How to Treat Broken Ribs

Ribs help protect chest cavity organs, including the lungs, from damage. Significant trauma, such as broken ribs, can result from falls, automobile accidents and sporting injuries. While most cases of broken ribs respond well to home care and will heal within four to six weeks according to the Mayo Clinic, rib injuries require medical attention to eliminate the possibility of a punctured lung. Proper treatment seeks to reduce pain while fighting off possible complications, including pneumonia.

Things You'll Need

• Over-the-counter pain reliever
• Ice

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Instructions

• 1

  Relieve pain. Use over-the-counter pain relievers to help decrease pain. Options include ibuprofen, naproxen and acetaminophen. Ask your physician for prescription-strength pain relief medications for severe pain not relieved by over-the-counter options. Use an ice pack, applied for 20 minutes at a time several times a day, to help numb the area.

• 2

  Breathe deeply. Take deep breaths to help prevent pneumonia, a serious complication possible in those suffering from broken ribs.

• 3

  Seek medical attention. Talk to your physician concerning the possibility of utilizing nerve blocks to help alleviate pain. Nerve blocks are injections of anesthesia used to treat severe pain.

• 4

  Avoid compression wraps. Refrain from wrapping your chest in a compression bandage. Compression bandages will prohibit your ability to breathe deeply and increase your risk of developing pneumonia, according to the Mayo Clinic.