Fractured ribs can be a serious problem although in most cases the problem is not as severe as most of us may believe it to be. At the same time, the pain associated with a fractured rib can be rather intense. What essentially happens is that our ribs or a bone belonging to our rib cage has a crack or there is a break. Even if there is no broken bone, but the cartilage breaks where the tissue connects our ribs to our breastbones, the term fractured rib may be applied. While the injury sounds rather unusual, there are many ways in which fractured ribs result. In the majority of cases such rib fractures are on account of a direct blow. This happens when one gets hit straight in the chest such as when one has a fall or in case of an automobile accident. One often hears of fractured ribs when two people get into a fight. What people do not seem to understand is that some people can easily damage their rib cage. For instance, there are cases where simply a hard fit of coughing could leave you with a broken rib. However, the chances of such easy damage to your ribs are much higher when your bones are already in a weakened state. This could be on account of many diseases like the often talked about osteoporosis. It would be best not to make guesses about that fractured rib and treat it yourself.
The first step when this injury occurs would be visiting the doctor to determine how badly your rib has been fractured. Your rib cage is vital in its role in protecting your internal organs. Another major function, which we tend to forget about, is their role in helping us breathe. It allows your lungs adequate space to be able to expand when they need to fill with air. The last thing you need is faulty treatment making the fracture worse. There should also be some basic monitoring of the fracture to prevent the likelihood of further injury or complications.
Something that should be commonsense is that there should be no additional pressure on your rib and you need rest. This means no exercises that can cause the fracture to get worse. Ice is usually used as application for the affected rib. As mentioned earlier, that fractured rib should be primarily examined by a doctor. Only once the extent of the damage to your rib is known can treatment options follow. The person facing a fractured rib can find that breathing itself is a cause for pain and there is a chance of internal organ injury.