5. Added Strain
If you feel added strain in the area of your ribcage, this is a common sign that you have injured your ribs in some way. Chances are that you will also have some of the other symptoms on this list, such as extreme pain, bruising, and swelling at the fracture site.
The added strain is something that you will typically notice when you are doing any type of exercise or activities that use the muscles located near the ribs. This includes simply breathing or moving around. This added strain will typically be noticeable throughout the healing process, which can take six to eight weeks.
It is important to reduce strain right after the initial injury until you have seen a medical provider. Make sure that you follow the instructions of your doctor to make sure that the strain is reduced in order to allow the ribs time to properly heal.