Bruised/Cracked Ribs? I fell and bruised my ribs and am in a lot of pain right now.?

Does any 1 know how long the seriously bad pain will last and whats the best treatment for it? I've been to the Local A%26E and GP but they were all a bit vague and not speaking very good English. Just said take pain killers and Anti inflamitory.
Answer:
Many years ago - people with broken/.cracked ribs were told to tape them up. Nowadays that advice is no longer valid. The medical profession suggest that just leaving them alone to heal of their own accord is the best advice and treatment. Yes I appreciate you may have a lot of pain breathing - been there, done that etc, etc. So what you need from your GP is a very good analgesic. Go back to your GP and say to him/her - DF118. This is: Dihydrocodeine (30Mg) AND Paracetamol (500Mg). You MAY take UP to (but no more than) 8 of these per day Obviously though, not all at once). If you drive or use machinery at your employment - then that is to be avoided because the analgesics will cause you drowsiness. In which case you could ask your GP for a Medical certificate (MED 4) which will permit you some time away from your employment to allow your ribs to heal properly.Good luck Matey. !!

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I know what you mean. I had a rib injury too...it's a bugger. They are right, unless it is hindering your breathing the only thing to do is just take antiinflamitory like advil. I'll give you a bit of advice. Sneezing is the most excruciating pain you will ever experience. When you feel an itch to sneeze blow out as much and as fast as you can. The itch will go away.

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Cold therapy with ice is the best immediate treatment for acute injuries because it reduces swelling and pain. Ice is a vaso-constrictor (it causes the blood vessels to narrow) and it limits internal bleeding at the injury site. Apply ice (wrapped in a thin towel for comfort)to the affected area for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. Allow the skin temperature to return to normal before icing a second or third time. You can ice an acute injury several times a day for up to three days. There isn't much you can do except use the ice therapy and take the pain killers and anti inflammatory drugs and get some rest. Hope you feel better soon. I had two broken ribs, and it wasn't fun as I had pneumonia with mine and was in bed for 6 weeks.

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when my mom broke her ribs she was in a lot of pain for about 6 weeks. when she went to the hospital they told her to take pain relief as well as anti inflammotarys.
but be careful which ones you take as some dont interact with others.

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Yes I have done the same thing some time ago. You cannot do anything. they dont put bandages or anything like that on.It hurts when you breathe in and out and I am afraid it will be with you for six weeks and there is nothing much you or anyone else can do about it. Best of luck.

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Not really that much you can do for bruised/cracked ribs, they have to heal on their own. Taking pain killers and anti-inflammatories work. If you have an ace bandage you could use that, it would help you from moving your ribs to much.

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have you had an xray , if your ribs are cracked theres not a lot a doctor will do about it strapping could cause internal injury take the pain killers as recommended

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Dave, the medics used to tape up cracked ribs but they stopped doing so because it caused complications. I am afraid it will be painful turning around in bed or laughing for a couple of weeks until things start to knit together. Go easy on the painkillers. Just take them to try to get off to sleep. Put some ice cubes in a dish towel and hold it on the injury for about 10 minutes six times a day. This will give you some relief and help the healing process.

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