“When should I see a doctor for rib injury?”
I hit my rib badly. It hurts a lot. When should I see a doctor for rib injury?
9 Answers
There is no treatment for rib injury/rib fracture, aside from pain medication. You can take over the counter anti-inflammatory medications or Tylenol/Acetaminophen for pain control. Talk to your pharmacist to select OTC anti-inflammatory appropriate for you. If you have a fractured/broken rib, it can take several months for pain to resolve.
Not usually. The only time is if the lung is involved. We don't recommend wrapping ribs like in the movies. They heal fast. This is just a general answer not your particular medical advice.
It depends. If your pain improves significantly after 48 hours, then you’re probably fine. However, if you have severe pain that does not resolve or if you have any trouble breathing, then you should see a doctor. It’s always possible you could have a broken rib or a lung contusion.
Hope it helps!
Dr. Bose
Hope it helps!
Dr. Bose
It typically takes about 4-6 weeks for the rib fractures to heal. There is really no good surgical treatment for this injury. We usually just do pain management, re-assurance. You may try wearing a binder or wrap your torso with an ace wrap if that helps with the pain.
Rib injuries can take a long time to heal. Reduction in pain level is timely as well. You should see a doctor if you have difficulty breathing, belief that the rib is fractured, if there is an open wound or severe pain to the level that prescription medication might be required.
Ra'Kerry Rahman, M.D. | Spinal Surgeon
Ra'Kerry Rahman, M.D. | Spinal Surgeon
It sounds like you have rib pain. The decision to see a doctor should is a judgement call. Many rib fractures heal on their own. At the other end of the spectrum, rib fractures may be associated with lung injuries, bleeding into the chest or loss of the ability to breathe. More serious injuries are frequently associated with higher energy injuries like motorcycle or car accidents, and may involve fractures of several ribs.
If it hurts when you take a breath
Any rib injury should be evaluated by a physician to determine the severity of the injury. In most cases, simple rib fractures heal on their own over the course of four to eight weeks and require no specific treatment other than pain management.
However, If you're concerned that you've broken several ribs, and especially if you're having difficulty breathing, feeling dizzy or weak, or have an unusual cough that produces mucus or blood, it's important to seek emergency care immediately. It's not uncommon for complex rib fractures to cause injury to other underlying organs like your lungs, liver and spleen.
However, If you're concerned that you've broken several ribs, and especially if you're having difficulty breathing, feeling dizzy or weak, or have an unusual cough that produces mucus or blood, it's important to seek emergency care immediately. It's not uncommon for complex rib fractures to cause injury to other underlying organs like your lungs, liver and spleen.
If you're having pain that is aggravated by breathing or with arm movement, see a doctor.
