Broken Rib Symptoms: Pain, Diagnosis & Treatment

Symptoms of a broken rib may include:

- Pain when taking a deep breath, coughing, or laughing

- Bruising and swelling at the fracture site

- Difficulty lying on the affected side

- Shortness of breath

- A grinding or cracking sound at the fracture site

- Increased pain when pressure is applied to the affected area

- A visible deformity in the chest area if the bone has been displaced