One of the most common types of fracture-related injuries is a broken rib. One of the reasons for this is because there are numerous ways that a rib can be broken. This includes car accidents, assaults, falls, etc. If you have broken a rib, there are several symptoms that you may be experiencing. Swelling, bruising, and pain are often associated with a broken rib. The symptoms that you experience will vary based on how many ribs are broken and which ribs they are.
It also depends on how the ribs were injured and at which angle they break. If you are experiencing any pain or discomfort in your rib cage, it is important to make sure that you discuss it with your doctor. In some cases, the rib may be broken in such a way that it can cause damage to the surrounding organs. Here are 14 symptoms to watch for if you think you have broken a rib.
1. Extreme Initial Pain
If you break or fracture your rib, one of the first things that you may notice is pain. Everyone experiences pain in different ways, the way that you experience it in this situation will do a lot to tell your doctor about the type of injury that you may have. When you are describing your pain to your doctor, make sure that you describe it in the best way that you can.
A stabbing type of pain will tell your doctor something different than a dull ache or pressure-related pain. In addition to the pain, you may notice that the area where the injury occurred starts to bruise almost immediately. Certain activities may cause you to experience more pain in the area especially if it adds more strain to the rib that has been broken or fractured. It is important to make sure that you keep your body as still as possible until medical personnel can evaluate the injury and provide you with proper treatment.