A rib fracture is a crack or break in one of the ribs. It usually happens after a fall, a car accident, or a hard hit to the chest. The main symptom is sharp pain that gets worse when you breathe, cough, or move.

Sharp pain is the hallmark. It feels like a knife stab when you take a deep breath, cough, sneeze, or roll over in bed.

Tenderness is pinpoint. Pressing on the injured rib hurts, and you can often feel the exact spot with your finger.

Swelling and bruising show up fast. The skin around the rib puffs and turns purple within hours.

Shallow breathing is common. You take short breaths to avoid pain, which can make you feel winded.

Crunching sound is possible. In some cases, you may hear or feel a grinding or popping when the broken pieces rub together.

Late signs include fever, cough with yellow sputum, or increasing shortness of breath—an alarm that lung complications like pneumonia are starting.