Rib muscle strain

[JS1902]

Came on after football last Friday and I stupidly decided to play again on Tuesday and it's at the point where coughing and deep breaths are very painful. Tender area just below my right pec when pressing on it. What's the best way to heal this type of injury please?

[Mr.Chips]

I damaged/bruised the intercostal muscles of most of my rhs ribs after a particularly robust challenge when playing 5 a side. Breathing was very painful for a few days. Went to see my GP and, after he finished laughing, told me the only way to help was paracetamol and time. Took about 10 days before breathing was back to normal and about 3 weeks before I played football again.