Can you crack or break a rib from coughing?

It's possible to pull the muscles between the ribs as well also a lot of pain I have a cracked rib from coughing it does hurt can't lay on that side other than that I'm functioning ok hurts If I cough or sneeze to hard I'm not taking anything though I hate pain pills and I have a very high pain threshold

Thank u so much for asking this question.. It's Thursday and since Monday I have been in excruciating pain on lower right rib cage from coughing so hard... The pain literally brings tears to my eyes and sneezing is almost to the point of passing out... I have been using a deep rubbing cream which gives me relief while I'm stationary but when the coughing or sneezing breaks out I want to just lay down and cry... I'm so glad I'm not alone... Ya gain thx

Yes it is possible I had a really bad cough that lasted about a month . Like you said everytime I coughed felt like my eyeball were going to pop out. One day I coughed really hard and felt pain . After that any time I sneezed coughed or laughed it was painful . Went to the Doc. He said oh you must of fractured a rib from coughing didn't think it was possible but it was.

i had pnomonia this spring, i've be4en couphing for over a mo, and about 3 weeks ago i started having been in my lower right rib cage, it is getting so bad i can;t stand the pain antmore and take pain med and it only mskes it bareable hurts to even breath

I have had a cough for about a month now, my ribs started hurting about 2 weeks ago , wasn't that bad, just felt slighly bruised around the bottom of my rib cage on the right side. Cough only keeps getting worse, one of those coughs that once you start you can't stop. Woke up with a pain so bad I felt nauseous about 5 days ago that is only sore if I breathe, cough, sneeze, or move suddenly or too quick. So I went hospital, got xrayed and turns out that I have 4 cracked ribs and 1 clean break. I ast how? They said it was my cough that did it, constant pressure agaisnt my ribs on a daily basis snapped them. So yes you can break a rib from a cough. And it will be VERY sore, id say the pain I am in now is about 8/10. 

I have had a bad cough for 2 weeks and thought I had pulled a muscle in my ribs from it. Then last night I coughed and felt a pop in my ribs, then incredible pain. Now I can't cough, sneeze or blow my nose because it hurts so much. I found if i lie down on the hurt side I can manage a small cough. I know there's nothing that can be done for this except time and anti-inflammatories. Some comfort in knowing I'm not alone in this

I've had the same thing going on but on both sides and has been popping for almost 8 months now went to hospital they did nothing and told me it would go away that was 6 months ago getting use to now but annoying have to sit a certain way to cough and do other things dunno what to do doctors won't help

This site is a great help, I feel slightly better knowing its not just me. I had torn muscle in lower rib cage for 5 weeks after a coughing fit, thought it was healing nicely untill today when I coughed I felt a large pop, followed by intense pain. I'm guessing I have maybe another 5 weeks to go I feel back to square one. I feel for all yous who have this problem it hurts so bad. All the best. GCAM

So, I'm going through this now. How long did it take you to finally get over this pain?

Same exact thing happened to me. I was seven or eight months pregnant, sitting on the couch and sneezed. I heard the loudest crack i'd ever heard. That was in 2007, and I've been fine ever since, except last week it started again, when I was contending with a cough. So now, coughing or sneezing is super painful.

What did your doctor say? I'm 8 months pregnant also and have the same issue. I don't know if it is something that I need to wait out or whether I need to have imaging done to check for a fractured rib. I've also thought about getting an adjustment from a chiropractor.

OK. Same thing happened to me this morning. Been coughing violently for 6 weeks. Pulled a muscle (visibly bulging) a few days ago, then this morning coughing, felt a pop, was in agonizing pain for a minute, now settled in to manageable pain unless I cough - which I do every few minutes. Sounds like very possible I cracked a rib coughing but based on the previous posts, I'm going to wait it out and not go in for xrays unless I notice the rib shifting. Unbelievable. I'm sitting at work with an ice pack trying not to cough.

myeloma? Sorry. my husband had bad ribs,anemic and potassium deficient

I had felt a steady pulled muscle type pain under my ribs for a few days after recovering from a week and a half of what was probably bronchitis.  Riding my dirtbike seemed to aggravate it after an hour or so.  Later I coughed while take a seat and felt a painful pop on the lower left side of my rib cage.  It's been almost a week, and I've had constant dull pain there with a pressure sensation.  I can't sleep on my left side and sleeping on my right side hurts but I do it anyway because I can't sleep on my back all night.  I'll go to a doctor if it doesn't improve within a week.  Probably strained or cracked something.  Sneezing, coughing, and moving around hurts.

I had that happen when I was pregnant as well. Unfortunately, if it is a pulled muscle or a break - there is nothing they can do for you. Pain meds aren't good for baby, and they don't wrap ribs anymore. Likely they will recommend a deep breathing session once a day to keep the lung healthy. The pain will fade in a bit. 4-6 weeks usually. Good luck!