Rib Injury

No appointment is necessary. We welcome walk-ins daily from 8am to 8pm at both our Palm Beach Gardens and Stuart locations. We recommend coming in as soon as possible after injury for proper evaluation.

We use on-site X-ray imaging to evaluate for rib fractures. Our medical providers will perform a physical examination first, then order X-rays if indicated based on your symptoms and injury mechanism. Results are typically available within minutes.

Unlike other fractures, broken ribs cannot be casted or splinted. Treatment focuses on pain management, breathing exercises to prevent pneumonia, and activity modification. We provide prescription pain medication when appropriate and detailed recovery instructions.

You should avoid activities that cause pain or involve twisting, heavy lifting, or contact sports during initial healing. Light walking is usually safe. We'll provide specific activity guidelines based on your injury severity and recovery progress.

Seek emergency care immediately if you experience severe difficulty breathing, coughing up blood, signs of shock (pale skin, rapid heartbeat, confusion), or if your injury resulted from major trauma like a car accident. These may indicate serious complications.

Pain typically peaks in the first few days and gradually improves over 3-8 weeks depending on injury severity. We provide comprehensive pain management strategies including medications, positioning techniques, and breathing exercises to help you stay comfortable during recovery.

Please bring your photo ID, insurance card (if applicable), and a list of current medications. If you have previous chest X-rays or medical records related to this injury, bringing those can be helpful for comparison.

Most rib injuries heal well with proper self-care. We'll provide clear instructions on when to return for follow-up, typically if pain worsens, breathing becomes more difficult, or symptoms don't improve as expected. Some patients benefit from a follow-up visit in 1-2 weeks.