A broken rib, or fractured rib, is a common injury that occurs when one of the bones in your rib cage breaks or cracks. The most common cause of broken ribs is trauma to the chest, such as from a fall, motor vehicle accident or impact during contact sports.
Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken into separate pieces. A jagged edge of broken bone can damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lungs.
In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.
Many broken ribs are merely cracked. While still painful, cracked ribs aren't as potentially dangerous as ribs that have been broken into separate pieces. A jagged edge of broken bone can damage major blood vessels or internal organs, such as the lungs.
In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.
Broken ribs What are rib injuries and who gets them?
The term rib injury usually means rib fracture - that is, a break in one or more of the ribs. Sometimes the ribs are not broken, but there is bruising of ribs or nearby muscles. Rib injuries occur when there is a force to the chest such as from a fall, road accident or assault. Rib injuries can also be caused by the force of your own muscles.
What is the treatment for rib injuries?
The most important treatment is to have good pain relief
The break (fracture) or bruise usually heals in about four weeks. Good pain relief during this time helps you to breathe and cough properly. Simply putting up with the pain is not a good idea, as it can lead to shallow breathing, lack of coughing and chest infections. (See 'What are the complications of rib injuries?', below.) Painkillers help to prevent these problems.
Effective and safe pain relief is especially important for people who are more prone to chest infections. For example, smokers and people with persistent (chronic) chest conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure.
Paracetamol.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen, ibuprofen or aspirin.
Strong painkillers containing codeine or dihydrocodeine.
How should I take the painkillers?
For painful rib injuries, it is best to take painkillers regularly. Don't wait until pain becomes severe. As the ribs heal, you can gradually cut down on the painkillers.
The term rib injury usually means rib fracture - that is, a break in one or more of the ribs. Sometimes the ribs are not broken, but there is bruising of ribs or nearby muscles. Rib injuries occur when there is a force to the chest such as from a fall, road accident or assault. Rib injuries can also be caused by the force of your own muscles.
What is the treatment for rib injuries?
The most important treatment is to have good pain relief
The break (fracture) or bruise usually heals in about four weeks. Good pain relief during this time helps you to breathe and cough properly. Simply putting up with the pain is not a good idea, as it can lead to shallow breathing, lack of coughing and chest infections. (See 'What are the complications of rib injuries?', below.) Painkillers help to prevent these problems.
Effective and safe pain relief is especially important for people who are more prone to chest infections. For example, smokers and people with persistent (chronic) chest conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or heart failure.
Paracetamol.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen, ibuprofen or aspirin.
Strong painkillers containing codeine or dihydrocodeine.
How should I take the painkillers?
For painful rib injuries, it is best to take painkillers regularly. Don't wait until pain becomes severe. As the ribs heal, you can gradually cut down on the painkillers.
by Brydeion March 27, 2014
Get the broken ribsmug. by SUPERHITesh April 6, 2017
Get the Broken Watchmug. A form of speech used mainly by people in the crack game.They speak in muffled tones and quick shortened words as not to be understood.
The crack dealers spoke in broken lip so the crackhead would't understand they were plotting to rip him off.
by droby January 2, 2009
Get the broken lipmug. Country Rock Band from Texas, Broken DuckFeet is a group of musicians, consisting of Michael Anthony, Sean Forrester, Eli Sepulveda that fell together practically overnight and it just felt right. The name Broken DuckFeet came one night to me while sitting with some friends observing some guy do what few would consider, "two stepping" it was torturous to say the least watching him move across the floor... and at that moment I muttered the phrase, He dances like he's got "Broken DuckFeet" and we all busted out laughing... the phrase was coined on that night and hence became the bands name.
by prism4tx October 14, 2011
Get the Broken DuckFeetmug. A person who may look and act like a hipster, but is really too old to BE a hipster.
As in, a broken hip-ster.
As in, a broken hip-ster.
"Wow, your Dad sure loves cardigans and fixies. He's a bit of a hipster, isn't he?"
"Dude, he's, like, 70. He's a broken hipster, if anything."
"Dude, he's, like, 70. He's a broken hipster, if anything."
by LongPig May 10, 2010
Get the Broken Hipstermug. When fucking in the shower goes horribly wrong, resulting in a trip to the hospital, one month of abstinence and a slight lean to the left.
by calmyourself February 3, 2010
Get the Broken penismug. A 'broken toy' is a synonym for fuck-up, loser, or wreck. Broken toys tend to be people with a history of psychological trauma and a propensity for drug use and reckless behavior.
More specifically, broken toys can refer to women who are fragile or easily manipulated. Some men aim only for broken toys, whether out of sadistic glee, the ease with which they'll jump into bed with somebody, or a foolish and altruistic desire to fix them.
More specifically, broken toys can refer to women who are fragile or easily manipulated. Some men aim only for broken toys, whether out of sadistic glee, the ease with which they'll jump into bed with somebody, or a foolish and altruistic desire to fix them.
R: Man, this party is full of broken toys.
S: You gonna game on any of them?
R: Shit, that'd be like shooting fish in a barrel.
OR
Amy Winehouse is a pretty seriously broken toy.
S: You gonna game on any of them?
R: Shit, that'd be like shooting fish in a barrel.
OR
Amy Winehouse is a pretty seriously broken toy.
by Sean M - Borges June 22, 2008
Get the broken toysmug.