About your visit

We have examined you and have ascertained that you have bruised or broken one or several ribs. We have given you pain-relieving medicine you should take as long as you are in pain. You may be in pain for several weeks.

When you get home

Contact your general practitioner if your condition deteriorates

It is normal to be in pain if you have bruised or broken ribs. The pain will often increase the first seven to 10 days after the injury, after which the pain will begin to recede. However, if the pain suddenly increases or you have trouble breathing, call your general practitioner or dial 1813 to reach the medical helpline outside your general practitioner’s opening hours. The same applies if you develop a fever or a sustained cough.

Take pain-relieving medicine to take deep breaths

You should take medicine with paracetamol, which takes the worst of the pain. This will help you breathe deeply and cough up mucus, which will reduce the risk of you getting pneumonia. We may have given you a prescription for a different type of medicine than paracetamol.

Avoid vigorous physical activity

It is important to move around and to resume your everyday activities gradually. However, you should avoid vigorous physical activity, for example exercising, vacuuming and heavy lifting. The length of time this applies differs from person to person. You can check your medical journal at www.sundhed.dk to see what applies to you.

Worth knowing