RbSs4c7vs/TpO-YBhrYQI/AAAAAAAACRQ/oRIIpk-BoCA/s1600/DSC_0006.JPG' alt='Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' title='Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' />Fractured Rib Topic Overview. What is a fractured rib A rib fracture is a crack or break in one of the bones of the rib cage. A break in the thick tissue cartilage that connects the ribs to the breastbone may also be called a fractured rib, even if the bone itself is not broken. The most common cause of a fractured rib is a direct blow to the chest, often from a car accident or a fall. Coughing hard can also fracture a rib. This is more likely to happen if you have a disease that has made your bones weak, such as osteoporosis or cancer. What happens when you break a rib Your ribs have two main jobs They protect the organs in your chest. They help you breathe by keeping space open inside your chest while the muscles you use to breathe squeeze in, or contract. This leaves plenty of space for your lungs to fill up with air. The muscles used for breathing pull on the ribs, so breathing may be very painful when you have a fractured rib. It is important to see a doctor after a rib injury. A blow that is hard enough to fracture a rib could also injure your lungs, spleen, blood vessels, or other parts of your body. A common injury when you have a fractured rib is a punctured or collapsed lung pneumothorax. Theory Of Automata Ebook'>Theory Of Automata Ebook. Flail chest is a serious problem that happens when three or more ribs are broken in more than one place. If you have flail chest, the broken area cant hold its shape when you take a breath. This leaves less space in your chest for your lungs to open and air to flow in. It also makes it harder for the muscles to work well, so its harder to take a breath. Download Gears Of War Highly Compressed. What are the symptoms A fractured rib may cause Mild to severe pain in the injured area. Pain when you breathe. Pain around the fracture when someone pushes on your breastbone. Ys_wH_2Q.jpg' alt='Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' title='Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' />What are best functional fitness exercises for seniors Here are top 22 exercises you should give a try. A diagnosis of Fatty Liver Disease can be a real downer, but it may hearten you to know that there are steps you can take to reverse this condition. Recent News. People With Epilepsy May Gain From Common Sleep Apnea Treatment 3 Signs Youd Be Happier With a New Job 5 Things You Should Know About Cervical Cancer. Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' title='Cracked Rib Treatment Wrap' />If you cant breathe normally because of your injuries, you may Feel short of breath. Feel anxious, restless, or scared. Have a headache. Feel dizzy, tired, or sleepy. Continued. How is a fractured rib diagnosedYour doctor will ask questions about your injury and do a physical exam. The doctor may Push on your chest to find out where you are hurt. Watch you breathe and listen to your lungs to make sure air is moving in and out normally. Listen to your heart. Check your head, neck, spine, and belly to make sure there are no other injuries. You may need to have an X ray or other imaging test if your doctor isnt sure about your symptoms. But rib fractures dont always show up on X rays. So you may be treated as though you have a fractured rib even if an X ray doesnt show any broken bones. How is it treated Most fractured ribs are treated at home and will heal on their own over time. Home treatment will help you manage the pain while you heal. Pain relief can help you feel better and let you take deeper breaths. A fractured rib usually takes at least 6 weeks to heal. To help manage the pain while the fracture heals While you are healing, it is important to cough or take the deepest breath you can at least once an hour. This can help prevent pneumonia or a partial collapse of the lung tissue. If you have fractured your ribs and you have not injured your neck or back, it is a good idea to lie on your injured side. This may seem odd at first, but it will let you take deeper breaths. In the past, it was common to tape or tightly wrap the injured rib area. But you should not do this, even if it eases your pain. It can keep you from taking deep breaths, and it could cause parts of your lung to collapse or could increase your risk for pneumonia. Web. MD Medical Reference from Healthwise. This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this. Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated. Dislocated Ribs Symptoms, Treatment, and Causes. For a few days, it is recommended that you stop doing any strenuous physical activity. From time to time, you can also use ice packs to alleviate the pain. You can use ice packs to relieve the pain for three to four times a day, 2. The amount of time you need to recover depends on your physical condition, age, and severity of the injury. Most people, however, recover after six weeks of rest. Make sure that you rest and prevent your chest from moving unnaturally or too much. Ldd Lxf Files Download on this page. Be aware of your posture. Always be aware of how you sit, stand, walk, and lie down. If you feel that your muscles or ribs are resisting your movements, then consult your doctor again. Ask your doctor about the best exercises for regaining mobility and how best to use ice in order to facilitate recovery. They may recommend strength training to increase back strength. Some of the most effective workouts to strengthen the muscle groups in your chest are rotational motions, pull downs, and rowing. Be sure to follow safe practices while doing these i. When rehabilitating your muscles, you do not need to put a lot of effort into building strength and you dont have to do so many reps that you achieve muscle failure. This is risky as well as a lot of work. All you need is to stress your muscles in order for them to grow and become strong enough to prevent another injury. Of course, when starting out, make sure that you use light or small weights. Also, be gentle with the workout. You need to stress only your muscles, not your whole body. On the other hand, if it is a regular activity that caused your injury, stop doing it for a while. If you have no idea what caused it, you might want to analyze your lifestyle. Your doctor might help you figure out the area of your lifestyle that need changing.