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Contused/cracked ribs

Kerrie FreebornKerrie Freeborn
in General Training Discussions
During a run on Saturday, I tripped, flew through the air like superman, and landed on a raised grate on my ribs.  I ended up with a bruise the shape of the grate and some cracked ribs there, but no other injuries.  Today is Day 4, and now I'm just fine - as long as I don't move and breathe shallowly.  Anyone have experience with bruised/cracked ribs?  When can I start exercising again?  When I can breathe/move without pain (or at least without significan pain)?  Thanks.  Kerrie

Comments

  • wills029wills029

    Hi Kerrie,

    I cracked six ribs in a crash last year. It took about two weeks before I could move without a lot of pain. I never knew a sneeze could hurt so much!! 

    I stuck to the trainer with the bike for another two weeks before running. I also had two follow up X-rays for the cracked ribs (and my fractured collar bone).

    Wishing you a speedy recovery

  • Darren FreemanDarren Freeman

    I cracked a rib snowboarding one time.. Never saw a doc for it. I picked up snowboarding as an adult and thought I was all fancy Nancy and decided I would hit one of the snow park features.. Board slipped right out from under me and I landed the under edge of my right rib cage right on it.  Ouch!    Totally knocked the wind out for me.

    Trying to sit up in bed to get out turned into rolling out of bed onto my feet so I could push myself up with my arms; and then sneezing or coughing was just down right painful.  It took a couple weeks before all the pain went away.. 

  • Coach RichCoach Rich

    Posted By Darren Freeman on 25 Jun 2014 09:54 AM

    I cracked a rib snowboarding one time.. Never saw a doc for it. I picked up snowboarding as an adult and thought I was all fancy Nancy and decided I would hit one of the snow park features.. Board slipped right out from under me and I landed the under edge of my right rib cage right on it.  Ouch!    Totally knocked the wind out for me. +1, minus the Fancy Nancy, snow park jazz. But I crash a LOT on the snowboard. 

    Ribs are gonna do what they're gonna do. In my experience, you need to let pain by your guide and be smart. If it kills to do X, don't do X. Otherwise, do X within your pain threshold. 

  • John BayoneJohn Bayone
    As a total klutz I did almost the same last year. TOTALLY what Rich said "let pain be your guide". I would feel fine, but try to start running and the impact would running even an easy pace would be a killer. It is going to take a few weeks.
    Good Luck.
  • Kerrie FreebornKerrie Freeborn
    Thank you all. Was hoping the ER docs 3-5 day references meant until I was back to normal - now believe they meant until I could breathe without agony and/or narcotics. But think I'm finally starting to feel improvement. Yay! Agree, Darren, coughing/sneezing is awful.
  • Scott AlexanderScott Alexander
    So far in my life, broken ribs are the worst injury I've ever had (way above broken collar bone). Mine were due to my own "thirst" on my first day of a vacation in Belize, but boy oh boy did I suffer! With that said, sneezing hurts, yes, but try puking! pain-ful!

    If they're just banged up, and not fully displaced, then there's nothing a doc can/will/should do, besides maybe bandage your rib cage up and send you home with some meds. Do not push anything that hurts. Like all the others have said, let pain be your guide - and LISTEN!
  • moetai@gmail.commoetai@gmail.com
    2 weeks for me before it was ok, then i forgot about it and went surfing; fell on it again..hurt for 3 more weeks. Sneezing, laughing, yep painful image good luck
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