A rib crack is a type of bone fracture, sometimes the injury is so severe that damage to the cartilage and periarticular tissues, and sometimes the lung, occurs. After the symptoms have been removed, how to treat a crack in the rib? Medicines and folk remedies are not the only methods. This article is for those who want to quickly return to normal after an injury.
Symptoms
Depending on the nature of the mechanical injury to the rib, the following characteristic symptoms may occur:
- Redness of the skin. A change in the color of the skin in the area of the ribs is one of the first signs of severe damage to soft tissues. Redness gradually develops into a hematoma.
- Hematoma formation. Bruising results in the accumulation of blood under the skin. Also, the patient can observe a local increase in temperature in the edematous tissues. This phenomenon can be observed within a week.
- Severe pain when trying to innervate. The appearance of pain is the first and main symptom of an injury. As a rule, pain with this type of damage is chronic, its intensity especially increases when you try to move the body.
- Static holding a certain pose. Constant pain sensations force a person to look for a body position in which the load on the ribs decreases, resulting in a decrease in the intensity and strength of the pain. If the above symptoms are identified, it is necessary to attach ice to the damaged area and immediately consult a doctor for medical care.
Diagnostics
A huge role in making the correct diagnosis and determining the necessary treatment methods has the correct differential diagnosis. After all, before deciding how to treat a rib crack and a bruise, an examination should be carried out. Examination of the patient is carried out in medical institutions by an orthopedist or traumatologist. It consists in carrying out the following necessary procedures:
- Clarification of patient complaints and anamnestic data collection. The doctor finds out the nature of the patient's complaints and the reasons that contribute to the occurrence of injury.
- Visual inspection of tissues with their palpation. The specialist examines the soft tissues and their condition, makes palpation of the ribs to determine the location of the lesion. The following indications are necessarily recorded by a specialist: the presence of a hematoma, redness of tissues, the presence of swelling of the skin, the nature of the pain and its intensity when touched
- X-ray examination. This study is conducted to accurately determine the nature of bone damage.
- Using additional diagnostic methods (magnetic resonance and computer examination). After analyzing all the data obtained, the doctor determines the necessary methods of treating the patient.
Treatment
Since the ribs functionally play a protective role for the internal organs located behind the rib cage, timely diagnosis of cracks in the rib, as well as adequate treatment initiated, are extremely important.
The treatment of a crack in the rib begins, naturally, only after the diagnosis is established by the traumatologist. Self-medication in this situation is unacceptable, since pains behind the sternum, which, as a rule, accompany rib injuries, may indicate pathological processes in the heart, stomach, and lungs.
Activities associated with the treatment of cracks in the ribs can be divided into several groups.
Medicines
Drug anesthesia for trauma with simultaneous anti-inflammatory therapy can be carried out:
- "Ibuprofen" (and its analogues), the drug has an analgesic effect with a simultaneous anti-inflammatory effect;
- Aspirin
- "Diclofenac";
- "Naproxenom."
It should be noted that at the same time as taking Ibupofen, drugs are recommended for use to neutralize irritation of the gastric mucosa (for example, Omeprazole, Omez).
Limitation
Treatment of a crack in the rib is not possible without physical functional limitations in the chest area. Those who do not know how to treat a crack in a rib in a person should heed the following tips:
- total activity should be limited during treatment;
- dense, tight clothes are excluded;
- A cooling compress is applied to the skin site of injury localization (for this, as a rule, either a heating pad or a bag filled with ice is used). It is necessary to apply a cold compress (to avoid hypothermia and frostbite of the tissues) for about 20 minutes, a break between procedures should be at least half an hour;
- the patient must control his physical movements, including sharp turns, twisting, rotation, deep inclinations;
- with a diagnosed crack in the rib, tight dressing is recommended, it will facilitate compliance with the regime of physical restrictions;
- if a person develops cough in the post-traumatic period, then in addition to expectorant drugs, a soft roller or pillow should be applied to the chest during coughing to soften the load;
- during sleep with a crack in the rib, you need to be in the supine position.
Vitamins
It is difficult to say how to treat a crack in the rib during pregnancy, because many medicines are prohibited. For the speedy restoration of bone tissue, the attending physician additionally prescribes a vitamin course:
- preparations containing calcium and vitamin D;
- concomitant vitamins A, B, C, K4.
The diet should contain foods rich in vitamins and minerals, including calcium, magnesium, phosphorus (fresh vegetables, whole grain bread, milk, lean meat, mineral water).
Folk methods
In the treatment, folk methods and methods are also widely used that facilitate the healing period, relieve pain. Among the most popular ways to treat a crack in the rib at home are the following:
- An ointment made on the basis of crushed roots of medicinal comfrey with the addition of pork, melted unsalted fat. This mixture is applied to the location of the injury 2 times a day.
- Mummy based compresses mixed with rose oil. In addition, the mummy is used internally as a tonic.
- Compresses with a decoction of pomegranate peels.
- Also, for compresses, a decoction of leaves and a geranium flower are used.
- Widespread popularity is the application of compresses based on such a medicinal plant as the golden rod.
To maintain normal respiratory function, to prevent congestion in the lungs, breathing exercises are recommended.
Rehabilitation
Ancillary drugs are necessarily prescribed to restore mineral metabolism and strengthen bones and accelerate the process of their recovery. The doctor also prescribes anti-inflammatory drugs. Also, the patient must follow a diet enriched with vitamins and minerals to strengthen bone and cartilage.
The recovery period for splicing a damaged bone mainly depends on the following factors:
- patient age;
- the complexity of the cracks and their number;
- compliance with all doctor's recommendations;
- the presence of concomitant injuries.
After fixing gypsum is removed, rehabilitation treatment is prescribed, which consists in the use of physiotherapeutic methods and massage. The use of massage techniques is a prerequisite for the restoration of human motor activity and strengthening weakened muscles and preventing the development of their atrophy. Massaging should be performed daily for two weeks.
Additional methods
Another rehabilitation method is the use of non-standard methods such as:
- Wrap ribs with warm paraffin. Using this method allows you to restore blood circulation to muscle fibers weakened after applying gypsum. Thanks to this type of heat treatment, there is an increase in blood circulation and the restoration of normal functioning of the heart and lungs after cracks in the rib.
- Electrophoresis This method is used for the deep penetration of drugs into the skin under the influence of an electromagnetic field emitted by a special apparatus.
- Mud treatment. It is one of the methods of natural exposure to damaged tissues. Before the procedure, the elbow is massaged with petroleum jelly, after which therapeutic mud is applied to the surface of the skin. After the mud treatment procedure, it is necessary to wash it off the skin.
- The use of special orthopedic appliances. Throughout the month, the patient must wear a special bandage to reduce the load on the damaged ribs and prevent the occurrence of a repeated crack.
In general, the rehabilitation process after the treatment of rib cracks lasts from 2 to 3 months. Also, the patient is recommended to perform a set of breathing exercises daily to restore respiratory functions.