hello, thanks for your question, Fractured or bruised ribs are normally take about three to six weeks to heal. Both are treated with painkillers. Occasionally, rib injuries can lead to serious lung problems. You can control the pain by : regularly taking over-the-counter painkilllers, such as paracetamol and ibuprofen. holding an ice pack to your chest to reduce the pain and swelling – try a bag of frozen peas wrapped in a towel. supporting your chest with a pillow if you need to cough Try to breathe deeply and let your lungs inflate fully. Regular breathing exercises, such as ten very deep breaths every hour, can help prevent infection. Don t wrap a bandage tightly around your chest, as this will stop your lungs expanding properly. It s really important not to smoke when you re recovering from a rib injury. Get help stopping smoking. Your rib injury should have healed within three to six weeks. DO NOT wrap a bandage tightly round your chest. Although this may help the pain, it stops the lung from expanding and can lead to pneumonia. thanks