“I've been told that coughing can cause a cracked rib. How would i know if this has happened and if so, does it heal by itself and how long?" East Syracuse
It's true. An internist we called says it can happen with -really- hard coughing, and can take weeks to heal. The pain is worst especially in the first week or two, and it'll hurt to breathe - much like if you bruise your rib, or pull a muscle. A single cracked rib does not require any surgery, just a pain reliever. You should see a doctor if you have a lot of trouble breathing, or you can't or won't take a deep breath which may be signs of other problems.
