Bruised ribs is a common type of injury, which may be seen in children and adults. For relief from pain caused by bruised ribs, there are many simple measures that one can take at home. More often than not, one is able to get rid of the pain with the said measures.
Has it happened to you, that while you were trying to pick up something, you accidentally bruised your ribs? May be when you were skating, you fell and have bruised ribs now? Were you playing with your pet and in the whole fun hurt yourself and now have bruised ribs? Do you play any contact sports and injured your ribs during the play? These are just some of the situations where you can get your ribs bruised. Although, it is just 'bruised' ribs, it a very painful condition. Measures have to be taken for pain relief before the condition aggravates. The most common symptoms of bruised ribs are tenderness around the area of injury, pain when one tries to sneeze, cough, yawn or take deep breath. In some cases the person may experience shortness of breath, sharp and constant pain in the rib. In severe cases, there may be visible signs of bruising in the vicinity of the injury.
Treatment for Bruised Ribs
The first measure that must be taken, is to get an X-ray to ensure there are no broken ribs. If the bruising is severe, then with the help of the X-ray, it can be diagnosed, if there are any signs of pneumothorax or pulmonary contusion. In case of broken ribs, there are chances of the patient contracting pneumonia as the lungs may not have sufficient space to expand fully.
Using ice packs on the affected area proves to be beneficial for pain relief from bruised ribs. It is important that the ice is placed inside a bag and not used directly on the skin, as it can cause cold burns. Ice packs will have to be used on the area for 10 to 15 minutes every couple of hours.
When suffering from bruised ribs, it is important that one does take sufficient amount of rest. In most cases, because the patients do not take sufficient rest, the condition aggravates and the patients complaint of ribs pain getting worse. Hence, as far as possible, it is important not to do too many movements. With unwarranted movements, the ribs do not get sufficient time to heal. When you are changing sides, while sleeping take care that you do not hurt the ribs. Make sure you do not change sides all of a sudden or get up from the bed suddenly.
Using compression bandage or fabric sleeve to fit around the torso is recommended. The bandage is able to support the ribs better and save the person from agony, due to movements. The soft tissues are also kept in place and the bandage ensures there is no place for sudden or jerky movements, which often aggravate the pain. However, when the compression bandage is used, it is important that the bandage is not wrapped too tightly, so that the supply of blood to the affected area is not cut off.
Often pain relievers may have to be taken for broken ribs pain relief. It is best to consult a physician for the right medicine, rather than just relying on over the counter medication. If you are taking over the counter medicines, then you will want to ensure that you do not use too many of the pain relievers.
When you are suffering from bruised ribs, you will have to make sure that you are not constipated. If you are constipated, then there are chances that pressure will be exerted on the ribs, which will aggravate the condition. Hence, make sure your diet is rich in fluid, fiber rich foods and whole grains.
If the remedies mentioned in this write up, do not bring bruised ribs pain relief, then it is best to consult your health care professional. The pain should subside in a day or two. If it takes any longer, then it is best not to have a wait and watch policy. Similarly, if the pain is excruciating, then it is best to consult a physician to rule out cracked or broken ribs.
