how do you treat a bruised sternum?
355809
As long as you're not allergic to them, over-the-counter analgesics (pain relievers) are all you need.  Try Tylenol (acetamenophen)or Motrin (ibuprofen) and follow the directions on the label.  Don't take more than the label tells you.  And realize that the bruise will go away, but that it will probably take a week or more.  If it's hard to sleep at night due to the discomfort, a heating pad set on low and placed on your chest for an hour or so will help.  Just don't go to sleep with the heating pad plugged in; that's a fire hazard.  And don't set the thing on high; you fall asleep with it on high and you risk serious burns.  Well, at least that'd make you forget about your bruised sternum!  No other medical or surgical treatment is needed for a bruised sternum.
261385
Since there has been a time lapse between the bruising and today, the best thing is to live with it. Perhaps a cold compress might help but that is  doubtful. Sorry for your bruise. Be careful!
338370
You are not actually cracking your sternum, but a joint between your sternum and your xyphoid process.  I don't see how it could feel good to crack that joint, but that is up to you.  If you have pain in your chest when you do it, stop doing it, but other than that, no harm done.
1092633
Put on antibiotic ointment, cover with a bandaid.  At night, take the bandaid off & let it get air.  In the morning, put on more antibiotic ointment & cover with bandaid, again.  Do this for a few days.  It should heal by then.
460798
hurts like a , don't it?  Take the arm on that side and sling it with your hand up next to your neck, on top of the other collarbone--this seems to relieve some of the discomfort--drugs and alcohol will take care of the rest!!
391289
...the pain seems normal on account that you felt pain and displeasure while you were walking in the mall.  Hematomas or contusions (or "bumps" and "bruises") develop when blood and scared tissue coagulates under the epidermis (top skin). \n\nHere is how to treat it:\n"For contusions (bruises), treatment consists of initially applying ice or cold packs a few times a day, to produce vasoconstriction (a reduction in arterial blood flow) which helps to decrease hemorrhage (bleeding) and edema (swelling).\n\nIn general, the quicker you apply ice after the injury, the less bleeding will result.\n\nIf possible, elevate the bruised limb. Blood will leave the area of the wound and there may be less swelling. Resting the limb will also help to prevent further injury.\n\nIf the area is still painful after about 48 hours, apply gentle heat with warm towels, a hot water bottle, or a heating pad. The heat is applied for 20 minutes at a time to promote absorption and repair. Since heat causes swelling and increases tissue fluid, which may impair function, hot compresses may be followed by cold applications to minimize the secondary effects of heat.\n\nPressure in the form of an elastic adhesive bandage may be helpful to reduce hemorrhage and swelling. If infection should develop in the wound, the signs and symptoms might be increasingly severe pain, a fever of 101 degrees or more, swelling with surrounding redness, and pus. If any of these signs appear, your physician should be notified to make sure there are no additional problems."
482255
I fell down the stairs, and bruised my tailbone.  It took almost 2 months to heal.  All I could do was stand up and sit down.  Not much sense in going to the Dr.  He won't do anything except tell him to take tylenol or something.  I suggest naproxen.
47606
first thing do FIRST AID. do a cold compress on the part of your head injured to constrict the vessels and stop the bleeding or swelling.  Go to the hospital but be sure to ask for someone else to accompany you, you might feel a little dizzines.
325603
Take a large knife a whack it off.  After it heals you won't have anymore problems
678576
I'm no expert, but I would recommend minimizing her torso movement as much as possible. Icing the area could help as well, but do it carefully. No more than 10 minutes at a time, or else you can actually do more hurt than good with ice.\n\nI don't know what the doc recommended for pain reduction, but most of the time it's either heat or cold. With a back strain or spasm or the like (muscle problem), it's usually heat applied. With a break or sprain or the like, it's usually ice. I'd double-check with the doc before you do anything. Minimizing movement is important, though. Any movement of a broken bone is painful...ribs will likely be more so.\n\nI hope you can find something to help her. :-) Broken ribs are a difficult injury to deal with.
818924
First put an ice pack on it, this will keep the swelling down. If you insist on skating wrap it tight but, you could compound an injury so, I wouldn't. Go see an ER and have an X-Ray, see if there's any permanent damage then follow the doctors directions.
468617
go to your doctor..\nand is this your sternum or the xyphoid process, at the tip, because if the xyphoid is broke, it could pierce your lungs or heart..so go to the doctor, get an x-ray
588024
run a hot shower on your shoulder.\nthis will kill the pain a bit.\noh and put some heat rub on it . or a heat bag.
385657
Costochondritis is an inflammation of the junctions where the upper ribs join with the cartilage that holds them to the breastbone or sternum. The condition causes localized chest pain that you can reproduce by pushing on the cartilage in the front of your ribcage. Costochondritis is a relatively harmless condition and usually goes away without treatment. The cause is usually unknown. Treatment involves conservative local care with careful use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) or naproxen (Aleve) as needed. Local heat or ice may be helpful to relieve the symptoms. \nAvoid unnecessary exercise or activities that make the symptoms worse. Avoid contact sports until there is improvement in symptoms and then return to normal activities only as tolerated.
1159344
Immediately after the bruise is incurred (up to 24 hrs.):  Apply cold.  This minimizes leakage of blood into the surrounding tissues.\n\nAfter 24 hrs.:  Apply heat.  This speeds the inflammatory processes that break down the blood that has leaked into the surrounding tissues.
311359
Neosporin.\n\nAnd make sure you're not moving the skin around it - you could be ripping it open again again while it's trying to heal.
722448
The surgery is a major one, but the patients I have met have felt much better afterward.  The main pain issues come from the sternum (breastbone) being split and repositioned.  There are new pain pumps that are put into the surgery site and patients are doing extremely well with them.  With your symptoms I would definitely look into contacting a cardiothoracic surgeon about getting a repair done.  Your pain will be controlled and there are many ways to help you recover from the surgery.  In the US the cost should be between 20 to 30 thousand dollars depending on length of surgery and recovery.  It would be much less if you went to another country to have it done.   You heal faster the younger you are, so please find a doctor and see if it is possible to fix this problem so you can resume your life.  Best wishes.