Broken rib... :(
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Broken rib... :(
Postby Abby » Mon Oct 15, 2012 12:16 pm
Managed to break/crack/fracture a lower left rib about 9 days ago... 2nd last day of two-week beach holiday, attempting to surf for first time ever (and imporess my wife and two daughters) - result was predictable really...
Anyway, 9 days later, its still sore. Can walk around OK, deep breathing is fine - laughing/coughing hurts a little, lying on my left side hurts a lot more (making sleep a bit of a challenge). Seems worse in the mornings when I wake up, but it never 'goes away'. Haven't tried cycling yet, but I'm a bit scared too as I don't want to make it worse and set it back any more recovery-wise... Haven't worried about seeing the GP - seems like there is nothing they can do recovery-wise anyway, unless other symptoms appear (eg. risk of a punctured lung, etc)
So - any anecdotal recovery tips for someone with a broken rib? Basically, I'm going to just give it another week of no training of any sort, to give it a chance to get on the proper road to healing. Taking Caltrate Plus to boost my calcium, vit D, etc, intake to help with bone healing (for what its worth). And driving my wife crazy by tossing & turning when I sleep....
Thanks,
Abby
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Sydguy » Mon Oct 15, 2012 1:41 pm
Plan to get it looked at mid next week when I have time. Difficult sleeping as when I roll over it is like a knife going in. Get it looked at by GP and scanned just for peace of mind.
Still cycle commuting but just easy pace, no out of the seat side ways action and having to bite my lip when I get overtaken. Laughing hurts, but as you say I can breathe deeply, and jsut being careful not to hit it off anything.
Sucks but thems the breaks.
JM
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Dr_Mutley » Mon Oct 15, 2012 2:51 pm
Be guided by your doctor, but if u have stable or trivial fractures, be guided by your pain... Good pain relief is the key for fractured ribs...
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby find_bruce » Mon Oct 15, 2012 3:07 pm
You don't actually need to answer that because having damaged both during 20 years of rugby, my experience is that it doesn't make much difference to the pain nor to the treatment.
The worst thing you can do is overdo it. In this regard pain is your friend, or more importantly the absence of pain - anything that doesn't cause you pain is unlikely to slow down your recovery.
If like Sydguy, you can cycle without pain, go for it. If it hurts, listen to your body and stop.
As for sleeping, have you tried a pillow or 2 behind you to stop you from rolling onto your back & over to your left hand side ? Personally I was quite happy to take pain killers & anti-infamatory drugs esp to help me sleep, but your personal philosophy on this might vary.
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Dr_Mutley » Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:07 pm
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Sweeper59 » Mon Oct 15, 2012 4:12 pm
Nobody looks back on their life....and remembers the nights they got plenty of sleep !!
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Mulger bill » Mon Oct 15, 2012 7:53 pm
London Boy 29/12/2011
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby gururug » Mon Oct 15, 2012 8:09 pm
Whatever you do. Don't sneeze. Calcium supplements might be in order if your over 35 or have a poor diet.
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby winstonw » Mon Oct 15, 2012 8:55 pm
There's a rib taping technique that eases pain considerably.
There's multiple viscera at risk - lungs, adrenal glands, kidneys, spleen, etc - depending on which rib broke and fracture type.
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby visrealm » Mon Oct 15, 2012 9:38 pm
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby matagi » Tue Oct 16, 2012 8:11 am
As already suggested, put something behind you as a bolster so you don't roll onto your side.
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby AndyTheMan » Tue Oct 16, 2012 9:13 am
I broke a couple of ribs (left side) plus a bit of cartilage damage in a snow skiing accident around 10 years ago (who put that tree there!?)
Was sore for a week or two - but healed eventually. However, It still gives me some twinges every now and then, particularly if I do something to impact that area (like last week when I was swinging on monkey bars with me nieces, or rowing a boat, or shoveling sand/concrete/soil.
My hints - don't much about on kids play equipment, use boats that require rowing or do any physical landscape labour and you'll be fine!
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby find_bruce » Tue Oct 16, 2012 2:29 pm
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby Abby » Thu Oct 18, 2012 11:01 am
The ribs vs cartilage idea is interesting. Not sure which I have, I am assuming its a small fracture in a rib, but I'm not a doctor... I'll have to see if I can work it out based on symptoms, I'll give Dr Google a workout...
After two weeks, the pain level seems to have gone down a full notch, which is a relief! Still hurts, but at least rolling over in bed is not so much 'painful', just 'sore', if that kinda makes sense... Have avoided the pain-killers to-date - I'm not against them per se, just try to avoid them unless I really, really need them...
Might go for a short, easy spin on the weekend and see how I go...
Thanks again!
Abby
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby jacks1071 » Mon Oct 22, 2012 11:36 am
There isn't anything you can do, just time will heal them. Try not to cough or laugh too much and I'd be weary of putting yourself in a situation where you could have another accident ie. stick to the trainer until the pain has mostly resided. Depending on how much damage is done that could be as quick as 3 weeks or as long as maybe 8 weeks based on my own experience.
If you seriously HAD TO RIDE, you could look to buy a rib cage protector. They'll strap your chest up tight which would provide some support. I don't know how they work for a lady but the company who made the one I had was Tillett
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Re: Broken rib... :(
Postby HiChris » Wed Oct 24, 2012 6:55 pm
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