What it means if you hear your nose crack

Hurting your nose is painful. Plus, when you also hear a crack or crunch, it can be alarming – especially if your nose doesn’t look different on the outside. So, does that sound always mean your nose is broken? Not necessarily. 

“Hearing that sound doesn’t always mean you fractured your nose,” says Dr. Resha Soni, an ear, nose and throat surgeon at Aurora Health Care. “Sometimes it’s just cartilage shifting. Other times it can signal a fracture. The only way to know for sure is with an exam.” 

Most minor nose injuries heal on their own with time and simple care. Still, it’s best to get it checked out if you’re unsure. “An exam helps health care providers see if the bones or cartilage are fractured,” says Dr. Soni. “That way, we can prevent long-term problems with breathing or appearance.” 

After your nose injury, Dr. Soni recommends first stopping any bleeding. Then, she recommends applying ice and elevating your head to reduce swelling.  

Afterwards, look for these signs of a possible nose fracture: 

• Change in the shape of your nose 
• Bleeding that doesn’t stop after holding pressure on it
• Trouble breathing through one or both nostrils  
• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with ice or over-the-counter medication 

It’s also important to know when to seek immediate care. Call your health care provider or go to the nearest urgent care if you experience a significant change in the shape of your nose, uncontrolled bleeding, dizziness or fainting, or trouble breathing through both nostrils.

Treatment depends on the severity of the nose fracture. Many minor breaks can be managed at home with ice, rest and over-the-counter pain relief medications. Avoid blowing your nose for the first few days since that can make swelling or bleeding worse. 

If the injury causes your nose to look crooked or makes breathing difficult, your health care provider may need to manually realign the bones and cartilage. “This is usually done within the first week after the swelling goes down,” Dr. Soni explains. 

In severe cases, surgery may be needed to remove significant obstructions. 

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