Ulrika Jonsson reveals she has broken and bruised her rib which has left her feeling ‘s**t’ and struggling to breathe

Ulrika Jonsson has revealed she has broken and bruised her rib. 

The television personality, 56, took to Instagram on Wednesday to say she was struggling with her breathing and had a ‘s**t’ sleep due to the pain. 

Ulrika, who did not disclose how she broke her rib, said: ‘Turns out: broken/ bruised rib is also s**t for trying to sleep on (as well as breathing and generally trying to function). 

‘Not my first broken rib rodeo, I might add.’

The former weather presenter uploaded a pouty selfie as she lay in bed in a plunging vest top which showcased her tattoos.  

The NHS states symptoms of a broken rib can cause pain in the chest when you breathe, swelling and bruising. 

Ribs cannot be easily splinted or supported like other bones, so they’re usually left to heal naturally.

Ulrika has previously been open about her battle with arthritis. 

The former Gladiators host was diagnosed with the degenerative condition in both hips around five years ago but was told she has probably suffered most of her life. 

Ulrika, who was forced to give up running, said her arthritis was ‘completely exacerbated by child bearing four times and various bits of exercise that probably weren’t ideal’.

Although she is not in daily pain, the Sweden-born TV star finds it increasingly difficult to get out of bed or out of a car after long periods.

She uses a specially designed hot water bottle to ease the stiffness in her hips in bed and takes painkillers during flare ups.

‘The big thing is I work for the most time at home and I’m often sitting down writing and I just can’t sit down for long periods of time,’ she told MailOnline.

Ouch: The television personality, 56, took to Instagram to say she was struggling with her breathing and had a ‘s**t’ sleep due to the pain

Health: Ulrika has previously been open about her battle with arthritis. She had to withdraw from Celebrity SAS back in 2021 

‘I get up and move around I put my laptop into a standing position. It’s a constant negotiation.

‘If I’ve spent two or three hours in a car getting into London it’s pretty tough. It’s like your hips seize and you have flashes of moments when you think, “I can’t move”.

‘When I’m in bed, of course if you do fall asleep you’re probably lying in a pretty stationary position, and sometimes I struggle to get that first movement out of my body.

‘I use a long hot water bottle and it’s perfect because it goes right across my hips and it’s been like a revelation just warming up the muscle.

The mother-of-four, who took part in Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2021, said she is ‘nearing’ needing a hip replacement.

She said it was difficult to take in the news as it was a ‘sign that my body is falling apart.

‘I’ve got a couple of friends who have had hip replacements and they’re a bit older than me and I just thought that’s not really something I want to be contemplating already.

‘It definitely was one of those things where you go ‘it’s a slippery slope to old age’.