Cracked rib?

[lph]

So have I cracked a rib or not??? And if so, is there anything I can DO about it? *grumble*

Three weeks ago Sunday, I was clumsy and slid off the handlebars on my mtb bike (wet hands, no gloves), and slammed my ribs onto the left end. Didn't fall off, or over, just careened around looking mighty stupid for a few seconds.

No pain for the first day or two, just a little sore. Then it got gradually more and more sore. About ten days later I took a real fall off my mtb at high speed, breaking my helmet, skinning my right elbow and earning a monstrous bruise on my right thigh. After that I felt pretty beat up for several days, but not specifically around my ribs. Now everything else is healing, but that d*mn rib pain just won't go away. It hurts to breathe deeply, cough, laugh or sneeze, and all movements that tense my upper body. It doesn't hurt much, but a little all the time. Went climbing yesterday - not very comfortable, gave up early. Went swimming today - erk, ouch, shallow breathing.

I am so sick of this. I can feel a lump right under my left breast, but my dh swears he can't feel it, so it can't be very big.

I'm guessing now that I cracked a rib slightly the first time, and that the fall loosened things up a bit. Anyone have some encouraging tips on when I can start feeling normal again..?

Oh - biking is about the only thing that doesn't hurt at all

[teigyr]

I don't have anything encouraging but maybe go see a doctor? I know if you have trouble coughing, it can lead to other things. Just to be sure, it probably wouldn't hurt to get confirmation that it's nothing serious. My father broke his ribs and it turned into complications but then again he was older and was a former smoker. Still though...always better to be safe

I'm glad you're ok!

[emily_in_nc]

Ouch! Poor you!

I have no idea what the answer to your question is, but I took a hard fall on gravel a year ago, hitting hard on my left ribcage. I didn't even notice the rib area at first, worrying more about the scrapes on my thigh and shoulder, but over a few days, a small area of my ribcage got really sore, and it hurt to breathe in, laugh, press on it, and cough. I did a little online research and determined that it was most likely I'd just bruised a rib or two, since it gradually got better over a period of a couple of weeks. Cracked ribs take longer to heal, as I understand it, without an x-ray, you may only be able to judge after the fact whether, in fact, you cracked or only bruised a rib.

Perhaps someone here who has cracked ribs before could chime in -- unfortunately I know there are several here who have been there, done that!

Hope you heal up fast!

Emily

[boy in a kilt]

I've broken ribs a total of 4 times.

I spent 4 or 5 months last year with broken ribs. The first time I was playing ultimate frisbee. After they were about healed, I decided I hadn't done a good enough job breaking them the first time so I crashed my bike and broke them a second time.

There is nothing you can do but pick your favorite pain killer and take a lot of it.

[smilingcat]

I've broken ribs a total of 4 times.

I spent 4 or 5 months last year with broken ribs. The first time I was playing ultimate frisbee. After they were about healed, I decided I hadn't done a good enough job breaking them the first time so I crashed my bike and broke them a second time.

There is nothing you can do but pick your favorite pain killer and take a lot of it.

Please take it easy and really let your body heal first

smilingcat

[Wahine]

This does not sound like a cracked rib. A cracked rib would be very pain sensitive right at the time of injury, it wouldn't be OK then get worse over the next few days. This sounds like a subluxed (partially dislocated on a small scale) rib. This diagnosis would account for the pain you're describing as well as the small lump under the breast. I would go have it x-rayed to confirm that it's not fractured (just in case) then if not fractured go see a manual physical therapist. You have some great one's in Norway. They should be able to relocate the rib, if that is what's wrong and get you back on the right track to healing.

Hope that helps.