Broken rib

[carlbielke]

Hi, I crashed two hours ago, lost my breath as I went down hard sideways over the bars in a banked curve. Now I'm hurting when I breathe hard or move my upper body, I suspect a broken rib.
If I remember correctly there's nothing to do about it but I'd like to know the recovery time if anyone remembers. Also, should I do exercises right away even if it hurts like hell, or is it better to rest that part? Thanks for your input.

 

[FOX426]

GO TO THE HOSPITAL IMMEDIATELY YOU COULD HAVE A PUNCTURED LUNG !!!!!!!!!

 

[dthoms]

I would agree with the hospital visit, about a couple of years ago I cracked a rib and waited until the wee hours of the next morning to go to the hospital.
I didn't have a puncutured lung, but I bruised my spleen. Depending on the crash you could have internal bleeding as well and not even know it, the doc explained this to me in one of those old fashion dutch uncle kind of ways.
As far as how long it will take to heal depends on which rib how bad it broke and how old you are as well as your health.
It hurt me to breath deep for about six weeks!!
The funny thing was that after about six weeks my wife decided to crawl on top of me one night and the next thing I know something popped and took my breath away but after that I could breath deep without the pain. Talk about a mircale cure.
Good luck
DT

 

[KDX'r in IN]

Rule of thumb two weeks for bruised ribs, six weeks for broken.

 

[carlbielke]

I slept OK, just not on the side that's hurting. I'm beginning to suspect that they are more bruised than broken, if I take a deep breath it doesn't hurt too much, only if I try to put weight on that side by lifting or so.

If I don't feel better tomorrow I'll check it in the hospital, thanks for your concern. However I don't think the lung is punctured, I breathe just fine, and besides I'm not THAT much of an iron-man!
Too bad I'm single, if I could get a woman to crawl on top of me in bed I'm sure I'd feel much better!! Well, maybe not if she got on top of my left lung, but anywhere else would be nice!

 

[carlbielke]

I'm 33, and I hurt the middle ribs on my left side.

 

[Lew]

In 1998 I broke 2 ribs while leaning over my construction trailer side rails. The doctor told me to take a deep beath a few times a day to keep things expanded. It took 6-8 weeks before I could resume normal activity, but even today there are rare times that I roll over in bed just right and it will wake me from sleep.
Lew

 

[carlbielke]

Thanks to all of you for your help, it took longer than I expected, but I'm feeling much better now. It took three weeks, I'm almost 100%, and I'm so happy that I can ride again.
The weather's beautiful today, the bike is ready and I'm going riding!!! See ya.

 

[4banguk]

Be carefull getting back on a bike too quickly, I crashed by over jumping a big downhill jump - not clever - I went to the hospital the next day and they don't x-ray in the UK for suspected broken ribs anymore, just check your lungs.
I think I must have broken them as I had to sleep upright for 4 nights!
Any way cut a long storey short, I decided to get back on my bike 3 weeks later - bad idea - slipped off in a corner now back where I started.