Question 1

is it possible for a fractured rib not to heal after a year?

Accepted Answer

Definitely: If a fracture doesn't heal, it is called a nonunion.  For this injury, i typically obtain a plain xray first to evaluate, but more than likely,  a ct scan is needed to look for the nonunion (and any other injuries).  

If the nonunion is painful, you may benefit from surgery.  There are several centers across the us that perform this type of surgery, but not many.

Question 2

can broken, bruised or fractured ribs take up to a year to heal?

Accepted Answer

: Unusual, but the pain may be a residual muscle spasm. Good Luck

Question 3

how much longer for my t11 fractured rib to heal?  it has been almost 2.5 years and i don't know how to speed this up. x-ray showed healing normally.

Accepted Answer

Fractured rib: How did that happen?
It should not take 2.5 years to heal a rib fracture. You need to have your doctor be more specific and find a specialist to speed up the repair of your fracture.

Question 4

i am 20 years old at 17 i dove of a bridge into open water i have a first rib cartilage fracture at the sc joint, what can be done? will it ever heal?

Accepted Answer

Yes it should: Sterniclavicular injuries are common. At age 17 as u stated this is really a fracture as the medial clavicle growth plate is one of the last to close( usually age 18-21). It's unusual that u are still having pain here 3 years after the initial injury unless u are continuing to 'stress' the joint( bench press, push- ups etc.)almost all of these injuries are treated non-operatively... Gl!

Question 5

last year my brother fractured a rib three times and is still feeling a little pain every so often. will this go away or is it a permanent feeling ?

Accepted Answer

Rib fx: Rib fractures can commonly caused some persistent discomfort as that sometimes they do not heal completely or he'll in what we call a nonunion or a pseudoarthrosis. They can move ever so slightly and can cause some discomfort this may diminish with time but there may be a small component of persistence over the long-term

Question 6

i fracture a rib in three places and it took them 8 months to figure out. it's been over a year but i feel pain when i lay a certain way or move fast.

Accepted Answer

Ribs: It is highly likely that these ribs did not heal which is called a nonunion, it also could be a fibrous union where they heal but they don't feel completely due to persistent motion in the rib cage. Rib fractures very commonly do not heal as a long bone heals. The complaint you are having or not uncommon after an injury like this. Some people have tried ultrasound or bone stimulator's to help healsome people have tried ultrasound or bone stimulator's to help heal these fracturesolidly more some doctors will fix these with plates and screws ol

Question 7

i have a fracture in the posterolateral portion of 11th rib.what exercises can be done to expedite the recovery. i am 65 year old indian male?

Accepted Answer

Rest and no: heavy lifting is the best treatment

Question 8

would an fracture or bruising of ribs in the back cause blood in stool? right side. 48 year old, male. non smoker.

Accepted Answer

No: No, a back injury and/or rib fracture should not cause change in stool color.  It usually has to be from something within the gi tract; bleeding into the gi tract from a gastric ulcer being just one example.  Don't hesitate to be seen for it.

Question 9

negative chest cat scan for rib fracture but radiologist recommends mri with contrast of thyroid for my 12 year old. i'm not getting a reason why?

Accepted Answer

Not a clue: We do not have the history, exam or CAT scan to review, so we could only guess that something in the cat scan was suspicious. I'd call your doc, who might have received a call from the radiologist.One of the problems of these advanced technologies is they find stuff we weren't looking for that points out a need for another test.Some of the stuff is worrisome, some turns out to be okay.

Question 10

do rib fractures heal by themselves or not?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Only the extremely rare fractures that involve multiple segments of the same rib or adjacent ribs need surgical repair.  Even many of these will heal by themselves.

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Doctor answers about:

Is it possible for a fractured rib not to heal after a year

A member asked:

Is it possible for a fractured rib not to heal after a year?

A member asked:

Can broken, bruised or fractured ribs take up to a year to heal?

A member asked:

How much longer for my t11 fractured rib to heal? it has been almost 2.5 years and i don't know how to speed this up. x-ray showed healing normally.

A member asked:

I am 20 years old at 17 i dove of a bridge into open water i have a first rib cartilage fracture at the sc joint, what can be done? will it ever heal?

A member asked:

Last year my brother fractured a rib three times and is still feeling a little pain every so often. will this go away or is it a permanent feeling ?

A member asked:

I fracture a rib in three places and it took them 8 months to figure out. it's been over a year but i feel pain when i lay a certain way or move fast.

A member asked:

I have a fracture in the posterolateral portion of 11th rib.what exercises can be done to expedite the recovery. i am 65 year old indian male?

A member asked:

Would an fracture or bruising of ribs in the back cause blood in stool? right side. 48 year old, male. non smoker.

A member asked:

Negative chest cat scan for rib fracture but radiologist recommends mri with contrast of thyroid for my 12 year old. i'm not getting a reason why?

A member asked:

Do rib fractures heal by themselves or not?

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