What alternative treatments are available to aid in the healing of a broken rib?
I have a good friend who recently broke a rib. She is not very active and is 54 years old. After 6 weeks, she feels her rib is not healing well. She continues to have pain and difficulty breathing. She has tried many calcium supplements and cannot tolerate them through her digestive tract. She has been diagnosed as having osteoporosis. What alternative treatments are available to her to aid in the healing of her rib? Thank you for your help. Regards, Rebecca Answer from Dr. Kipersztok Dear Rebecca: It is difficult to judge from your question what caused your friend’s rib fracture. It is possible for any person, even those without osteoporosis, to sustain a fracture if enough force is applied to any bone in the body. Also, many factors can affect the healing process following a fracture. The best advise I can offer is that your friend should discuss her situation and concerns with her family physician or primary care doctor. Simon Kipersztok, M.D. OBGYN.net Osteoporosis, Editorial Advis
