Introduction
A broken nose can be painful and is usually caused by a blow to the face or falling on the face. The good news is that broken noses usually heal up in about three weeks, and caring for this break can often be done at home. If the bleeding doesn’t stop, you need to see the GP as soon as possible.
Determining if your Nose is Broken
For those who are unsure as to whether their nose is broken or not. Keep in mind the characteristics of a broken nose:
- You have bruising around your eyes
- The nose is bleeding or did bleed upon impact
- The nose is tender to the touch
- The nose has a crunching or crackling sound when touched
- The nose does not look as it once did
- You cannot breathe out of your nose
Treating your Nose at Home
Though not all broken noses are going to require at home treatment, especially if the septum and the skin are still intact. For those who break their nose, at home, they will want to:
- Use an icepack for the nose for ten to fifteen minutes every couple of hours for the first days after injury
- Stop the bleeding of the nose by leaning your head forward and pinching the soft part of the nose above the nostrils
- Use over the counter pain medications for pain
- Reduce the swelling by sleeping your head propped up
If you feel as though the nose does not look right, do not try to straighten this on your own, instead see a doctor. You will want to ensure that you avoid blowing or picking your nose for a few weeks, avoid physically strenuous activities for two weeks and contact sports for at least 6 weeks.
Treat your Nose Symptoms
- Place ice on the affected area for pain and inflammation.
- Have the individual relax and keep the head raised even while asleep.
- The individual should not blow their nose.
- Provide the person with acetaminophen to ease the pain. Do not offer aspirin or ibuprofen.
Call the Doctor
You will want to call your doctor in the following situations:
- The pain is not being relieved or becomes worse
- The swelling is not going down after a few days
- You are finding it difficult to breathe through your nose
- Your nose appears crooked
- Your nose keeps bleeding on and off
- You begin to have a fever
Related Video on a Broken Nose