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Bruised Rib Advice

Terra MeierdierckTerra Meierdierck
in Coaching Forum 🧢

For two weeks now I have been suffering from a bruised rib. I practice and teach aerial acrobatics.  Two Mondays ago I had a rough fall.  I went to the doctors two days later, after teaching a yoga class and wincing with pain.  At first I thought I had broken my rib it hurt so much.  The X-Ray showed no fracture; the doctor instructed me to rest 3-5 days.  It has been two weeks and I am still in pretty much constant pain.  I'm supposed to do the Citi Field Spartan Race this Saturday.  Not to mention the fact that I haven't been able to run, swim or do yoga/aerial for two weeks.  I'm feeling incredibly out of shape, tho I have been still teaching spin and cycling, without pushing it - as instructed.  I have had a few moments where I felt like I was starting to get better, but it regressed.  

Does anyone have any advice? 

Eagleman is a month away! Does anyone have any experience with this ailment?

Comments

  • Patricia RosenPatricia Rosen

    It is common to not see rib fractures on x-ray.  this is a clinical diagnosis.  Palpation of the specific area (point tenderness) is the best way to diagnosis.  (look up emed on rib fractures)  Half of the ribs are cartilage

    it usually takes 6 weeks to heal but you should do what feels ok to do as there is not therapy and movement won't be a bad thing although expect it to hurt.  Or, you could be like Chuck Yeager and tape your side when wanting to do the impossible image

     

  • Terra MeierdierckTerra Meierdierck
    Thank you, Patricia. So, do you think swimming and jogging is okay?

    I plan on/will do Eagleman. I have planned on doing the Spartan Race this weekend. Do you think I will make it worse and prolong the healing process? Is that possible? I have thought about going to the doctors and requesting a cortisone shot. Any core work I try to do pains me. Getting out of bed is even painful.
  • Patricia RosenPatricia Rosen
    forget the Spartan Race if you are having pain. Cortisone? not a good idea as it will delay healing.

    bottom line (rule of orthopedics) if it hurts don't do it,
    but being a triathlete myself, (and I'm not an orthopedist, I'm an ER doctor) I tend to go the Chuck Yeager route. If you want to do Eagleman, I say do it. in the mean time, compression shirts will help to keep the bone/cartilage from moving which is what causes the pain.

    Make sure you don"t have any lung injury! get a good chest PA and lateral if short of breath or pain is continuing. A PCP can do that or you can see an orthopedist. Rib x-rays hurt and don't help diagnosis. A chest CT will tell all. so those would be options for you to consider. You will have to run through these options with your doctor. ( I don't want to practice medicine long distance) let me know how it goes image PS. I love Eagleman! did it twice and Maryland Ironman once...
  • Coach PatrickCoach Patrick
    x2 what Patricia said. I am really concerned about the duration of your discomfort and what it could mean internally. I hope you've been scanned or scoped or xrayed (sp?). If you are all set there a good PT can give you a sense of the severity of your injury as well as how to stabilize it best, etc. I am guessing almost all tri activities make it hurt...pain is your body's way of saying be careful....please give me some reassurance!
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