Bruised Ribs – Overview
Bruised ribs is an injury where the muscles or cartilage around the ribcage are damaged. Without fracturing the bone itself. A bruised rib is typically the result of blunt trauma. Such as a fall, sports injury, or impact from a seatbelt — and although not as serious as a fracture, it can be extremely painful and take several weeks to fully heal.
The ribcage is made up of 12 pairs of ribs that protect vital organs like the lungs and heart. When bruised, the soft tissue between and around these bones becomes inflamed, leading to pain, swelling, and tenderness. The injury may also affect the intercostal muscles, which help with breathing and movement.
Bruised ribs are commonly confused with broken ribs due to similar symptoms. However, bruised ribs don’t involve a break in the bone and usually carry less risk of internal complications. That said, deep bruising can still cause difficulty breathing and discomfort during sleep or physical activity.
Bruised Rib
Typical causes include sports collisions, slipping and falling onto the side of the body, physical assaults. Additionally, even intense coughing fits. Diagnosis is made through physical examination and, if necessary, imaging like X-rays or CT scans to rule out fractures.
Treatment focuses on pain management, rest, and gradual return to normal activity. Unlike some injuries, ribs can’t be immobilised with a cast, so healing requires careful avoidance of activities that aggravate the injury.
A bruised rib generally takes 3 to 6 weeks to heal, but persistent symptoms may warrant further evaluation to exclude more serious conditions.
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