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Suggest Treatment For Fractured Rib

Posted on Fri, 31 Oct 2014

Question: Hello, I have a fractured rib on the front of my body and it seems to be either more ribs than I was thinking or all the muscles surrounding it are seeming to make it feel worse. My instinct is I want to stretch my back because it feels so tight--I attempted to stretch my back over a foam roller but I felt a lot of pain and tenderness on my back. Is it possible that this type of stretching could pop another one or is it more likely that the pain is just surrounding muscles reacting to the break? Also, to what extent may I exercise? Can I jog? Will that slow or deter the healing process at all? Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Deepak Kishore Kaltari (23 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Exercise within your comfort zone

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome to Healthcaremagic
Greetings of the day

Dear Ms XXXXXXX

Irrespective of number of ribs fractured, if there is no breathing difficulty the principle of management is same
1. Analgesic
2. Local application of hot water fomentation

Rigid immobilisation which is done in case of long bone fracture like plaster of Paris cast is not required.

I would suggest you the following

1. Jogging is perfectly fine
2. Exercise within limits of your pain
3. Analgesic like Ibuprofen will be helpful
4. Hot water fomentation will be helpful

Once the pain and muscle spasm subside with analgesic and fomentation the exercise endurance will also increase

Do get back to me if you need any further assistance, will be glad to assist you.

Take care

Best regards
Dr Deepak Kaltari
Consultant Surgeon

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar