throughout the entire recuperation time.

The best broken rib treatment is simple pain medication. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen or naproxen are best. If you go to the ER for your broken rib, the doctor is likely to give you a prescription pain medication as well as a NSAID.

Treatment Options. While healing time for bruised ribs typically ranges anywhere between 5 to 6 weeks, rib fractures might take longer to heal. The time one would take to recover would also vary, depending on the overall health of the patient. It might range from 6 weeks to 6 months.

Cracked or Broken Rib Symptoms Chest Pain: Mild to severe pain is experienced in the affected region. … Breathing Problems: The person may not be able to breathe, as functioning of lungs may get affected due to the injured rib. … Painful Breathing: Patient may experience pain while breathing due to the chest wall deformities that are caused as a result of cracked rib. More items…

Pain is the most notable symptom of a broken rib. It can take from six weeks to six months for the fractures to heal and for a patient to be free of pain. The pain results mostly from the movement of the broken ends of the rib and can recur with each motion or deep breath.

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.