Can you crack or break a rib from coughing?

I'm experiencing the exact same thing. I have this persistent cough that I cannot get rid of and now I have this horrific pain on my left side of my ribs. When I cough or even breathe it is terribly painful. I put ice on it and put vicks vapor rub on it at night. when I get up and sit back down it just kills me. I hope it doesn't take too long to heal up

I have the same thing for the first time. Left side and am I dread coughing and sneezing because the pain bursts through to my back. I made a point of telling my doctor, but all I came away with was antibiotics for 'a touch of bronchitis'. I will go back to my doctor if the pain does not ease in a few day's time.

I just noticed that many of the posters who did crack their ribs from coughing were pregnant, so I looked it up and found this:

"During pregnancy, the enlarging uterus causes certain opposing muscular forces to act on the ribs, making them more susceptible to fracture after minimal trauma or after repeated stresses such as a chronic cough."

Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11126720

I am also in this party. I was diagnosed with walking pneumonia 2 weeks ago and just this past week I felt a sharp stabbing pain on the upper right side of my rib cage. I didn't know if it was my gallbladder or a rib. I went right to the Dr and sure enough, it's a cracked rib. Not sure I can manage any day to day activities as it hurts to sit, stand up, bend over or pick anything up. I called the Dr's office today hoping they can give me something for the pain. Good luck all..

I recently bruised my ribs, or so I thought. I was sick at the time and my coughing has increased the intensity of the pain 10 fold....thinking of finally seeing my doctor...

Have the same problem.  I have had a cough for 4 weeks now with no signs of letting up.  I have been to the Dr twice now for cough meds, steroids, nasal sprays, inhaler, etc.  For the past week my left side under my arm right about the area of my bra strap has been just unbearably painful.  I did get a pain shot from the Dr on Sunday, but it really did not help much.  The most helpful thing for me is to fill the bathtub with as hot of water that I can stand to lay in up to my neck.  Soak for about 10-15 minutes and it really relaxes my muscles in addition to helping with breathing and coughing.  I have been taking a microwave heating pad to work with me that I strap around my chest when the pain gets rather intense.  Got up this morning to pain on both sides now.  I have been sleeping sitting up on the couch for 3 weeks now.  Ugh!!!  Cannot wait for this to end!!!

OMG I think I am having the same problem, as well.  I have been having flu like symptoms, along with the horrendus cough.  I only have 50% lung capacity and have been on oxygen therapy for over 3 years now.  I also have Sleep Apnea....Right now, my lower left in the back rib hurts sooo bad.  I have to take breathing treatments every 2 hours, and feel bad because now I fear not only did I crack a rib from couching soooo hard, but that I have pnemonia......Im only 40 years old, and it talkes evverthing I have now just to get up and pee, let along take a bath...I, as well, am couch bound, as I cannot sleep laying down because it makes the breatihing even worse...ANY SUGGESTIONS?  I have a fever as well and am freezing...I am goint to the ER tomorrow as soon as I get someone to take my bad ass kids....PLEASE ANY SUGGESTIONS TO MAKE ME FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE would be greatly appreciated...ALSO I have bruises eveywhere on my body...they hurt..I was a anemic and also potassium deficient at one time, do yyou think this also could be related??? THANKS FOR HELPING!!

I had just the bad coughing spell you describe and then the pain followed a few days later. I ignored it till the pain eased, but it came back with shortness of breathe. The pain was almost unbearable,so off to the ER, and yes had 2 fractured ribs and a partially collasped lung. So it is possible. It is alwful pain, but not much can be done execpt wait it out. Rest is the perfect treatment. I stayed off work for 2 wks. and it was the best thing I could do. It's been 4 wks. and still tender, and uncomfortable but much more manageable.

I am going thru this now.  This past Friday, the wife and I went out to eat and I overindulged. I remember coughing once or twice fairly hard.  I did not feel a pop or anything but slightly afterward started getting a little sore under the right chestbone. It stayed sore but not unbearable until Saturday night after I had driven to my son's college and back a total of about 300 miles. We arrived home about 1am Sunday AM. The pain then started getting very bad and I could not lay on any of my 4 sides it hurt so bad.  Also I could not breathe in more than about half a breath before the pain would overcome me. I was going to go to the hospital, but my wife had a extra strong pain pill and I took it.  Within 30m I was asleep and didn't go.  It is now Monday evening and I worked last night.  The pain is greatly reduced but is still there and still noticalbe.  I can breathe in deeply now as long as I do it slowly and cautiously.

Info:  There is a person at my plant I spoke with this AM that just returned to work after falling and busting 2 ribs.  He said the doctor told him that the coughing or sneezing can bruise or break ribs given the right circumstances.  He also said that after eating a bunch and squating down, that that would compact the food in your stomach.  Then when you raise up the pressure on your rib cage can break a rib.  Just nice to know for us older people who love to eat.

YES, you can crack a rib coughing and I am suffering one at the moment. I did a similar thing years ago when I had pneumonia - went to my GP who told me it's actually quite common and can be made worse by wearing underwired bras!
Have recently had a horrendous chest infection with really deep coughing and sure enough - I've done the same thing on the other side (same place, just under the wire of my bra).....there's not much you can do, take pain killers/anti-inflammatories to reduce the pain and allow you to breath better.

I've had a chest cold for two to three weeks. On all the usual meds docs give you for secondary infections and cough...prednisone, antibiotics, cough meds, etc. I have coughed so hard and for so long that I've strained my chest muscles. However, I coughed really hard yesterday and a bone in my lower  right rib cage popped...loudly. Good grief! Every thing went dark for a couple minutes and the pain was intense all  evening. Today, I can't bend, turn or move easily. I dread coughing because it feels like a sharp stabbing pain in my  rib cage. Now I'm wondering about a broken rib from coughing so much. These posts have been helpful.

 

Yes, you can crack a rib coughing.  Coughed so hard I heard the snap.  X-ray confirmed a break on number 5 rib on the right.  Hurts like crazy.  Still coughing and its hard to catch my breath at times and hard to find a compfortable position.  Not much they can do for it.  Dr. gave pain meds,NSAID, and wrapped it up.  Bad thing is you have to cough to move the secretions are you get consolidation in your lungs and wind up with pneumonia if your not careful

I am thankful that I found these posts. I am also experiencing pain in my left rib area. I have had a terrible chest cold for the past week. I have been coughing like crazy all week long. Last night I started to feel this pain. It hurts to even turn sides while sleeping, getting in and out of a car just like others have said. It is definitely scarey and very painful. If I find a comfortable position and I dont move, I feel okay. Anything that causes me to flex the muscles surrounding that area, it's terrible and takes my breath away. Thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences.

Yes, it is possible to crack a rib from coughing. I just recently got over pneumonia and right at the very end...the day before I started my vacation...I coughed and cracked a rib at work. The pain was so horrible it ripped through my breast, as well. This is on my left side from under my breast around almost to the back. I know this is what it is, because I have done it before! This will take 6-8 weeks to heal. (I am also an RN.) I am currently on Prednisone, Tylenol and Ibuprofen. Otherwise, I would not make it through the day. I return to work tomorrow and am wondering how I am going to make it through! argh I am so disgusted. To top it all off, my husband had pneumonia through our vacation, too. We didn't get to go anywhere. We were barely able to put up the Christmas decorations and had to stop short of the last few strands of lights outside. But we got most of it done. I don't know why I am telling strangers this, except to say it will pass. I know it hurts...I KNOW. lol..but it will pass.

Also suffering with the same thing, had a mild pain on the lower right of my rib cage, until yesterday where i had a massive cough, heard a crack, and saw stars, as the pain became nigh on unbearable! The doc told me id cracked a rib, and likelihood was it was irritating the protective sinew beneath my ribcage, again no treatment, just painkillers and anti inflammatories. Trying to just fight the coughing now! its unbelieveable how many times you seem to cough a day!