How do you heal a pulled rib muscle?
Treatment
- Applying an ice pack or cold pack, followed by heat therapy.
- Resting and limiting all physical activity for a few days to allow time for the muscle strain to recover.
- Taking pain medications to reduce swelling and pain.
- Splinting the area if breathing is painful by holding a pillow against the injured muscle.
How long does a rib muscle strain last?
The average intercostal muscle strain takes about four to five weeks to heal, but the healing process may be shorter or longer depending on the severity of the strain.
Can you exercise with a pulled rib muscle?
Take time to rest as much as you can and limit torso movements. If you are continuing to play, you could end up injuring the strained muscle that much more. Bed rest is not advised, and it would be unusual to require best rest following this injury. Gentle exercise is recommended, such as walking.
Is heat good for rib injury?
Apply cold to the injured area off-and-on the first two days. Cold helps reduce pain and swelling. After two days, apply heat (tub soaks or warm wet washcloths) to help the bruise heal more quickly. 3.
What exercise can I do with intercostal muscle strain?
Depending on the severity of the injury, exercises may include:
- Breathing exercises, which slowly fill the lungs with air to expand the chest and work the intercostal muscles.
- Gate pose, a common yoga position that stretches the intercostals at the side of the torso.
What is the fastest way to heal sore ribs?
Resting and restricting your activities are the main treatment options for bruised ribs. Ice may help relieve some of your pain and swelling. Since bruised ribs cause pain when you inhale — causing you to take more shallow breaths — your doctor may prescribe medication to help manage your pain.
How do you sleep with sore 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.
What is the home remedy for rib pain?
If the rib cage pain is due to a minor injury, such as a pulled muscle or bruise, you can use a cold compress on the area to reduce swelling. If you’re in significant pain, you can also take over-the-counter pain relievers such as acetaminophen (Tylenol).
Is it good to massage sore ribs?
Remedial massage, dry needling and myofascial work can help to release the muscle tension then allowing the rib to move. By taking the pressure off the rib it will help with breathing better or turning, so that it doesn’t have that sharp pain.
What is the fastest way to heal rib pain?
What’s the Treatment?
- Take a break from sports to allow yourself to heal without hurting yourself again.
- Put ice on the area to relieve pain.
- Take pain medicine like acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
- Take deep breaths to avoid pneumonia.
- Don’t wrap anything tightly around your ribs while they’re healing.
Can you pull a muscle around your rib cage?
Your intercostal muscles are the muscles between your ribs. They allow your ribcage to expand and contract so you can breathe. But if they stretch too far or tear, intercostal muscle strain is the end result. You can strain the intercostal muscles suddenly or by doing certain movements over and over.
How long does a rib injury take 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.