A broken rib is a crack or break in one of the bones of the rib cage. It can be very painful because the muscles used for breathing pull on the rib. Here are some things you can do for a broken rib:

• Rest: Most broken ribs will heal on their own within six weeks, so its important to rest and avoid movements that put pressure on your injury.

• Ice: Apply an ice pack for 20 minutes of every hour you are awake for the first 2 days, then 10 to 20 minutes 3 times daily as needed to reduce pain and swelling.

• Pain relief: Take pain medicine while the rib mends. Pain relief allows you to take deep breaths, which may help prevent pneumonia or a partial collapse of a lung.

• Breathing exercises: Do slow deep-breathing and gentle coughing exercises every 2 hours to help prevent a collapsed lung or lung infection. Holding a pillow or blanket against your injured rib can make these less painful.

• Stay active: Avoid intense workouts and playing sports, but moving and breathing as close to normally as possible is an important part of your recovery. Talk to your healthcare provider about how much activity you should do with a broken rib.

Its important to relieve pain, as not being able to breathe deeply because of pain can lead to pneumonia. If medicines taken by mouth dont help enough, shots can numb the nerves that lead to the ribs. If you think you have a rib fracture or any other broken bone, you need to see a healthcare provider. Seek urgent advice if your pain has not improved within a few weeks, youre coughing up yellow or green mucus, or you have a very high fever.