What to do with a bruised rib: how to identify symptoms and provide first aid

As you know, the ribs are a very important part of the skeleton, because they take part in the process of breathing and protect the vital internal organs from various damages.

May bruise itself is not as dangerous as the same fracture of the rib, but fraught with complications and accompanied by quite painful sensations.

Bruise bruise is , a bone integrity disorder of , accompanied by damage to the covering rib of the muscle tissue with possible subsequent spasm and impaired circulation in the affected area. As a result, pain is felt and there may be a hematoma( as a result of vascular rupture).

Reasonsoccurrence of trauma

. However sad, but the topic of the article below is extremely urgent, because the bruise of the ribs - is a traumatic injuryand a flock of common .

This type of injury can be obtained by failing to fall, or by accidentally colliding with someone, or by any object of impressive size, not to mention such cases as an accident, a work injury or a severe blow to the chest area.

Therefore, the general characteristics, diagnosis, methods of prevention and treatment for fracture of the rib should, no doubt, know everyone.

Conjugate injuries

Among the associated serious injuries, it should be noted:

• fracture of the rib : not detected at the time, leads to such severe consequences as pneumothorax and hydrothorax( lesions of the pleural and lung ribs, resulting in blood accumulation in the pleural cavity;damage to the pleura and skin is broken connection of the lungs with the environment);
• edge ridge : incomplete fracture of rib without bone displacement, possible with severe bruise( may lead to a hemorrhage into the chest caused by lung damage with subsequent fatal outcome);
• pneumonia ( may occur if you get into the lungs of any infection and as a result of a prolonged inflammatory process).

Symptoms that are characteristic of

damage It should be emphasized the importance of correct and timely diagnosis, because it is not always known for certain that it is the bruise that bothers, and not anything else.

So, there are such symptoms that are peculiar to the bruise of the rib:

1. Strong, very sharp pain at the time of injury. Most often, a rib injury occurs as a result of a blunt object or sharp contact with a solid surface, a large innervation in this zone and provokes significant pain.
2. The site of the injury hurts a long time. Depending on the degree of severity of the injury, the bruise can be aching from a few days to two or more weeks with breathing and movements with the trunk.
3. Difficulty breathing. The main pain sensations tend, as a rule, to attempt an inspiration, perhaps a shallow breathing with a shortness of air and a sense of lack of air. In the event of lung damage, respiratory arrest may occur.
4. A bruise can be seen in a damaged area. The size and brightness of the bruise depends on the number of damaged vessels. As you recover, the color of the resulting trauma of the hematoma changes: from crimson to brown, then turns yellow.
5. A tumor appears on the site of the injury. Another sign of contusion of the ribs is edema. Over time, the swelling at the site of the injury is becoming more denser, but after a while passes. During palpation, as a rule, painful painful sensations arise.
6. The skin in the place of the bruise feels hot , in most cases it turns red( in case there is not a bruise yet).

Diagnostic procedures

Diagnostics consists in medical examination and, as a rule, radiography of the damaged area. The task of the doctor at this stage is the determination of the severity of the injury.

It is very important to determine that the victim does not fracture. For this, the doctor palpates the site of the injury for protrusions or depressions, such signs clearly indicate a fracture. If nothing like this is found, but there is a danger of an incorrect diagnosis, the doctor can prescribe an X-ray.

This study allows not only to make sure that there is no fracture, but also to study the degree of injury.

Complex of treatment measures with a bruise

Treatment for a bruised rib should start with first aid.

First aid

So, what to do if the ribs hurt in the first minutes after the injury:

1. Make sure that the case of a broken rib is excluded. For this, it is easy, without pressure, to draw a hand through the injury site - a swelling is possible, but there should not be deep dents and bulges. If you suspect that you still received a fracture - without delay, please contact a specialist.
2. Inspect the entire surface of the chest for projections. They can occur because of fracture of the ribs not necessarily in the zone of its origin.
3. Limit the physical activity of .In this trauma, active movements are prohibited. For a few days, provide yourself with a bed rest.
4. Take painkillers .Many of them are highly effective in severe pain( such as diclofenac, ibuprofen).
5. If the muscles of the back and spine allow, then, oddly enough, but you need to try the to lie just on the bruised side of the - this will help ease the breathing.
6. Applying cold to the area of ​​the injury. This is a very effective method of self-healing, since cold helps reduce pain, reduce the consequences of hemorrhage, and can significantly reduce the tumor. For this procedure, first apply a pressure bandage to the damage, and give the body an elevated position, then gently apply a cold-soaked sheet or ice pack. Regular repetition of this procedure can remove many of the negative manifestations of this damage.
7. After a while, for outpatient treatment, should use warming compresses to help restore.
8. Over time, after consulting a doctor, should take gentle exercises for stretching the chest.

First aid is provided, it's time to learn how to treat a bruised rib.

Medical intervention

If symptoms occur such as: dizziness, confusion, impaired coordination of movements, accompanied by blood coughing, heart pain and changes in heart rhythm, you should immediately consult a doctor.

The following types of procedures are used: UHF, electrophoresis, amplipulse.

Thermal manipulations are also used, such as an electric heater and a blue lamp( 30-40 minutes a day).Also, various drugs are prescribed depending on the degree of pain, as well as the presence or absence of allergic reactions. In the case of hemothorax, puncture of the pleural cavity is performed under anesthesia, and in the case of pneumothorax, puncture is performed to remove air through a special tube. In case of symptoms of pneumonia, prescribe a course of antibiotic treatment.

Methods of traditional medicine

Treatment of a bruised rib with folk remedies often gives very good results. Among the most effective are:

1. Treatment for calendula flowers: 1 tbsp.l.inflorescence on 2 tbsp.water. Let it brew for 2 hours, then drink ½ cup 4 times a day.
2. Geranium of a blood-red variety: 1 tbsp.l.on 2 tbsp.boiling water, boil for 15 minutes on a small fire, then cool and strain the broth. The resulting broth is applied as a compress.
3. Chicory root helps relieve pain: 100 gr.crushed rootlets pour 0.5L.vodka and let it take 2 weeks. Lubricate the bruised area with the infusion obtained.

Complications of injury

Among the most common complications are:

• long-term pain syndrome ( fraught with prolonged stress);
• hypoxia ( prolonged air deficiency);
• as with fracture of the ribs, pneumothorax and hydrothorax ;
• as with any damage to the ribs with damage to the lung, pneumonia is possible.

Prevention of contusion of ribs

In the case of pain in the rib area, under certain circumstances, is the first preventative method of .

The course of physiotherapeutic procedures is further recommended, it is also desirable to purchase a fixing rib with the correct position of the waistcoat. Also, this design will help reduce the load on the rib area.

Be sure to pay attention to the manifestation of allergic reactions and an increase in temperature( this indicates the presence of an inflammatory process).As a preventive method, various anti-inflammatory and anesthetic ointments are not less useful - they can be purchased both by prescription and without it.

By itself, such an injury to the ribs as a bruise does not endanger life and rarely leads to complications. However, inattention to injury and lack of correct treatment can lead to serious consequences for the health of the victim.

Video: Chest damage