Getting in and out of bed with a broken rib

Reduce your broken rib pain using this method for getting in and out of bed. You use one hand as described in the video, and your other hand to help yourself get in and out of bed. Wrapping the rib cage tightly does help decrease pain. They used to do that for people suffering from rib fractures but the rib cage moves to help lungs expand and contract, and keeping them tightly wrapped for long periods cause lung issues, so they no longer wrap rib cages of rib fracture patients. However, creating that compression still does help lessen the pain associated with broken ribs, so you can do it yourself temporarily when you need it the most.
Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. Practice this method at your own risk. This is just a method that worked for me and I am only sharing it with the hope that it may help others. Take care, and thanks for watching!
Visit my channel at / agoodlife for more.

[@chrismiles6375]

I am so very grateful to you for posting your video, and lucky to have found it, so very simple, but so effective. I damaged my ribs four days ago, and I am still trying to balance my pain relief medication, with minimising the upset to my stomach. I have found that your technique can reduce the level of pain in all situations by up to 3 points on a scale of 0 to 10, especially when the technique makes the unbearable becomes bearable for coughing, sneezing, blowing of the nose, or of course when getting out of bed. It gives the benefits of strong support for just those few moments when you need it, without the danger of wearing a support for a week(s) with its potential detrimental effects on breathing, important for the natural recovery of the muscles and cartilage around the ribs. I thank you again, your video should be ‘a must see’ for anyone suffering from damaged ribs.

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you Chris Miles! I'm glad you found the technique helpful and that you let me know. Your comment made my day! 😊🙏 I wish you a full, quick, and comfortable recovery. Take care!

[@moshiach1969]

First video I found this morning after I returned home from the hospital last night. It took me 5 minutes to struggle out of bed this morning and boy did it hurt. I just tried this method and it does make it a bit easier. Thank you!

[@AGoodLife]

I'm glad it helped even a bit. Thanks for your comment, and get well soon moshiach1969!

[@generalzod7959]

How long before the pain became somewhat tolerable ?

[@generalzod7959]

How long before the pain became somewhat tolerable ?

[@carolynek1875]

@@generalzod7959 for me it took about 10 days.. I was always uncomfortable sitting laying walking till about 10 days but even then you had to be careful cuz one time I thought all the pain's not that bad and I decided to sleep on the side where the ribs were broken thinking that the pressure on that would make it okay and I couldn't even get up and it sent me back a couple days so I say one day at a time that's how I learned

[@pirateskeleton7828]

Thank you. Just fractured yesterday and wasn’t sure I’d be able to get out of bed. Living alone, I wasn’t sure if I needed to call for help, but I squeezed my shirt, toughed it out, and was able to sit up.

[@AGoodLife]

I'm sorry to hear about your fracture Pirate Skeleton! Things should get better and less painful with each passing day. I'm so glad this method helped some. Take care and get well soon!

[@pirateskeleton7828]

@@AGoodLife as a follow up. I took my heaviest exercise elastic band and tied one end to the foot of my bed. I then use the other end to pull myself up. This has worked out amazingly since I let my arms to all of the work. Was also wearing an elastic chest compress.

[@AGoodLife]

@@pirateskeleton7828 That's a good idea to help pull yourself up with the exercise band. Thanks for sharing that! FYI, they used to wrap people's chests for broken ribs, because as I'm using here, decreasing the movement of the ribcage lessens pain. However, restricting the movement of the ribcage for extended periods of time caused breathing/lung problems so they stopped doing that. Depending on how tight or strong the elastic chest compress you're wearing is, you should be careful with that, and probably not sleep with it. It's ok to use that principle briefly just when you need it though, such as when getting in and out of bed, or when getting in and out a car, etc. Please keep that in mind. Take care!

[@peacefulone4461]

March 18 2022...multiple broken ribs here (& broken L foot). The info provided is so helpful. TY very much.

[@rez_ryder1538]

Thank this worked perfectly. I broke six ribs with ten different fractures last week

[@AGoodLife]

That's rough Rez_Ryder15. I hope you're not in too much pain. Thanks for the comment, I'm glad this helped some 😊 Get well soon! 👍

[@rez_ryder1538]

U Come with Nothing and go with Nothing it was a car accident, also i broke my shoulder blade.

[@TheSanDiegoSteve]

Thank you from San Diego.

[@AGoodLife]

You're welcome TheSanDiegoSteve. I hope you'll feel better soon

[@peacefulone4461]

March 2022...I have multiple broken ribs...this info is very helpful. TY so much

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you so much Peaceful One! I'm glad you found it helpful! I hope you feel better soon

[@caroldmiller2744]

I found that this helped as well. The other part i learned was sliding my legs off bed but holding them straight out. Shift weight so legs help pull you up.

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Carol:D Miller, I'm glad this method helped you some. And your suggestion is a good one too, thank you for sharing. I hope you get well soon. Take care

[@dannycbe949]

This is my method I broke 6 ribs on the left side. I sleep on the right side of our double bed To ease into bed, i first sit as deep into the bed as possible. I grab my left thigh to the side just over the knee, and with my left hand , and slowly easse down. As soon as able i rest on my right elbow. I then rest my left elbow on the bed and lever myself slowly down to the pillow. The whole idea in the this movement is not to allow the back to do any of the work. Getting out of bed is exactly the reverse of these moves

[@AGoodLife]

Thanks for sharing Danny Cbe, and take care! I wish you a smooth, quick, and comfortable recovery.

[@contrarian717]

For me it helps to take a deap breath and hold it while lifting up, or with other moves

[@AGoodLife]

That's a good one, too. Thanks for sharing Carel Joubert!

[@jasmineechang]

So kind of you to share. Thank you!

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you Jasmine Chang! I hope it'll help a bit, and I hope you or whoever is suffering a rib injury will get better soon.

[@Ryan-tn8ph]

Thank you! Straight to the point

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you, Ryan! I hope it helps...

[@mystikskye]

I just found out yesterday that I had 2 broken ribs, all from trying to move a washer/dryer combo. I will try this tonight!

[@AGoodLife]

Very sorry to hear that Debbie Lester, I hope the worst of it passes soon and that you'll get better quickly -and I hope this method will help some! Take care!

[@mystikskye]

@@AGoodLife thanks! Mine wasn’t caused by any kind of trauma so that’s causing me some concerns! I did try this last night and it did help!

[@AGoodLife]

@@mystikskye That would cause some concern... Very peculiar... hopefully it's nothing. Human bodies are amazing and weird. Glad the method helped! Thank you for letting me know :) Best of luck to you and get well soon!

[@mystikskye]

@@AGoodLife thanks! Now I’m going to be afraid to do anything like that. I mean it’s not like I tried to pick up the washer I was just trying to push it back against the wall. I don’t see how that shoulda broken any ribs. I guess I need to talk to my pcp to see if I need a bone density scan to find out what’s going on.

[@AGoodLife]

@@mystikskye I hope you won't worry about it too much. Sometimes freak accidents like that happen. Best of luck and I hope everything turns out alright.

[@_kEn_.]

My grampa has a broken rib rn hopefully this helps 🙏

[@AGoodLife]

Hi KenDaGod, sorry about your grampa's rib. I hope he gets better soon and I hope this method helps too.

[@_kEn_.]

Tysm A Good Life, btw how long did it take for your broken ribs to heal/stop hurting and are they as good as new rn? Also how many ribs did u break? And do u have any other tips?

[@AGoodLife]

@@_kEn_. The first week was the worst, but it gets a bit better with each day. Mine was quite a bit better in 3-4 weeks and pretty much totally gone in about 6 weeks or so.

[@themuffinbg516]

My dad broke a rib and i told him this hack he says that its better Like this but he broke one and its kind of dislocated, he will be ok

[@AGoodLife]

Hi TheMuffinBG, I am sorry about your dad's injury, and I am glad this video helped a bit. Thanks for letting me know. I hope he gets better soon.

[@TravisRichey]

I usually sleep naked but I may have to start wearing a shirt for a while just to help with getting in and out of bed... ~Trav

[@AGoodLife]

Hey Travis Richey, this method was the key to getting out of bed without unbearable pain for me, so I'd say it's worth wearing a shirt to bed for a while! I hope you feel better soon!

[@roygee1283]

thank you for this very helpful tip, bless you.

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you for your comment Roy. Get well soon!

[@carolynek1875]

I think the worst thing about broken ribs for me was trying not to cough ..I would never want to get broken ribs again and, if I slept on my side the wrong way the ribs hurt so bad the next morning it was unreal

[@AGoodLife]

Absolutely! Getting in and out of bed was rough, especially in the early days, but one can keep movements to a minimum for the most part, except when sneezing and coughing! Those hurt! I hope you're all better now carolyne k.

[@carolynek1875]

@@AGoodLife all healed up thank you!

[@user-si5vu9ed8m]

Thanks for the idea, initial this was worst pain scenario for me too, but for now I am total avoiding the pain of getting in and out of bed, buy sitting slating on a sofa with a pillow, this way ur almost straight and can sleep and pain is zero during getting in or out. How long did the pain og getting in or out of bed last ?

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Reny Dev, I am glad that is working for you. Each break/crack is unique I'm sure based on severity and location but for me, the real painful part was the first few days, then it was painful for another 2-3 weeks but a little less so with each day and this method really helped me. So if you miss lying fully flat, and once you get a little better and get in bed, you can still use this method. Even though it may be more tolerable by then to get in and out, this method will still make it less painful. Take care and get better soon!

[@raghavjod]

My dad has 3 fractured ribs after he met with an accident. I cry as i see him helpless in laying down 😭

[@AGoodLife]

I'm so sorry for your dad Raghav3K. I hope this method may help ease his pain a bit at times, and I hope he'll feel better soon.

[@raghavjod]

@@AGoodLife sir he's already wearing a rib belt, and is it ok for him to feel his cracked bone sometimes rubbing each other while laying down?

[@AGoodLife]

@@raghavjod I am not sure about what he's feeling or if it's normal, a doctor should make that assessment. But for what it's worth, I also felt my broken rib crack and move around at times. I am hoping his doctor recommended wearing the rib belt, because as far as I know long-term restriction of rib movement is not used much anymore because it may cause some lung problems.

[@raghavjod]

@@AGoodLife my dad is breathing normally , and the rib belt was recommended by the doctor, also i have my last query, my dad is feeling pain in the centre of the chest , is it normal cause the doctor said it happens

[@AGoodLife]

@@raghavjod That does not sound unusual. I would go by what the doctor said too. I hope he feels better soon

[@TT-tw6qz]

My dad broked his 5 ribs(2,3,4,5,6) during an accident. Its been 5 days now. Doctor told to take rest and take medications for pain whenever there is. Anyone here can give advices and suggestions about home care from now on? How to sleep? Wake up? Can sit or stand or should always lie down? Any tips for temptation for cough or sneeze? Any anything else we should take care about? How long it will take to complete heal the fracture?

[@AGoodLife]

Hi TT, I'm very sorry to hear about your dad's accident. It took me about 5-6 weeks to fully recover and the first couple of weeks were the worst. It continued to be painful after that too but not nearly as bad and mostly when laughing, coughing etc, and each day was a bit better. Resting is important of course but whether one rests sitting down or laying down doesn't make much of a difference. This method I shared here helped me with getting in and out of bed, and also during other painful movements, besides that I don't know of other remedies for, say, coughing or sneezing, but maybe others will have some helpful comments. Take care, I hope your dad gets better soon.

[@smokingisbadmtherfcker2537]

Sometimes you can use your other arm to take the pressure off. Slide your elbow while you breathe in, or out. You'll figure it out. I broke a couple ribs, it's been a couple weeks. It still hurts really bad.

[@AGoodLife]

Thanks for the suggestion! Feel better soon!

[@kyncha1]

I'm the only guy here doesn't wear any clothes while sleeping 🥲

[@AGoodLife]

Hi kyncha, if the pain is bad enough, it might be worth putting a shirt on for a while. Either way, take care and I hope you feel better soon

[@GradyAult]

Thank you

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you for commenting GradyVonRyan, I hope you are doing well

[@therealpdangel8879]

To be honest I'm trying to figure out this someone hit me in my sleep. Woke up one morning chilling at Mom's house at night. Woke up my upper back by my ribs. Are hurting and I see some swelling and also some bruising starting to form. So I may have to check on this I may have to go see a doctor. Thank you for your video

[@realtalk675]

Thank tou so much, i cant get out of bed right now

[@AGoodLife]

Thank you Real Talk! I hope this will help you some. Take care and feel better soon!

[@ramennudes4704]

For how long did you have a broken rib for?I wanna workout and a broken ribs makes it ten times harder I wanna know how long this painfull shit takes

[@ramennudes4704]

Never mind I saw a coment answering my question thx anyway

[@AGoodLife]

Hey sunlix, sorry about your rib! Recovery time would be dependent on the number and the severity of your breaks obviously. I had 1 broken rib, and it was very painful for like 10 days, occasionally painful for another 2 weeks or so after that, and probably took about 5-6 weeks total for it to get all better. Hopefully yours won't take too long either. Patience and listening to your body pays off though, if you start pushing it too early you might make your recovery take even longer. Take care, and get well soon!

[@ramennudes4704]

@@AGoodLife jeez thanks A Good Life my pain actually gets worse and worse everyday(it's been 7 days)and only 1 broken rib so I think I'm fine But I'm definitely going to be taking your advise Sir Thanks for your time and effort 👌 💪

[@AGoodLife]

@@ramennudes4704 sorry to hear that your pain is getting worse, hopefully it'll start getting better soon. You're welcome! I hope this trick helps you some!

[@ellesnyder942]

I'm day 3 after ER visit for 5 cracked lower ribs in my back. My husband has to help me in and out of bed and it's painful. I can't imagine this video is meant for the first week. I can't budge by myself in bed but once I'm up I can walk around a while.

[@AGoodLife]

Sorry to hear about your ribs Elle. I ony had 1 broken rib and was alone in the house at the time, so if it wasn't for this method, I couldn't get out of bed at all. I'm glad your husband is around to help out, that would be better than this method I'm sure, but just keep in mind, whenever you'd like to decrease the pain, limiting the movement of your ribs with this method will hopefully help a little bit. Get well soon!

[@ellesnyder942]

@@AGoodLife Thanks

[@ellesnyder942]

@@jamesbourgeois7871 by day 4 but it was super slow and incremental to do it. Having a cane handy to help you and also never laying down all the way I was very propped up to sleep

[@ellesnyder942]

@@jamesbourgeois7871 I was propped up in bed at basically almost a 90° angle. Lots of pillows and quilts to keep me upright that way. I was able to get up even on the second day but it's because my husband would stand next to the bed and I would hook my hand over his arm and you have to keep your torso like a plank..and he would inch my legs very slowly so that I was turning to the side of the bed and again I would hook my hand over his arm and be able to stand up once my legs were down but again you got to keep your torso like a plank. Even so it involved screaming in pain to get up til about day 4. It probably also matters where your ribs were broken mine were on the right side of my back, between the spine and the side. I had pain pills and I also had lidocaine patches that you put on over the break every other 12 hours. the bed was low enough that when I was sitting upright my feet would be on the floor so that was helpful

[@ellesnyder942]

@@jamesbourgeois7871 how are you doing now?

[@Geeexx]

How the heck am i suppposed to breathe

[@AGoodLife]

Hey CIsntSharp, I am really sorry that you're in pain. Painful rib movements sometimes force people to take shallow breaths but it's important to breathe in deeply especially to prevent chest infections and to clear mucus from your lungs. So as much as you can stand it, you should try taking in deep breaths. If you are in a lot of pain, kind of hugging yourself with or without a pillow will make taking deeper breaths more bearable. Also, keep in mind, this situation is temporary, you should be feeling less and less pain with each day soon. Good luck, and take care.

[@billreynolds19]

7 days ago i was in an accident and broke 9 ribs....im all fucked up,they wont send you home with a 2 litre of morphine.....lol

[@AGoodLife]

That blows Bill Reynolds, what a tough break! I can't imagine how painful 9 broken ribs must be but hang in there, each day should be a bit better. Hopefully this method can offer a tiny bit of help too. Best of luck to you, and get well soon!

[@Tarheb]

hello, could you tell me how long it takes until broken ribs are healed and you are out of pain? I'm almost 2 weeks in, the pain is not as severe as in the first week but still there. still hurts when coughing, sneezing, breathing in, trying to lift/push something (even if easy) and turning around in bed.

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Silverfire, sounds like you're over the worst of it. The first week to 10 days are the worst (depending on the severity and the number of your breaks) then it generally continues to be painful especially when sneezing, coughing etc, as you've mentioned, for another 2-3 weeks, then you can still tell it's not 100% for another week or two but that last stretch isn't really painful. I'd say you're about halfway done with pain, and it should get better by the day. Sorry about your rib(s), I hope you'll get well and be pain-free soon!

[@Tarheb]

@@AGoodLife thank you for the answer!

[@deliciousness8183]

Silverfire, how long did it end up taking to recover?

[@Tarheb]

@@deliciousness8183 about 2 months for full recovery. after 1 month the pain stopped bothering me and after 2 months i could also resume training without feeling pain

[@gnrbiswas7911]

Hey why is my lower right ribs inner than the left?

[@AGoodLife]

I wouldn't know... Is it really? Maybe a doctor or a chiropractor should take a look. I hope it's nothing bad.

[@therucha]

Ty ty ty, helped quite a bit accualy

[@AGoodLife]

Thanks Marcus, I'm glad it helped. I hope you feel better soon!

[@piyushkumar-me1nb]

after three months still my chest is sore and tender sleeping on that side hurts sometimes but nerver faced any pain in deep breathing it got better but still some discomfort whaat is the maximum time tenderness soreness may lie

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Piyush Kumar, first of all I am not a doctor, so keep in mind that only a doctor that personally examines you would have the best advice, but I have heard of broken ribs taking anywhere from 6 weeks to 6 months to fully heal, so your 3 months is not unheard of. Another thing to consider is that a bad move or a new fall/impact can make your pain worse again but otherwise even if there is pain it should be getting better over time, not staying the same or getting worse. Based on these you can decide if things are ok or if you should go seek professional medical help again, which of course is the best way to know. Either way I hope you get well soon.

[@piyushkumar-me1nb]

@@AGoodLife is x ray enough to rule out fracture in x ray ribs look neat snd clean still it can be fracture,?

[@piyushkumar-me1nb]

@@AGoodLife is x ray enough to rule out fracture in x ray ribs look neat snd clean still it can be fracture,?

[@AGoodLife]

@@piyushkumar-me1nb Hi, yes. I've heard of cases where the xray didn't really show a clear break but the doctor still said it may be a hairline fracture, so in other words, still broken but hard to see in the xray. If you have a similar situation, the medical professional that saw your xray would have told you the same though. If they didn't think it could be a fracture, there may be something else going on. Take care!

[@piyushkumar-me1nb]

@@AGoodLife hmm but if its hairline fracture than it can heal on own what i read in quora, displaced ones are tough, besides i injured near breast and chest corner, never faced pain on breathing and sneezing only in laughing thay went away, 2 month ago i felt like my ribs are popping or moving, i dont know my pain was not serious so i don't know i have heard if someone crack bone pain is like hell

[@navarjak]

Thank you!

[@AGoodLife]

You're welcome Jake Navarro. I hope you feel better soon

[@sweetnsour78]

I’m literally 19 and I think I pulled my spine IT TURNS OUT I DID

[@AGoodLife]

I'm really sorry to hear that ♡Sweet n' Sour♡. I wish you a quick, comfortable, and full recovery. Take care!

[@gelo6586]

Hello sir i wanna ask you a question why dont my ribs hurt so much i mean i must cry in pain but i feel nothing and 3days i dont have bruise or swelling nothing do you think i still broke my rib?

[@AGoodLife]

Hey GELO fromYT , a doctor should have the final say but I think if you had a broken rib you would feel more pain. Take care!

[@gelo6586]

@@AGoodLife oh thanks doc now i feel more better lol cause i slipped and my elbow dropped on my ribs and the pain in first killed mee but i dont have a problem with sneezing nor coughing nor laughing

[@gelo6586]

@@AGoodLife oh more thing if you put pressure on the rib it still get pain but i can easily handle it it dosent make more pain

[@therealpdangel8879]

Yes the pain pretty much instantly started going away

[@AGoodLife]

Sorry about your pain PD Angel. I'm glad this method helped. Get well soon!

[@marwasalah8995]

Hey ! Is it normal to have a back pain if your rib is bruised or swollen?

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Marwa_ _Salah, whatever impact caused a rib to be bruised or swollen might have caused back pain too. But I wouldn't know, best you ask a qualified medical professional. I hope you feel well!

[@adrianabejarano7742]

Did your back pain went away? I’m experiencing really bad back pain.

[@AlwaysAtractiv]

I never had an broken rib how bad is it?

[@AGoodLife]

I'm glad to hear it Laurentiu Mesaros, :) hopefully you'll keep it that way! Broken ribs can be quite painful, especially in the first week or so. In most cases every upper body movement causes sharp pain and it's pretty painful if someone makes you laugh or you sneeze or cough. It gets slightly better with each day though.

[@neemashukla3698]

At lest demonstrations on how to get on and out of bed. This video didn’t help at all!

[@AGoodLife]

I'm sorry you felt that way Neema Shukla. What I wanted to share was tightening your shirt with one hand to restrict movement of ribs, which was helpful to me. I hope you'll feel better soon.

[@don-barron4996]

Grabbing your shirt helps well ok.

[@rontrivett8596]

NOT MUCH HELP IF YOU'RE NOT WEARING A TOP!!!

[@cvnt6494]

I thought that we weren’t supposed to wear anything tight ? but yes the worst part is getting in and out of bed..

[@AGoodLife]

Hi Iris Genavine, the important thing is the duration. You're right, you're not supposed to wear really tight tops or wrap your ribs (as they used to back in the day) because they found it restricts the expansion of your lungs, keeps your breathing shallow, and that causes other problems. But that's only an issue if the restriction is prolonged. Doing it temporarily like this is fine, and it does help reduce pain when you need it the most. Get well soon!