How to Cope With Bruised Ribs

If you're suffering pain in the area of your rib cage as a result of trauma, you may have bruised your ribs. You'll feel a lot of discomfort when you cough, laugh or take a deep breath. Since it's a painful condition, you'll want to seek out a way to cope with the ailment.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Speak to your doctor. Before you start treating your bruised ribs on your own, make an appointment with your doctor. He'll want to evaluate you to make sure you didn't fracture or break your ribs.
2. Spend some time resting. Try to limit the number of physical activities you participate in during the healing period. This is important since even walking can cause you discomfort when you have bruised ribs.
3. Ice the ribs on a regular basis. Keep an ice pack on the ribs for approximately 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat the process every 3 to 4 hours over the course of several days or until the pain subsides.
4. Pad your ribs. When you bruise your ribs, you'll want to cope by protecting them from further injury. Wear the padding like a jacket to cover your ribs.
5. Cope with the help of pain relief medication. Take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to help ease your discomfort. Your doctor may prescribe you a stronger pain reliever as well.

Tips & Warnings

• Your ribs may take several weeks to completely heal. However, the pain should lessen after a few days.