If you've suffered trauma and have pain such that you think you may have broken ribs get a chest x-ray, especially if you're a bit short of breath. Not for diagnosis of the cracked ribs but for exclusion of a pneumothorax.
Cracked ribs: Suck it up and deal with the pain, there's not much that can be done for ya.
Pneumothorax: Needs treatment, unless its a tiny one. |