Pain with a rib fracture
In case of a rib fracture, very severe pain is a perfectly normal symptom. These pains increase when breathing, especially when taking a deep breath, as well as when coughing and sneezing. When pressure is applied in the area of the broken rib, the pain is also increased.
In addition, certain movements should be avoided to prevent stronger pain. When a rib is broken, parts of the ribs may penetrate the surrounding tissue. In addition, vascular nerve cords run directly above each rib.
By stimulating the surrounding nerves, the brain is signaled to feel pain. In addition to the typical sensation of pain caused by nerve stimulation, injuries to the surrounding organs can also occur. In this case, the lungs and the heart are particularly at risk.
Both organs can be injured by the fracture of the rib. In addition to the heart and lungs, injuries to the diaphragm and the organs adjacent to the diaphragm may also occur in rare cases. These include the liver, stomach and spleen.
Such injuries or simple pressure on the organs can cause enormous pain. Depending on the cause of the pain, different therapies can be initiated. In the case of more severe injuries to the internal organs, intervention must be carried out as quickly as possible, if necessary also through surgery.
If the pain is caused solely by the irritation of surrounding nerves, simple painkillers or local anesthesia can usually alleviate the pain and contribute to healing. If you suffer from severe pain in the rib area, fear a rib fracture, or if it has already been diagnosed, immediately start treatment of the rib fracture to avoid serious consequences and to relieve the pain:
- Treatment of a rib fracture – What should I do?
- Pain in case of a rib fracture – How can it be relieved?
The ribs extend from the spine to the sternum. If a rib fracture occurs in the rear part of the rib, it can cause pain in the back.
Vascular nerve cords lie directly on the ribs, which are irritated in the event of a rib fracture and thus lead to a sensation of pain.If these nerve cords in the posterior region of the ribs are irritated, the brain associates this with back pain – the feeling of back pain develops even though the back is usually not affected at all. In general, however, it can be said that rib fractures in the back area occur less frequently because they are well protected by the strong back muscles. The pain of a rear rib fracture is also usually less intense than that of a front rib fracture.
This is because the back muscles stabilize the area around the broken rib and therefore the rib is moved less. Back pain is not uncommon in everyday life and can have many different causes. Therefore it is important not to underestimate back pain and to search for the cause.
