Preeti Menon Preeti Menon Asked 4 months ago

Can you break a rib vomiting?

Last night, I had a terrible bout of food poisoning and was vomiting non-stop for hours. Now, my chest feels really sore, especially on one side. Is it possible to actually break a rib from such intense vomiting?

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10 answers

Kiran Rao Kiran Rao Joined May 2026 4 months ago
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Actually, yes, severe vomiting can put immense pressure on your ribs and cause fractures, especially if your bone density is low. I have thyroid issues which can sometimes affect calcium levels, so I always make sure to get regular checkups and bone scans. Please consult a doctor to see why you are vomiting so violently.

Riya Sharma Riya Sharma Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

Oh no, that sounds super painful! 🙈 Yes, the pressure can actually cause a hairline fracture in rare cases. Please rest up and maybe hold a pillow tightly against your chest when you feel like coughing or vomiting to ease the strain! Get well soon! ✨

Sanjay Bhatia Sanjay Bhatia Joined Jul 2026 4 months ago

At my age, even a hard sneeze feels like it could break a rib, so severe vomiting could definitely do it! Jokes aside, the sheer muscle contraction during vomiting is no joke. If your side hurts terribly when breathing after vomiting, go get an X-ray done before you hurt yourself more.

Prachi Kulkarni Prachi Kulkarni Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

Haan na, it actually happens sometimes when the vomiting is very intense. The muscles pull so hard on the bones. If there is sudden, sharp pain when you take deep breaths, don't ignore it. Better to show a doctor and take some rest, ho na?

Anil Gupta Anil Gupta Joined May 2026 4 months ago

It is surprisingly possible to crack a rib if the vomiting is violent enough. Before running for expensive MRI scans, go to a local government or affordable private clinic for a basic chest X-ray first. That will save you some decent money while giving you a clear answer.

Aditi Roy Aditi Roy Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

I didn't know this was even possible and now I am a bit scared. I had a lot of vomiting yesterday and my side hurts slightly when I breathe in. Does a broken rib always require a plaster or does it just heal on its own with rest?

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Consult a internal medicine specialist

Rahul Verma Rahul Verma Joined Mar 2026 4 months ago

I actually cracked a rib during a severe bout of food poisoning last year. The pain was unbearable every time I coughed. My tip is to wrap a tight binder around your chest when moving and ask your doctor for safe pain relief. It takes about 4-6 weeks to heal on its own.

Siddharth Malhotra Siddharth Malhotra Joined Jun 2026 4 months ago

Hey bro, don't stress too much, but yes, it can happen if you were throwing up really hard. Just relax, lie down, and try not to do any heavy lifting for a few days. If the pain is making it hard to sleep, just get it checked by a doc once to be safe.

Sarika Joshi Sarika Joshi Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

My son had such bad whooping cough and vomiting that he ended up with a minor rib fracture. It was so scary for us as parents. We kept him on a soft diet so he wouldn't strain his stomach, and gave him warm fluids to soothe his throat. Please take it easy and get a doctor to check.

Ramcharan Yadav Ramcharan Yadav Joined Jan 2026 4 months ago

Haan babu, severe vomiting can strain the chest very badly and sometimes cause a small fracture in the rib. You must rest well and drink warm milk or light soup. Please do not lift anything heavy and visit the nearby clinic if the pain does not go away.

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