Dropping or getting hit in the chest area can cause the ribs to bruise, crack, or break. Not only that, prolonged cough can also cause rib injury in people suffering from osteoporosis or cancer in the ribs. But no need to worry, rib injuries can heal by itself provided the treatment is right. Ribs are an important part of the body that plays a role in protecting the chest cavity and its vital organs, the heart and lungs. When you experience a fractured or broken rib, you will feel very painful. One sign of rib injury is bruising and swelling around the injured rib. But with good care, the pain in these ribs will slowly improve after three weeks to 1.5 months. This is because the ribs are able to restore their structure naturally. The recovery process of rib injury depends on the severity of the injury and the health condition of the sufferer. Rib Injury Recovery In most cases, rib injuries can be treated with care at home. The following ways you can take care of an injured rib: