Soft ribs usually refer to the rib cartilage. Injuries to the cartilage usually heal on their own in about two weeks to a month, while more serious injuries may take longer to repair.
Most rib cartilage injuries are caused by trauma and crushing of the ribs against each other. For mild injuries to the cartilage, the only symptoms are pain and edema, which gradually improve with time as the bruising absorbs and it takes about two weeks to repair itself.
For more serious rib cartilage injuries, due to the obvious tissue destruction, the greater the degree of edema and pain, the more serious the injury, the longer the recovery time, about one month or even longer. Therefore, the recovery time for a rib cartilage injury is related to the extent of the injury; the more severe the injury, the slower the recovery.
After the rib cartilage injury, it is recommended that patients seek medical treatment in time and make targeted treatment under the guidance of the doctor, so as to facilitate the repair of the injury.