Need advise from a Dr Only Please?

Question

What can I do to help some one with 6 broken ribs and brused lungs?
if this helps any its my dad that has the broken ribs and brused lungs

Answer 1

If you are sure about the prognosis and you are sure those are the exact problems, there is nothing a doctor can do. They will prescribe pain medicine and tell your dad to try to rest and limit movement as much as possible.

Answer 2

I agree with the first person to respond - E S.

First and foremost, he should have already seen a physician, and gotten a chest x-ray or cat scan (I assume he has based upon your question). There are some potentially serious complications related to rib fractures - including a punctured lung, liver, or spleen.

The cornerstone of treatment of uncomplicated rib fractures is pain management. This is most frequently done using an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen, sometimes combined with an opiod like Vicodin. Pain management is important, because without it the patient may "splint" - meaning he may not take full, complete, deep breaths - which puts him at risk for infection and collapsed lungs.

For severe pain that compromises the patient's ability to breath, a doctor may give a local nerve block.

In addition to that, I would recommend that your dad do something called "incentive spirometry" which basically is him breathing into a little plastic device that helps garauntee he is taking full deep breaths (see reason above).

Also, contrary to what is said above, current practice by physicians is NOT to bind the chest with an ace wrap or rib binder - this is thought to compromise respiratory function - i.e. the ability of the patient to take a deep breath, and thus puts him at risk for infection, etc.

Lastly, some research indicates that a patient with over 3 rib fractures should be hospitalized for monitoring. Your dad's doctor will have taken into account his medical history, his current state of health, his ability to breath well, and his ability to get good follow-up with his primary doctor. Regardless, he should seek medical care immediately if he develops severe pain or worsening difficulty breathing.

Rib fractures usually will heal in about 6 weeks. Your dad should at least see his doctor is 6-8 weeks to make sure everything is okay.

Of course, seeing and talking to your dad's doctor in person is better than any one person's advice that you get here on the internet, and what you read here should never take the place of what your actual doctor tells you (or actually seeing a doctor, for that matter.)

Answer 3

I'm the next best thing, I'm an athletic trainer. If this is a serious situation, you need to wrap his chest with an ACE bandage for support and have him ice wherever it is sore. Once this is done you need to get him to an emergency room STAT! There could be a puncture from the ribs, he needs a chest X ray.

Answer 4

He really needs to go to an ER and fast. Sometimes trauma to the torso can cause bleeding in the lungs (Hemothorax) or even a collapsed lung (Pneumothorax). Hemorrhaging in the lungs can cause death, and do it very quietly. He needs to be seen by a professional.

Answer 5

Sarah do not take advice from people off of the internet for something this serious.Alot claims to be a doctor,nurse,etc........when in fact they sit at home 24/7 waiting for that next child support check,welfare check and or SSI check to come in.Only do as the doctor said to do.Now you can be at his house(if you dont already live there)to cook,clean,keep him company and most of all show him you love him.Outside of that I would not do a thing that the doctor did not say to do.I know he`s in pain.Just be there for your dad.

Answer 6

You like to limit yourself to the professionals and yet they rarely respond (yes I checked), well that's to bad since an ICU Nurse would probably be of some help to your Dad. Good Luck to him.

Answer 7

imagine he has broken ribs that have splintered and he has pieces sticking in his lung now take him to a doc

Answer 8

I'n not a doctor, but has he seen one? If he hasn't, it sounds like he needs to and if he has, you should probably be posing this question to the doctor overseeing his care since that is the person who has the best idea of what your dad needs.

Answer 9

Tension pneumothorax, flail chest, hemothorax, get that man to the ER, STAT!