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Treatments and drugs
By Mayo Clinic staffMost broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks.
Medications
It's important to obtain adequate pain relief because if it hurts too much to breathe deeply, you may develop pneumonia.
- Over-the-counter drugs. Acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin, others) and naproxen (Aleve) — may help relieve discomfort as you wait for the fracture to heal.
- Other pain medications. If NSAIDs or acetaminophen don't work well enough, your doctor may prescribe stronger pain medications.
- Nerve blocks. If the pain is severe, your doctor may suggest injections of long-lasting anesthesia around the nerves that supply the ribs.
Therapy
In the past, doctors would use compression wraps — elastic bandages that you can wrap around your chest — to help "splint" and immobilize the area. Compression wraps aren't recommended for broken ribs anymore because they can keep you from taking deep breaths, which can increase the risk of pneumonia.
- Eckstein M, et al. Thoracic trauma. In: Marx JA, et al. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 6th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2006. Accessed Jan. 19, 2009.
- Karlson KA. Rib fractures. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed Jan. 19, 2009.
- Mazzocca AD, et al. Sternum and rib fractures in adults and children. In: DeLee JC, et al. DeLee and Drez's Orthopaedic Sports Medicine. 2nd ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: Saunders Elsevier; 2003. Accessed Jan. 19, 2009.
- Preventing falls and related fractures. National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. http://www.niams.nih.gov/Health_Info/Bone/Osteoporosis/Fracture/preventing_falls.pdf. Accessed Jan. 19, 2009.
- Neurological diagnostic tests and procedures. National Institutes of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/misc/diagnostic_tests.htm. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
- Dictionary of cancer terms: Bone scan. National Cancer Institute. http://www.cancer.gov/Templates/db_alpha.aspx?CdrID=46499. Accessed Jan. 20, 2009.
