Treatment for broken ribs?!
Question:
Treatment for broken ribs?
Hi-could anybody tell me the best treatment for broken ribs and a concussion-also what are the best pain medications to use?
Answers:
There is no real good treatment for broken ribs--no way to immobilize them and wrapping is no longer always recommended as it causes more problems such as lung collapse and pneumonia. You need to do coughing & deep breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia--you hold a pillow to the broken rib area to protect and cough & take a deep breath 10 times every 4 hours. However, you should have a Chest Xray to make sure a rib did not puncture the lung or cause bleeding. You may be given vicodin or even dilaudid for pain.
The concussion should be evaluated but basically for the first 24 hours the person needs to be woken up every hours for fisrt few and then every 2-3 to make sure there are no neurological changes (blurry vision, gait problems, headache, pupil changes, mental changes, confusion, vomiting). With a concussion you pain meds may be more limited. Do not take advil or aspirin as that may cause bleeding.