Bruised Ribs - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prevention

Introduction:

Individuals who have experienced a strike or a blow to the chest may realize how unpleasant it is. The hit or the blow suddenly transforms the skin color and causes symptoms such as pain, which might indicate a skin bruise. A skin bruise is not a serious condition that needs medical intervention. It mostly heals by itself without being treated or through conservative treatments. However, it can sometimes be associated with internal problems such as a rib fracture, called a broken rib, that requires medical support. Read further to know the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for a bruised rib.

What Is a Bruise?

A bruise is nothing but a hematoma (collection of blood under the skin) that occurs from damage to small blood vessels. The only difference between a bruise and a hematoma is that large blood vessels are involved in the latter. A bruise is a red area noticed on the skin when a person gets hit with something. It results when the small blood vessels or capillaries in a particular area are damaged, thereby bleeding into the surrounding tissues under the skin. A bruise is also called a contusion.

What Are Bruised Ribs?

When taking a hit or suffering a fall on the chest, individuals might notice a redness developing on the chest shortly or sometime later after the fall; this redness is called a bruised rib. In simpler terms, a bruised rib is damage to the rib bone that does not involve a rib fracture. Sometimes, it might also be associated with a fractured rib; in such cases, it is called a broken rib and not a bruised rib. A broken rib can only be confirmed using an X-ray. The intensity and the skin color of the bruise usually vary depending on the severity, time of injury, etc.

What Are the Causes of Bruised Ribs?

Bruised ribs often result from any of the following;

• Blow on the chest.

• Accidents. Includes vehicle accidents or accidental falls from a high area, such as a ladder.

• Fall or getting hit by something (fellow player or a ball) during sports.

• Assault.

• Strenuous exercises such as lifting heavy objects or weights can sometimes cause bruised ribs.

• In rare cases, coughing too much or aggressively can cause bruised ribs.

What Are the Symptoms of Bruised Ribs?

The symptoms of a bruised rib often obviously involve a dark bruise in the rib or the chest area. Other symptoms include;

• Change in skin color from normal to reddish, purplish, or brownish in the area of the bruise.

• Swelling in the area of the bruise.

• Pain and tenderness on touching.

• Twitching of the chest muscles.

• Deep breathing, especially when inhaling, coughing, and sneezing involving the chest muscles, can trigger the pain. Sometimes, pain exists even when not doing anything.

• Sometimes, a broken rib might as well be encountered; in such cases, the same symptoms exist, along with cracking sounds of the bone.

How Is a Bruised Rib Diagnosed?

A bruised rib does not require any diagnostic tests. It is confirmed by clinical examination and patient history. However, if a fracture is suspected, imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT (computed tomography) scan, or MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) might be indicated.

How Is a Bruised Rib Treated?

Bruised ribs often subside by providing proper home care. Following are a few at-home care treatments for bruised ribs;

• Rest from work for at least the first two to three days. Do not overexert by lifting heavy weights or doing strenuous exercises; at the same time, refrain from lying in bed the whole day; instead, walk around a little bit.

• Do slow and deep breathing exercises to activate the muscles.

• Avoid habits such as alcohol, chewing tobacco, drugs, and smoking, as these can interfere with healing and delay it.

• Try not to sleep on the affected side and try to sleep facing upwards in the upright position to prevent pressurizing the bruised site.

• Be cautious while walking around, lying on the bed, or moving the body; to avoid accidentally bumping or getting hit on the affected area.

• Do not hold sneezing or coughing; if resisted, the cough can build up in the lungs, causing infection.

• Place ice packs wrapped in a cloth over the bruised area at least twice or thrice a day for the first two to three days or until the swelling subsides. Ice packs help ease the pain by numbing the area and decreasing the intensity of the redness caused by the bruise.

• Take medications such as Paracetamol or Ibuprofen in the right dosages after consulting with the physician and analyzing the condition. Caution must be taken in case of any underlying diseases or allergies; mention it to the physician while getting a prescription.

• Do not wrap the bruise using a bandage or a tight cloth, as it can interfere with normal breathing.

• Apply local NSAID (non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs) ointments or sprays over the affected area for faster healing. Thrombophob gel can be applied to treat skin discolorations caused by rupturing of the capillaries.

In cases of the symptoms such as;

• Breathing difficulty.

• Blood in cough.

• Continuous and severe pain.

• If any allergy is due to medications taken or if the existing symptoms do not subside, visit a physician and get treated to avoid further complications.

How to Prevent a Bruised Rib?

Bruised ribs can be prevented by caution and practicing certain preventive measures while getting involved in sports activities such as,

• Wear protective vests, a chest shield, or a guard while getting involved in sports activities such as boxing, wrestling, etc.

• Fasten the seatbelt while driving.

• Avoid getting punched as it could be problematic to the vital organs as well.

What Are the Precautions to Be Taken While Recovering From Bruised Ribs?

• Avoid sleeping in bed all day. The lungs may fill with fluid as a result of this.

• Avoid using tobacco products or smoking.

• During the initial few nights, try to sleep in a semi-upright position that is comfortable. To achieve this, tuck a couple of cushions beneath the upper back and neck. Individuals will be able to breathe easier in this position.

• A few days following the accident, start sleeping on the unaffected side. Breathing will be made easier by this.

• Steer clear of physically demanding tasks, including heavy lifting, pushing, and tugging, as well as painful motions.

• When engaging in activities, use caution and try not to bump the wounded area.

• After consulting with a physician, one can gradually resume normal daily activities as the bruise recovers and the pain subsides.

How Much Time Does Healing Take?

In general, bruised ribs heal in about a month, but if one or more of the ribs are broken rather than just bruised, the healing process may take longer. Inform the physician if, despite receiving a preliminary diagnosis of bruised ribs, the pain continues to persist after a few weeks. It could be essential to do more examinations or another assessment.

When to Visit a Physician?

See a physician right away if one encounters any of the following symptoms:

• Rib pain during coughing, particularly if individuals observe soreness, bruising, or swelling around the ribs.

• Increasing discomfort in the days or weeks following an accident.

• Breathlessness.

Individuals must continue to have a complete examination of the lungs and ribs, even if there is not much they can do to speed up the healing process following the injury. Ignoring the discomfort could put them at greater risk of pneumonia or other severe respiratory issues, as well as lung damage.

Conclusion:

A bruised rib is not a serious condition unless there is underlying organ damage. One does not have to be worried about organ damage right away after suffering an injury, as it is rarely the case. At-home care mostly treats this condition without the need for medical intervention. When a chest injury is suffered, identifying the bruise, providing proper care at the right time, and resting can aid in a speedy recovery. Also, when in doubt of a serious complication following a bruised rib, do not delay in calling and seeking help from the physician.