Treatment of a bruised rib

introduction

In most cases a rib bruise is caused by a blunt chest trauma, that is, a blunt force of force on the chest from the outside, which indeed injures the tissue, however Not leads to breakage of ribs. In general, it is a rib bruise though still more pain prepares and usually one longer time for healing passes away than with rib fractures.

If you have a bruised rib, you should try the to relieve the damaged area as much as possible or not to exert any pressure. Especially during sleep, when you are lying on the affected side, there can be a lot of pressure here, which further irritates the affected area. In this case, you can help yourself out with a large pillow that you put behind your back so as not to change your position while you sleep.

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Application of cold and heat for bruised ribs

Immediately after the trauma, you should Upper body as calm as possible keep and avoid contact sports. By avoiding movement in the injured area for 12-24 hours, you can reduce the bleeding that may occur from injured vessels after a rib bruise. A cooling the affected area can relieve the pain and have a decongestant effect. Suitable for this cold envelopes or Cooling padswhich you should never put directly on the skin, but always have to be a piece of fabric between the skin and the cooling pad, otherwise the cold can cause frostbite on the surface of the skin. In order to treat swelling more quickly, the cooling can also be attached to the surface of the body with light (!) Pressure. So you can e.g. take a bandage or a bandage and attach the cooling to the chest.

In general, that cold is more likely to be the case with acute injuries is helpful because it causes the blood vessels to constrict, causing a decreased blood flow and thus the inflammatory reactions are alleviated, swellings go back and the pain subsides. The cooling should only for about 30 minutes can be applied to the affected area, as prolonged exposure to the cold can also damage the skin.

warmth however, it is usually more effective for chronic complaints. Nonetheless, with a bruised rib, after the acute phase has subsided, that is after about 2-3 days try to apply heat to the damaged area. Man thus locally improves blood circulation, Toxins or degradation products can be better removed and healing is accelerated. However, if the heat intensifies the pain, for example because the increased blood flow creates a higher pressure, it is better to cool the area for a few more days.

Use of ointments for a bruised rib

An ointment can also improve the symptoms of a bruised rib. These are best suited Pain ointments, of which there are very many different on the market. Most ointments are available in pharmacies without a prescription. They often contain so-called non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs as an active ingredient, such as Diclofenac or ibuprofen. But there are also ointments that contain a homeopathic combination of active ingredients that are suitable for treating bruises. For example, arnica, monkshood, marigold or deadly nightshade are ingredients of some ointments (see: Arnica ointment). Before buying, you should find out which ointment contains which ingredient in which dosage and pay attention to possible allergies.

One notices when using the pain ointments that it is too Reddening of the skin, itching, Swelling or Hives comes, you should stop the application immediately and, if necessary, consult a doctor. Here it can be discussed individually which therapy options are still available or which other pain ointment could be considered. The ointments are either applied to the skin as a thin layer or as a slightly thicker layer when an ointment bandage is applied.

If you have extensive bruises, you can also apply an ointment containing the active ingredient heparin. Heparin is a drug that vascular protective and anticoagulant Has properties. This ointment is also used to treat swellings or Hematomas, because heparin helps to break down clots in the blood vessel system or tissue so that the blood can be better removed. Again, you should watch out for possible intolerance reactions. All ointments should be no longer than 10-14 days apply.

Homeopathy for a bruised rib

You should alternative healing methods be interested, there are also active ingredients from the field of homeopathy that can be used for bruised ribs. You just have to be aware that the active ingredient in homeopathy is a Diluted or potentiated many times is. This article is not intended to report on the advantages and disadvantages of homeopathy, if you have already had good experience with homeopathy, there are the following active ingredients that can be used to treat pain and swelling in the case of bruised ribs. Ideally, they choose the active ingredients that best suit their symptoms and then treat the bruise with just one preparation. You should choose it in a low dosage and usually 5 globules three times a day take in. If you take homeopathic medicines in the form of drops or tablets, the usual dosage is up to 20 drops three times a day or 3 tablets per day.

On the one hand, "Bellis perennis" is suitable for treating bruised ribs. Bellis perennis is in Popularly the daisy and is used for bruises and injuries of all kinds, but also for bronchitis. Its effect relates primarily to deep injuries that result in swelling and is similar in its mode of action to that of arnica, but in contrast to the same it has the advantage that the pain or swelling improves with continued movement. It is sometimes also used if there is still swelling after treatment with arnica. This brings us to the next active ingredient that can be used in the field of homeopathy to treat bruised ribs: arnica, too "Arnica montana". It is one of the composites and is used for injuries of all kinds and pain after injuries.

Another remedy is "Symphytum" ​​or also Comfrey. This is available both for oral intake and as an ointment for local rubbing. It belongs to the predatory leaf family and is classically used in bony injuries of all kinds, but also in Upsets, Bone tumors or even Bruises used.

As a last resort, the so-called "Ranunculus bulbosus", also known as Buttercup from the buttercup family. In particular, it treats pain that is aggravated by pressure on the affected area, inhalation and exhalation, or cold.

Ultimately, especially in the case of homeopathy for bruised ribs, each patient should seek advice from their treating physician on which therapy to recommend. Personal wishes or ideas can always be expressed, because after all, a satisfied and cooperative patient is always the patient who heals faster.

Time it takes for a bruised rib to heal

Exactly how long the complaints last always depends on the Depending on the severity of the bruise. With slight bruises in the ribs, the symptoms can subside Improve a lot for about two weeksHowever, if you have a severe bruise in your ribs, the pain can be last up to eight weeks. Nevertheless, it must be said that bruised ribs are a disease that can be classified as harmless and that in the vast majority of cases heals without intervention. However, if you want to speed up the healing process a little, there are a few options that will be explained below.

First of all, you should definitely rule out that it is really just a bruise and not a break. You should consult your doctor for this, it can be determined relatively reliably with an X-ray in connection with the clinical examination. One should always try to find a maintain normal breathing (i.e. do not breathe too shallowly or with an increased breathing rate), which is often difficult due to the pain.With restricted breathing, pneumonia can occur as a complication in rare cases, so an adequate one is initially available Pain therapy on. Here you can go to the usual Painkillers such as paracetamol, ibuprofen or diclofenac take effect, but you should also consult your doctor briefly on which pain reliever is best. Not suitable is aspirin © as this is the one Interferes with blood clotting by blocking the blood platelets and thus a bruise can spread further.

Read more on the topic: Duration of a bruised rib