Which ribs are the worst to break?

The middle ribs are most commonly fractured. Fractures of the first or second ribs are more likely to be associated with complications.

Which rib is the most painful to break?

We found that lateral region fractures caused more pain than anterior and posterior rib fractures. It is thought that the lateral chest wall rib fracture is the most affected part of respiration and body movement.

Which rib breaks the easiest?

Which Ribs Break Most Often. The other nine ribs are easier to break and account for more fractures, with the middle ribs most often broken.

Are broken ribs the worst pain?

Fractured ribs, which may have only a hairline crack (but can still be painful) are less dangerous than a rib bone that has a total break. The jagged edge of bone on a broken rib can tear and injure internal organs, and the risk is increased if you have more than one broken rib.

Which rib is least likely to fracture?

Ribs 4-10, by virtue of their location and anatomy, are the most prone to fractures by blunt trauma. Lastly, ribs 11 and 12 tend to be more mobile and hence, less likely to fracture.

Cracked

What happens if you break your 12th rib?

In most cases, a fractured rib will heal on its own in about six weeks. Doctors no longer prescribe compression wraps for rib fractures, because they can restrict breathing, leading to pneumonia, or even a partial lung collapse. Pain management is important, especially in the first few days after an injury.

How serious is 8 broken ribs?

Rib bones moved out of alignment can cause life-threatening complications including punctures and damage to the lungs and other critical blood vessels or organs. About 19 percent of older adults who sustained fractures of three or four ribs died from complications, according to one study.

Why do broken ribs hurt so much?

More About Your Injury

A rib fracture can be very painful because your ribs move when you breathe, cough, and move your upper body. The ribs in the middle of the chest are the ones that break most often. Rib fractures often occur with other chest and organ injuries.

Do broken ribs ever stop hurting?

Most broken ribs resolve within six weeks. You'll need to take it easy during this time, but you should still be able to walk around and do your daily activities. If you find that the pain isn't getting any better, see a doctor to rule out any additional injuries that could be causing your symptoms.

Where is the 8th and 9th rib?

The 8th, 9th, and 10th rib pairs don't connect directly to your sternum, but they are connected to each other by cartilage that attaches to the costal cartilage of the 7th rib pair. These ribs also attach to your spine in the back.

Why are the middle ribs most commonly fractured?

The most common mechanism causing rib fractures is blunt trauma (i.e. automobile accidents, falls from height, assault, or even severe coughing). Blunt trauma causes rib fractures by exerting direct pressure on the rib causing it to break.

What can you do for 3 broken ribs?

Most broken ribs heal on their own within six weeks. Restricting activities and icing the area regularly can help with healing and pain relief.

What is the best pain relief for broken ribs?

Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, such as ibuprofen (Advil) or naproxen (Aleve), should do the trick. You can also holding a covered icepack against the area for 20 minutes at a time three times a day for extra relief.

What's the hardest bone to break?

Your thighbone (femur) is the longest and strongest bone in your body. Because the femur is so strong, it usually takes a lot of force to break it. Motor vehicle collisions, for example, are the number one cause of femur fractures.

What is the most common bone to break?

Well, perhaps surprisingly, the most common bone to break is actually the clavicle, more often known as the collarbone. The clavicle is the bone that runs across the front of the body from shoulder to shoulder. Due to its length and slenderness, as well as its prominent position, it breaks quite easily.

When is a broken bone most painful?

In general, there are three stages of pain following a bone fracture. These are referred to as acute pain, subacute pain and chronic pain. Acute pain usually occurs immediately after you suffer the injury. After about a week or two, the worst pain is usually over.

How do you sleep with a broken rib?

Sleeping on your side, back and sitting up straight are the only viable positions for this situation. Your choice will be based on your level of comfort. Some doctors recommend sleeping on the injured side to allow more room for your expansion and contraction of the chest cavity to ease breathing.

Does broken rib pain get worse before it gets better?

The worst pain is usually the first 1-2 weeks and gets gradually better after that. Healing time also depends on the person.

Why do broken ribs hurt more in the morning?

Morning is perhaps the worst time of day. After a few hours of sleep, the chest wall muscles have become tight and the first twist or turn to get out of bed can be excruciating to the point that the same move on morning two is dreaded.

How long should you be off work with broken ribs?

When pain is not present at rest, the patient can begin to increase his or her activity level but this should be gradually done. Most rib fractures heal within 6 weeks. Many patients are able to resume daily activities much sooner. Virtually all nonpathologic rib fractures heal well with conservative management.

How should you sleep with bruised ribs?

Try to sleep in a comfortable semi-upright position for the first few nights. You can do this by placing a few pillows under your neck and upper back. This position will help you breathe more comfortably. Begin to sleep on your unaffected side after the first few days of injury.

How long does it take for 2 fractured ribs to heal?

In most cases, broken ribs usually heal on their own in one or two months. Adequate pain control is important so that you can continue to breathe deeply and avoid lung complications, such as pneumonia.

Are ribs easy to break?

It's surprisingly easy to break a rib doing something as simple as swinging a golf club. If you have osteoporosis or lesions from cancer, you may be at a higher risk for broken ribs. You may also have a cracked rib that isn't as dangerous as a broken rib but can still be painful.

Can a broken rib puncture your heart?

Blunt trauma to the thorax may also cause myocardial rupture by squeezing the heart between the bony structures of the thorax. However, the penetrating trauma resulting from the free ends of the fractured sternum or the ribs puncturing the heart and rupturing the myocardium is seldom seen.

Can a rib puncture a lung?

Rib fracture complications

The most severe and critical complication of displaced rib fractures is a pneumothorax. A displaced rib fracture can puncture the lungs and the pleural sac surrounding the lungs effectively deflating the lung on the side of the pleural puncture.