Who has experience with cracked ribs?  What can I do to be more comfortable (other than taking pain meds)?
89749
Honestly, there's not much you can do.  You could try wrapping your chest with an ace bandage (not too tight!).  This will keep them from moving as much and help reduce the pain.  Did your doctor take an x-ray to make sure they are only cracked not broken?
154010
Broken Ribs, Heart Condition, Bad Posture Or Smoking Related Illness.
918728
see a doctor and get examined to make sure it is not serious. They'll X-Ray you to make sure. If they don't find anything wrong and you still have pain then you are probably out of alignment. This never goes away, you need to regularly do things to prevent it from flaring up. \n\n-Exercise a minimum of every other day, at least by walking but yoga and pilates is excellent for neck/back pain too. This alone could cure the pain if done regularly.\n\n-See a good chiropractor; if you don't know one ask friends for recomendations. An adjustment once a month will keep the pain at bay. If you don't like the chiro try another-there are many chiropractors there, all have different aproaches. Many chiros practice complimentary holistic or eastern medicine, if yours does not seek one of these specialists out to try accupuncture. Accupuncture is excellent. The only thing that avoided surgery.\n\n-Massages are good for stress reduction, but I never got pain relief from them. Stress reduction is my main source of recurring neck pain 10 years after my initial injuries being hit in a 5 car pile-up, and if I control stress I feel no pain.\n\n-Reduce swelling to control pain & inflammation Swelling lessens blood flow in the swollen or inflammed area(s), blood brings oxygen and carries away toxins from the muscle, which cause the knots and pain in the first place.\n\n -Alleve and Advil are OTC anti-inflammatories that work well even by taking 1/2 the recomended dose. \n\n-Ice works better or as well as Advil, together they work excellent. apply ice pack to the painful area for 15 minutes on and 15 mins. 2-3 times. Ice reduces swelling. \n\n Sleep! That's the only time your body can repair itself.
400049
I have been having sharp pains in my left hip/shoulder and ribs for the past couple years or so that have been progressively getting worse. i made an effort  the last few weeks not to sleep on that side by moveing to the couch. the narrowness helps keep me from turning over in my sleep. just doing this has lessened the pain considerably.
758138
It is impossible to tell you what is wrong without observing you.  Specialized tests such as an X-ray would be the most prudent place to start.  You definitely have an old injury, that may have damaged a ligament which healed with time, but may be stretched out allowing a joint to be unstable.  Now when the joint moves to far, because the ligament isn't tight, a reflex takes place to recruit your muscles to do the job of the ligament.  Now you have sore muscles in the area because they have been trying to hold it all day.  Also, you are at the age that considerable growth is taking place, another reason for the X-ray.  You could be developing scoliosis(abnormal lateral bending of the spine.)  Your heavy chest isn't helping, and with time if left alone without a correction, ie chiropractic or physical therapy it will only get worse.  Your mom is right, the mattress most definitely should be changed, you can't sleep on it forever.  It will give you problems.  And, just sit back and reason with yourself.  Why are you trying to  crack your back, probably because there is a problem there that feels better after doing so.  But, you are getting pain, this means that you should stop and let a professionally trained Doctor like a Chiropractor or Osteopath do it.  They are only going to treat the area that needs it, not everywhere that doesn't.  This way you won't stretch the rest of your ligaments around the other joints, which will ultimately end up giving you more unnecessary problems.  You should not be having this pain at your age, you need to have someone help you and before it gives you a chronic problem that you have to deal with forever.
161886
im assuming you want it to be better faster because you are involved in an extra curricular activity or sport.  correct?  make sure you wrap it tightly to relieve the pressure.  instead of taking showers, try a hot bath with some bath salts.  when you sleep or sit down, keep it elevated.  ice it constantly.  before going to sleep, move it around and stretch and massage it.  when you think it feels better don't just start running and jumping on it, keep it wrapped till your 100% certain it's healed, if you don't there is a high possibility it will be reinjured again.  Trust me, I know it's tough but it will get better.  I've been a professional dancer and teacher for many years now and I have survived a lot of different injuries.
250284
See a doctor.  Don't take chances with your lungs.  It could be as simple as needing an antibiotic but you may do permanent damage if untreated.  Take care.
778130
I would see your local doctor.  My guess is your on some type of medication.  He/She can put you one  a lite pain reliever while the side of your chest heals.  The reason it hurts is you have been coughing for some time and the muscles on your side have been used and therefore ache.  If your Doctor can prescribe some stuff, your muscles can relax and heal, therefore relieving an pain in the future.
959436
again hun?! i cant believe u broke that promise again. u know there isnt a way we hav figured out to make it heal faster. this neosporn im reading doesnt work, we confirmed that one right? =]] and all this stop cutting u can hurt urself, well no duh, isnt that the point? to hurt so u actually feel sumthing? just make sure to keep it clean and i guess u could put neospron o if u want. since its on ur ribs and covered most of the time try and let it breathe wen no one is around so it will get the air, and sum sun would b good but i kno u dont go in the sun. so let it breathe and keep it clean. oh and just about that cutting kit idea i acutally finished mine. but the glass isnt very sharp. oh well its just for palms.  but urs, hide it so u can stop for a while, i'll hide it for u if u want. u need to stop for a while. just a while at least.
722448
The surgery is a major one, but the patients I have met have felt much better afterward.  The main pain issues come from the sternum (breastbone) being split and repositioned.  There are new pain pumps that are put into the surgery site and patients are doing extremely well with them.  With your symptoms I would definitely look into contacting a cardiothoracic surgeon about getting a repair done.  Your pain will be controlled and there are many ways to help you recover from the surgery.  In the US the cost should be between 20 to 30 thousand dollars depending on length of surgery and recovery.  It would be much less if you went to another country to have it done.   You heal faster the younger you are, so please find a doctor and see if it is possible to fix this problem so you can resume your life.  Best wishes.
305294
It could be spasms in your intercostal muscles (the muscles between your ribs). This can be painful and can make breathing painful.\n\nIf you can, try vigorously massaging the affected area while trying to take a deep breath.\n\nRegardless, it's worth bringing up with your physician.\n:)
988313
I have a resident at the nursing home that I work in who is using it and has had very good luck with it.  \n\nShe has pain issues in rib area and low back and these have helped her\n\nwears them for 12 hours on and 12 hours off, we do cut the patch and apply to both areas.\n\nShe loves it and we have tried many pain medications for this pain\n\nwe first issued for pain from herpes zoster (shingles)  doctor thought we would try it as he felt nerve endings were where her pain was.\n\nNever hurts to try and it is much better than being addicted to a narcotic pain pill if it works for you\n\nforgot the web site check it out
712207
Make sure that u dnt hav any lung disease.\nU mush hav hurt sme where on ur chest n forgot, may b.\nIf both sides of ur rib cages hurt it means its nt localized problem. Its a generalized problem causing pain in ur rib cage.\n\nThere may b pulmonary oedema, osteoporosis, heart disease etc....\n\nIts impossible 2 diagnose, what exactly its 4m!   \nIt needs personal appointment with ur doc. \n\nPain r of many types. Which type of pain do u feel? Which all areas r involved. \nBy just saying ribl cage there r millions of causes....\n\n\nBetter u go 2 ur doc......\n\nGod Bless!.......
499426
Yeah it sounds like you have a rib out of place, ive had it happen to me a few times, make a appontment with a chiropractor, they will put it back in place and show you things you can do to stregthin that area so that way your rib wont pop back out, if you need a quick fix right now... the way i seen to get it back in at home, have you ever seen some people cross their arms and have someone lift them up to crack their back, well same idea but just sit on the persons lap, tell them to go up and back as much as possible arching your back as much as they can. This dosent always work but for the most part it does, the sure way to know if your rib is out of place from what i know is if it hurts to take a deep breath. sit in place and breath in as much as possible if you have a sharp pain in your sternum or in your back then yeah you know, try to get in today for the best results from your appointment the rib has to be out when you go, they have to know which one it is to give you the best excersises to do to keep that rib in place, if a rib is coming out like that the muscles around the rib need to be streghened to hold it where it needs to be...
430109
You could try using an NSAID, (Non-Steriodal Anti Inflammatory Drug), such as aspirin, or iBuprofen, the latter may possibly offer relief either as either oral or topical preperation. Also, try alternating gentle warmin and cooling packs to it. Reducing exercise is a helpful suggestion, however, you shouldn't immobilise completely, gentle exercise, i.e. gently bending and straightening, should be made at regular invervals. Unfortunately pain relief tablets are probably the best option to ease it though.  \nI've always found that soft tissue injuries are the most painful injuries, I hope you resolve your pain. \n\nI do recommend discussing it with your pharmacist before you take any medication, of any kind, as people can be allergic to NSAIDs, and they can inteact seriously with other existing medication you may be on. \nIf it doesn't settle soon, I would suggest visiting a minor injuries unit or your family doctor.
833460
If it's a sharp pain, it might be a dislocated rib.  I just had one of those a few months ago and they hurt like hell!  I went to the chiropractor and he popped in back in (he said it would hurt a little-he lied!), and I felt 100% better immediately.  BTW, I fell and dislocated it, but apparently you can do that from turning wrong or any number of things.
160946
A good pain killer needs a prescription....see your doctor, get an xray to find out "why" you have pain?  Have your been coughing a lot?  Do you have a broken rib?  Do you have pluerisy?  Pneumonia?   Years ago I fractured two ribs and the codine I was given made me vomit.  I tried using a well know anti nausea-car sick remedy and it took the edge off the pain so I could at least get some sleep.    Anything stronger, get a script from your physician.