topic Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience? in Wellness

Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

jeanlake — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:01:23 GMT

Posting on Health & Fitness and thought some of you may have experienced bruised ribs. Of course healing is a waiting game, but how long before you were able to resume workout routines, etc.? I'm at week 2 with my bruised rib -- bike wreck -- gawking at beautifully landscaped backyard in the neighborhood and got all twisted up. Handlebar whacked me in the ribs. It's better, but I'm ready to try working out at the gym again. Still some pain. I got back on a bike last week -- slow and focused this time.

Thank you for your input!

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

lolakimono — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:14:15 GMT

I had it once when I got the bright idea to tuck my 5 pound weights underneath my armpit so I could open the front door with my key.

It felt like someone was stabbing me each time I took a breath, but it went away in a few days. I would imagine that with your injury it would take some time for them to heal.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

jeanlake — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:33:30 GMT

Thank you for sharing, lola... I know the doc said it was a waiting game. I worked out shortly afterwards and irritated the area, so I'm being more careful. I have a hiking and active vacation in North Carolina planned for the end of September/early October. I'm trusting things will improve greatly over the week.

I forget about how sensitive the rib area is. This is my first experience with bruised ribs.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

lolakimono — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:36:05 GMT

On 9/13/2014 ury said:
Thank you for sharing, lola... I know the doc said it was a waiting game. I worked out shortly afterwards and irritated the area, so I'm being more careful.

Also, your bra band might further be causing some tenderness, so maybe take it off when you get home and give that area a break.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

NanaS — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 18:41:48 GMT

I experienced a bad fall several months ago and landed on my right side. Was more concerned about my bad knee which is my right knee than I was anything else. I realized a couple of days later that something was dreadfully wrong because I couldn't get out of bed the pain was so bad. Was x-rayed and they weren't sure if I had cracked a rib or just bruised it. My doctor advised to wear some armor wear tops or something like spanx to support everything. This really helped. It took at least a month or more before I could even lay on that side and getting in and out of bed was the worst. I still feel a soreness in that area.

Be patient and be careful !!!

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

jeanlake — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 19:44:28 GMT

Good idea, lola - I didn't think about the band. Will do.

Thanks, Nana. Healing is going to take longer than I anticipated. I have a tendency to think everything will be okay 'in a week.'

Both of you -- have a lovely weekend and thanks again for your input

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Bird — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:24:36 GMT

I don't know what your symptoms are - just soreness, or sharp pain, too? I once had 8 broken ribs. Five were clearly broken, the other 3 diagnosed as "bruised." However, with the pain and incapacitation I endured, drs suggested I do a bone scan, which revealed the other 3 hairline breaks. Yeah, it's only time, and since I had fractures, my time was probably longer than yours will be. To this day I am wary of lifting a carton of milk (I could not do that after the breaks, and had young kids in the house) or a PUSH or PULL on a door (I could not open a door, either) without a tad of trepidation!

As far as the bruising, may I suggest you follow an anti-inflammatory diet. Avoid dairy at least, for a while. I do think that will help you heal faster. Best to you! - Bird

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

jeanlake — Sat, 13 Sep 2014 20:42:13 GMT

Thank you, Bird. Most helpful. So sorry to hear about your pain. I know how a bruised rib feels, I can't imagine the pain you had. I've been taking deep breaths, as directed. Sharp pain is subsiding now, which is an indicator that I'm healing. I do roll over on my left side and wake up due to the pain. I'll certainly be more careful. It was such a silly fall. Thanks again

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Big Sister — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 02:24:49 GMT

The only thing that may help is to wrap your rib cage. A lot of the pain comes from moving and taking breaths. Wrapping the ribs should lessen the pain when you inhale.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

hckynut — Sun, 14 Sep 2014 05:25:20 GMT

On 9/13/2014 ury said:
Posting on Health & Fitness and thought some of you may have experienced bruised ribs. Of course healing is a waiting game, but how long before you were able to resume workout routines, etc.? I'm at week 2 with my bruised rib -- bike wreck -- gawking at beautifully landscaped backyard in the neighborhood and got all twisted up. Handlebar whacked me in the ribs. It's better, but I'm ready to try working out at the gym again. Still some pain. I got back on a bike last week -- slow and focused this time.

Thank you for your input!

Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Hi ury,

Sorry to hear you are having this problem to which I can relate completely. I've had a total of 5 fractured ribs and I would be surprised if I did not bruise them many times over. In one hockey game I was officiating a player hit me with his head down(he had a helmet on and looking down did not see me). I was following the puck looking across the ice from him and by the time I saw him he had crashed into my upper midsection head first.

Stopped play for a few minutes to catch my breath and needless to say was in some pain. That was early in the game and I fortunately was in top physical shape at the time. I could take shallow breaths while skating but if I tried to breath deep? Felt like a surgeon working on me with his scalpel sans any anesthetic. In between plays after a whistle I would grab below my rib cage and lift up on both sides. That way I could take a deep breath and allow my lungs to fully expand without much pain.

Went to ER after game and had 2 fractured ribs on my left side and 1 on my right side. Not much they could do other than tell me to use ice and take anti-inflammatory meds. The doctor offered an opiate for pain but I declined.

I never missed a hockey game after this and I never missed any of my running or other workouts. Had to change the way I did some exercises to reduce the strain, but did not quit any of them. The worst part of this was trying to sleep and staying completely on my back. Roll over a bit on either side and "Yeoow" it would wake me up.

This did not feel completely healed for many months. After the injury the pain was acute for at least 2 of those months. When running or skating I could not breath deeply and let my lungs fully expand. I had to stop running or skating/grab below my rib cage and lift up to take a full inhale breath.

While this is painful my doctors told me I would not further injure them by continuing to skate and/or run. He also told me it would be painful, but that was something I already knew about. The only way to further injure them was to get hit again, or in your case fall on the handlebars or something else similar to what happened to you.

Had I not been in excellent physical shape at that time I would not have been able to Ref our hockey games. I could get along for a few minutes with shallow breaths and as long as there were a few whistles, which stops play, I could do the "lift my rib cage deal" and I was off again.

Depending on the location of the fracture(in your case a bruise)how you breath does make a distinct difference. Had a lot of injuries over the years and broken ribs rank right up there with discomfort and interfering with one's sleep.

I had an ice bag wrapped around me quite often when I was at home and sitting or lying down.

Best to you with this,

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

jeanlake — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 01:38:17 GMT

Thank you, John. Boy, I'm glad I didn't fracture a rib. The pain described on this thread sounds terrible. I'm just now able to breathe deeply without sharp pains. Sleeping is a pain when I roll over wrong - but improving each day. I modified my workout, leaving the arm strength training alone for a few more days. This seemed to be the irritant the next day.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

hckynut — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 05:19:42 GMT

On 9/13/2014 bigsister said:
The only thing that may help is to wrap your rib cage. A lot of the pain comes from moving and taking breaths. Wrapping the ribs should lessen the pain when you inhale.

Hi bigsister,

Just want to mention that wrapping can do some harm if not done correctly and at in opportune times. My doctors told me that wrapping them before sweating while exercising can contract the wrap and interfere with blood flow in different parts of the body. He told me it might feel a little better, but in the long run it did little to speed up recovery. That is when he told me not to ever wrap them during a time when I was skating or running.

Wanted to put this out there so others would know that it can be a risky venture to wrap yourself at certain times, and it is never good to wrap too tightly.

Like everything else, it is always best to consult with one's treating doctor before doing anything not advised by her/him.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Campion — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 13:04:13 GMT

Did this to myself in the summer. Smacked right on the floor, mopping (now I wear heavy running shoes with treads, slippery floors are not my friend!) Seems to bruise a rib and maybe tear an intercostal muscle.

It took 8 weeks. Yep. That long. I went on a huge trek of a vacation, hiked around some old cities and it was painful mostly in bed. Standing, I was ok. It sucked but it eventually went away completely. I think the area does not get a lot of circulation so it takes longer for the healing.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

sidsmom — Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:34:11 GMT

I developed a large hematoma @ my point of contact (under arm-bra strap area). Taking deep breaths was difficult, but luckily I was recovering from knee surgery @ the same time...but when I got back to light indoor cycling, it hurt like a MUTHA! 6-8 weeks is about right w/ ouch pain.

Fast forward...a year/half later...my Rolfer was working my shoulder & happened upon the Point of Contact where my hematoma was. Didn't hurt, but he asked. Started working that area...he released something enough I saw stars!! Shoulder loosen up immediately.

Injuries have memory!

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

LilacTree — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:30:09 GMT

My two lowest ribs on each side have been ""floating"" ribs since my teens. I have often put them out by just bending over. I would then have to lie on my back and massage them (sometimes it was only one) back into place. Then they would be sore for a couple of weeks.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Madisson — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 16:46:57 GMT

Everyone's 11th and 12th ribs on each side are "floating ribs." It is totally normal.

Bruised ribs, separated ribs, or fractured ribs are all extremely painful. I have had that experience three times. The first two weeks are absolutely miserable. Then it feels somewhat better. I'd be very careful working out.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

LilacTree — Wed, 17 Sep 2014 17:04:10 GMT

On 9/17/2014 Madisson said:
Everyone's 11th and 12th ribs on each side are "floating ribs." It is totally normal.

Bruised ribs, separated ribs, or fractured ribs are all extremely painful. I have had that experience three times. The first two weeks are absolutely miserable. Then it feels somewhat better. I'd be very careful working out.

Here's the difference with my floating ribs:

In some cases, a floating rib can cause problems for its owner. These ribs can slip out of position, putting pressure on internal organs, and they can also be broken as a result of trauma, causing considerable pain and putting the patient at risk for infection.

The disorder sometimes referred to as floating rib syndrome and better known as slipped rib syndrome occurs when a rib becomes dislocated, slipping out of its socket. Patients tend to experience considerable pain with this condition, which is usually a result of trauma, and it can be readily identified with a physical examination or medical imaging study of the area of interest. As with other rib injuries, the best treatment is usually partial immobilization, achieved by wrapping the ribcage tightly so that the rib cannot drift while it heals, but not so tightly that it cannot expand as the patient breathes.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

Madisson — Thu, 18 Sep 2014 18:13:17 GMT

Ouch, Ford. That sounds painful!

I've fractured ribs before and also had separated ribs from injuries too. Not fun! Once, a chiropractor was pressing on my back and pushed my entire rib cage forward. I ended up in physical therapy for a month while they gently pushed my ribs back into place.

Re: Bruised Ribs - What's your experience?

LilacTree — Sun, 21 Sep 2014 22:27:36 GMT

On 9/18/2014 Madisson said:
Ouch, Ford. That sounds painful!

I've fractured ribs before and also had separated ribs from injuries too. Not fun! Once, a chiropractor was pressing on my back and pushed my entire rib cage forward. I ended up in physical therapy for a month while they gently pushed my ribs back into place.

OMG, no, that never happened to me. Other than the chronic snapping and crackling of my ribs due to RA, when one of my ribs dislocates, I can usually lie down on my back and massage it back into place. Then it's extra sore for a couple of weeks. I cannot imagine the whole rib cage shoved forward. I don't now and never did use chiropractors. They can do nothing for the kind of pain I have from RA and osteoporosis.

I would like to experience acupuncture to see if that helps, but Medicare does not cover it and it's very expensive.