Cracked Rib - How Long and Any Way To Help Speed Recovery?

[Punkawallah]

I would disagree. In the same RTC I sustained ligament, tendon and rotator cuff injuries in my left shoulder. It took seven months to heal. Ten months from the crash I still get twinges and I'm still working on building the weights I can manage.

Yup. When the nice lady knocked me off the bike, it took me a year to get back to where I was. The figures I quoted were ‘rule of thumb’, ‘how long before you can use it’. YMMV, T&CA, don’t try this at home.

 

[Psamathe]

Not much to do aside from wait it out and avoid coughing, laughing and sneezing.

One thing I find sets the pain off is spitting out toothpaste. Not a full pain but does hurt at the bad point.

It's anoying as another ongoing job was some plumbing work and have a leak (more a seep) and now have the replacement parts but leaning over the loo to get at the area needing more work is just not going to happen as it's pressure on chest (bad) and leaning forward with arms out to front (terrible).

Ian

 

[Webbo2]

When I fell over a few years ago I landed on my arm and the pointed bone one the inside of my elbow whacked into my rib cage. Rolling over in bed was extremely painful, and there was a crunching coming from the location where the elbow hit. When I ran a finger along the offending rib I could feel a step in it at the point where all the crunching and pain was coming from.

It took about 6 weeks to heal, and along with the two fingers I broke in the same fall, was probably the most pain I've ever had. Getting in and out of bed was the worst, sitting upright, and coughing weren't too bad by comparison.


I was told not to stop coughing, because it increases your risk of developing pneumonia.

"breathe normally and cough when you need to – this helps clear mucus from your lungs to prevent chest infections"

That’s why you need the pain killers so you can breathe normally.

 

[PaulSB]

Yup. When the nice lady knocked me off the bike, it took me a year to get back to where I was. The figures I quoted were ‘rule of thumb’, ‘how long before you can usenit’. YMMV, T&CA, don’t try this at home.

This mirrors my experience. The shoulder strength is building and my smashed up knee almost there. I think by the June anniversary I'll be fixed.

 

[fossyant]

You got better treatment than I did. Nurse on triage even said, 'why the hell are you cycling in this weather'. Going to work as usual I said. They then missed my broken pelvis. Three months on I'm paying for private physio as nothing is forthcoming from them.

Can't add more about ribs, done mine three times. 6 plus weeks recovery although you can ride when comfortable. I just couldn't get out the saddle.

 

[Punkawallah]

That’s why you need the pain killers so you can breathe normally.

I made that mistake. The sheet with the pills said ‘addictive’, so I eschewed them. Led to a knee problem later on - damned if you do, damned if you don’t.

 

[presta]

That’s why you need the pain killers so you can breathe normally.

Breathing wasn't too bad, it was getting in and out of bed, and turning over that were really painful. And exercising two broken fingers...

 

[DaveReading]

I guess I was (relatively) lucky. Never did find out whether they were cracked or just bruised when I fell off after hitting a runner and landed on my back (the x-ray was inconclusive).

A week of agony with virtually no sleep possible in any position, followed by a month of pain gradually turning to just discomfort.

I know others have had it much worse than that.

 

[Ming the Merciless]

Don’t laugh at cyclechat jokes and avoid watching anything funny as it will hurt. Just let nature take its course.