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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Georgia on my mind
    Posts
    131

    Need advice - Ribs

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    Hi - I did a silly "unclip with the wrong foot" fall in my driveway at the end of a ride last week. The scrapes and bruises are healing, but either bruised or cracked a rib (handlebars broke the boob ). It's finally not hurting to cough as much, but still pretty sore. Haven't been to the doc yet, as I have been on the road. How long will this take to heal??? I want to ride, but am hesitating...should I wait?
    It's all about the journey (my reason for riding slower)

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Washington, DC
    Posts
    1,632
    Go to the doctor or a clinic, have it checked out.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    So Cal.
    Posts
    501
    I crashed hard last year on a MTB vacation in Fruita CO. Took a bar in the ribs as I supermanned over the front. Saw the doc then rode with pain patches all over me in Fruita and in Boise. It took about a month to get back to 90%.

    Don't rush things; ribs heal slowly.
    Tzvia- rollin' slow...
    Specialized Ruby Expert/mens Bontrager Inform RXL
    Specialized SWorks Safire/mens Bontrager Inform RL
    Giant Anthem-W XT-XTR/mens Bontrager Inform RXL
    Fuji Newest 3 commuter/mens Bontrager Inform RL
    Novara E.T.A commuter/mens Bontrager Inform RL

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Posts
    178
    Healing time will depend on if it's bruised, cracked or broken. I broke a couple of ribs about 5 years ago. I have also both bruised and cracked others. (What can I say? I play hard. I'm also clumsy.) My doctor laid it out as:
    4-6 weeks = bruise
    8-10 weeks = cracked
    12-16 weeks = broken

    Except for the time there was a break (which I already suspected, because I could feel something moving around in there and it grossed me out), I never had x-rays done because there wasn't much the doctor could do for me other than prescribe painkillers and tell me to take it easy while I waited out the pain.

    I've always been told that I could ride pretty much as soon as I'm not so sore that I can't breathe properly or hold myself up on the bike. Generally with cracked or broken ribs, even breathing is a painful experience...and deep breaths can sometimes make you stop in your tracks.
    2009 BMC Road Racer SL 01 / Specialized Ruby 155
    2007 LeMond Reno / Luna Chix Team Saddle
    1980-something Lotus Odyssey / Brooks Finesse
    1992 Bridgestone RB-2 / Brooks B-17 Imperial
    Nada Bike singlespeed / Brooks Team Pro in white

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Georgia on my mind
    Posts
    131
    Thanks ladies - sounds like I need to see my doctor as soon as I get home. Sneezing or coughing, turning in bed, etc., causes whimpers or swear words. I can't even imagine going back to strength training yet. Appreciate you sharing your experiences! Love TE!
    It's all about the journey (my reason for riding slower)

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Georgia on my mind
    Posts
    131
    ps...hmmm, pain patches sound good. have been hugging the Advil bottle. It was time to move the goddaughter in at school.
    It's all about the journey (my reason for riding slower)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Katy, Texas
    Posts
    1,811
    4 cracked ribs took me almost 4 months to recover. Worst was the first two days whenever my husband heaved himself oove onto his side while asleep. Ended up the rest of the first week sleeping in a recliner, and then managed to sleep on the couch which at least was not moving around. The worse part after the pain subsided was withdrawing from the darvocet and other pain killers. They left me so foggy and groggy that I had no brain for another couple of weeks after I stopped them at about week 6.

    Good luck and don't push yourself. Ribs hurt, they heal slow and they ache in cold weather even years later. But I'd rather have them than not.

    marni
    marni
    Katy, Texas
    Trek Madone 6.5- "Red"
    Trek Pilot 5.2- " Bebe"


    "easily outrun by a chihuahua."

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    378
    I had an unfortunate incident during a triathlon in late June. I dislocated a rib (above my breast), tore some rib cartilage, sprained my wrist, and more. I learned that a PT could possibly help, or a chiropractor could pop it back into place. I couldn't get in to see a PT for a week and I was in a lot of pain. I have a great chiro, and he fit me in right away. He popped it back into place, and his massage therapist worked on it, too. I went back 2 more times over the next 2 1/2 weeks. I was back on the bike about 3 weeks after the injury. My wrist was badly sprained and I could only ride in aero position, so I started back on the indoor trainer. I was back running at the end of 2 1/2 weeks. I felt the rib injury longer when I was swimming, so backed off on that for a little longer. Weight training was an issue for about 4 weeks, but I was able to work around the injury.

    Having a pillow handy to press against your ribs when you feel a sneeze coming on helps a little.

    Good luck. I forced myself to wait out the recovery and not push too soon. (And in case you're wondering, I did finish that Tri, although the pain caught up to me during mile 5 of the run, when I puked twice in full view of the aid station workers!)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    where ARE we?
    Posts
    429
    There's really nothing they can do for cracked or broken ribs. I've had cracked ribs twice, they huuuuurt! Breathing, coughing are torture, and it's not cool when someone cracks a joke, you start to laugh and ...
    It'll heal, just go slow. Totally feel for you, this is no fun.
    2009 Fuji Team

    My blog - which rarely mentions cycling. It's really about decorating & food. http://www.crisangsteninteriors.com/blog

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2006
    Location
    Georgia on my mind
    Posts
    131
    Thanks ladies! My doctors said it was not a break. So keep hugging Advil and see how the treadmill works out (next week). I am so relieved. But man, if this hurts this bad, I can't imagine a full break! I picture my cat hanging upside down by the claws if someone touches it. I like the idea of pressing the pillow against the side when coughing. I go back in 3 weeks. Crossing fingers for quick healing!
    It's all about the journey (my reason for riding slower)

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    378
    That's good news! Both ice and heat seemed to help mine, along with advil and arnica. It was funny when it finally stopped hurting to breathe. I was sitting at my desk at work and I thought, "Something is different. What is it?" Then I realized that I could breathe without pain. Sneezing and coughing still hurt like the dickens, but breathing was blissful!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Location
    south georgia
    Posts
    949
    See if you can find a rib belt, or ace bandage, it helps when the sneezes come. Feel better.
    2009 Specialized Roubaix pro/SMP lite 209
    2010 Trek 4300/Specialized ariel 155

 

 

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