14 Ways to Treat Bruised or Cracked Ribs

You probably associate a bruise with a purplish spot on your skin, but ribs can get bruised too—usually after a hard fall or a blow to the area. While it might take up to 6 weeks for your ribs to heal, they'll usually get better on their own.^{[1]
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Research source} In the meantime, take it easy and do what you can to stay comfortable and breathe normally (that'll help keep your lungs healthy while your ribs are healing). Read on to learn what you can do to relieve your symptoms and help speed up the healing process.

Things You Should Know

Ice your bruised ribs for 20 minutes 2-3 times a day during the first couple of days after the injury to reduce inflammation.
Use warm compresses after the first couple of days to ease pain and promote healing.
Take full, deep breaths to keep your lungs healthy and keep your ribs expanding and moving as they heal.
See your doctor if you're coughing up blood or green or yellow mucus, as these are signs of lung infection.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Immediate Relief

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1
Ice the area for 20 minutes 2-3 times a day for the first day or two. Fill a sealable plastic bag with ice or grab a bag of frozen vegetables, such as corn or peas. Wrap the ice pack in a towel or T-shirt, then place that directly on the injury.^{[2]
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- Icing reduces swelling and also numbs the area so it won't be as painful for you.
- As the swelling goes down, gently press your ribs with your fingers, looking for a protrusion that might signal your rib is broken rather than merely bruised.
- If you suspect you have a broken rib, go ahead and have a doctor look at it. Though the treatment for broken ribs is usually the same as it is for bruised ones, it's good to get a medical opinion.
2
Take over-the-counter (OTC) pain relievers as needed. If your pain isn't severe, take either ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) to feel a little better. Controlling your pain helps you breathe normally, which keeps your lungs healthy while your ribs are healing.^{[3]
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- Hold off on the ibuprofen until 48 hours after your injury—if you take it during the first couple of days, it can slow down healing.^{[4]
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- Most people can also use acetaminophen (Tylenol). But you shouldn't use it if you have liver disease or reduced liver function.
- Don't exceed the maximum dosages listed on the bottle unless your doctor advises you to do so.
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Constricting your chest or wrapping your ribs in a compression bandage doesn't allow your lungs to expand to their full capacity when you breathe. This can make it hard for you to get rid of mucus in your lungs, which could ultimately lead to an infection (pneumonia).^{[5]
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4
Take 10 slow, deep breaths every hour to help clear your lungs. If you have a lot of pain, this isn't going to be easy, but it's essential to keep from developing an infection in your lungs. Slow, deep breathing also has a relaxing effect—that release of tension will definitely help your ribs feel at least a little better.^{[6]
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- Taking an OTC pain reliever can make this a bit easier for you if your ribs are hurting so badly you find you simply can't breathe deeply.
5
Cough gently every 2 hours to clear mucus from your lungs. Because of your bruised ribs, you're probably trying to avoid coughing as much as possible—it hurts! But coughing is necessary to keep your lungs clear so they won't get infected. Hold a pillow to your chest to make this a little easier on your ribs.^{[7]
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- If you're already coughing quite a bit, this might not be something you need to worry about as much. Just make sure it's a productive cough that's actually helping clear your lungs (as opposed to a dry cough in your throat).
Prop yourself up with pillows and put pillows or rolled blankets on either side of your torso to make this more comfy. This position puts the least pressure on your ribs and allows your rib cage to expand normally while you breathe as you sleep.^{[8]
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Long-Term Recovery

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1
Apply a warm compress after the first 2 days. Switch from ice to heat to ease pain once the swelling has gone down. This can be as simple as running a clean washcloth under warm water and laying it on your skin over your bruised ribs. But you could also use a heating pad on its lowest setting.^{[9]
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- Soaking in a warm bath is also a great way to ease soreness and relax. The warmth eases the tension in the surrounding muscles and will probably make you feel a lot better overall.
2
Sleep on the unaffected side while your ribs continue to heal. Within 2 or 3 days of your injury, you no longer have to sleep in a semi-upright position if you were having a hard time with that. Just make sure you're not laying on your bruised ribs—this makes it easier for you to breathe and keeps you from putting added pressure on your ribs as they're healing.^{[10]
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- If you need to, roll up a blanket or surround yourself with pillows so you're not able to roll over to your injured side while you're asleep.
- Finding a comfortable sleeping position can be one of the hardest things about having bruised ribs. Do what you need to do to relax before bed so you're ready to fall asleep.
3
Take it easy for the first week or so after your injury. This doesn't mean laying around, though! You still want to get up and walk around for a bit every hour or so. And you can still go to work, although you might ask for accommodations if your job requires you to be on your feet for an extended period of time.^{[11]
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- In the first couple of days after the injury, it's usually best to call out of work and give your body the chance to start the healing process.
- Gentle activity speeds up the healing process—just don't overdo it. Stop doing anything that makes your ribs hurt more than they did before.
4
Call your doctor if you have overwhelming pain or symptoms of infection. For the most part, there's no specific medical treatment for bruised ribs—just rest and time. But if you have severe pain (especially if it's making it hard for you to breathe), your doctor can prescribe stronger pain medication that will help. Aside from that, get medical attention for a lung infection right away—that needs to be cleared before it gets worse.^{[12]
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- Lung infection symptoms to look out for include fever, severe cough (especially if you're coughing up yellow or green mucus, or blood), shortness of breath, and nausea.
- With bruised ribs, the pain and soreness is usually gone in about a week. You might want to see your doctor if your pain lingers longer than that, just to make sure you don't have a fracture.^{[13]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Things to Avoid

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Yes, you should take it easy, but that doesn't mean not doing anything at all. In fact, you should avoid remaining completely inactive for an extended period of time (except when you're sleeping). Get up and walk around, try gentle stretches and slow movements that will keep your body engaged without putting too much strain on your core.^{[14]
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If you're a smoker, now is a good time to make a plan to quit. Smoking makes your lungs work harder and increases the chances that you'll develop a lung infection while your ribs are healing.^{[15]
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Any activity that makes you breathe heavily is going to put a lot of pressure on your bruised ribs. This kind of pressure can cause further damage to the surrounding tissue and make it take longer for your injury to heal.^{[16]
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Lifting heavy things engages your core and can cause you tremendous pain when you've got bruised ribs. But apart from that, you're putting strain on the surrounding muscles and can actually make your injury worse.^{[17]
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Question

I am a very active 68 year old woman, and I fell down and hit the left side of my breast. I had X-rays taken and was advised that I had no fractures, but pain is present when I am breathing, laughing or coughing. What is the best treatment?

Jonas DeMuro, MD
Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.

Jonas DeMuro, MD

Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon

Expert Answer

Ribs can be bruised but not fractured. While a CT scan is a more sensitive test to show the fracture, this may not be necessary, as the treatment is the same as a fracture. The keys are pain control and rest, which allow the ribs to heal. Be sure to discuss this with your doctor, as they will be able to give specific advice for the pain control and for the cessation and resumption of physical activities.

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Question

Will it take longer for an 85-year-old woman to heal?

Jonas DeMuro, MD
Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.

Jonas DeMuro, MD

Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon

Expert Answer

While it does not take longer for women to heal, it does take longer in the geriatric population. It can take 4-12 weeks for rib injuries to heal, and at that age, it will be at the longer end.

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I think I cracked or bruised my ribs from coughing. Should I go to the doctor?

Jonas DeMuro, MD
Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon
Dr. DeMuro is a board certified Pediatric Critical Care Surgeon in New York. He received his MD from Stony Brook University School of Medicine in 1996. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow.

Jonas DeMuro, MD

Board Certified Critical Care Surgeon

Expert Answer

If the pain is sharp when you try to take a deep breath, then medical attention should be sought.

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The treatment for bruised and broken ribs is the same, although it generally takes longer for broken ribs to heal.^{[18]
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Warnings

Call emergency services if you experience difficulty breathing, pressure, pain in the center of your chest, or pain that expands to your shoulder or arm. These symptoms can be signs of a heart attack.

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If your pain is so severe that you can't breathe deeply or cough despite using OTC pain relievers, call your doctor as soon as possible.^{[19]
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