topic Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs? in Wellness

Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:26:36 GMT

I tripped yesterday and ended up in the ER to get my ribs checked.

Aside from multiple bruises and pulled muscles, the ribs may have small fractures which cannot be detected, they say.

WOW! It sure hurts, LOL. A cough, hiccup, laying down, leaning the wrong way, and please, no laughing allowed.

I'm on Tylenol 3 w/Codeine for now, but there must be little things I can do. Just dozing on-and-off last night, had to lay in one position on my other side all night to relieve pain.

Any helpful ideas will be appreciated

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

betteb — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:37:11 GMT

Oh gosh Noel, I'm so sorry. You have to be careful girl! What was it Jeff Foxworthy used to say? "Hurt like h*ll didn't it? Don't do that no more"

I have always felt like heat helps sore ribs. I had Costochondritis awhile back and that's what I did. So heating pad, warm shower/bath. I'm assuming you are already on some type of anti-inflammatory? If not, Advil.

Hope you feel better soon

ETA- Keep a pillow handy to brace with when you have to cough, sneeze, etc.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

12andcounting — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:40:38 GMT

I recently had a broken rib. One of the things that helped me a lot was a rib brace. I think you can pick one up at any drug store. It didn't take the pain away, but it really gave me a lot of relief -- made it much more bearable. Good luck. Sorry you are in such pain. I truly know how you feel.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

Perkup — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:42:32 GMT

Well, I went to Target one day and became one. A boy, about six or seven was pushing his Mom's cart backwards, and banged the corner of the handle into my right side, cracking two ribs. He and his Mother took off and ran out of the store so as not to be blamed- really classy!

Anyway, the pain was awful. One doctor (a neighbor) suggested I get a pack of those pain patches like you put on a bad back, and putting a pad on the painful area, changing it every morning. I won't tell you it was a sure cure, but it did help a little - at least I could breathe! You might give it a try. Get the generic brand wherever you shop - they are all the same regardless of the price.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

Gooday — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:42:35 GMT

In the old days, a binder would be the treatment of choice.

Now...rest and pain medication. It just takes time. Hold onto a teddy bear of stuffed animal so when you cough, sneeze or laugh it will decrease the pain. That's what they give patients who have had their chest cut after bypass surgery.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

sunshine45 — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:42:50 GMT

they do hurt like crazy!!! when i had an auto accident over a year ago my ribs hit the steering wheel. it took almost a month, maybe a little longer for that pain to totally go away. it was so tough at night because i am a side and stomach sleeper and move a lot at night. it was so difficult to get comfortable.

i agree with betteb about the heating pad and hot showers. they do help relieve the pain a bit. i was just taking two tylenol and two advil instead of the codeine. codeine often makes me nauseous and getting sick like that would make my ribs hurt more. also, if you can get one on, tight shapewear helps a bit.

hope you feel better soon noel!!!! so glad it wasnt anything more serious!

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

kzeks — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:49:50 GMT

That is very painful...

Many years ago when I played women's field hockey I got

""slammed"" a few times... After visiting a Doctor to rule out

that nothing was broken... I would have a bath drawn with

a few cups of Epson Salts and sit in it up to my neck.. I

needed help getting in and getting out of the tub...

then I would be wrapped... Today they may not do the wrap

but use a brace with Velcro....

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

LilacTree — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 16:53:28 GMT

Hi Noel! I had a dislocated rib high in my chest just a month or so ago. I did buy a brace for it and used Aleve when I had to. I rested a lot, and that's about all you can do. I didn't even go to the doctor because I have had so many of these before and they really can't do more than give you a heavier pain killer. I don't take those, but if you're in really bad pain, they can help (they put me to sleep).

I know coughing and sneezing can make you almost hit the ceiling, and I am so sorry. However, it usually only takes a few weeks to improve. If it doesn't, then certainly see an ortho doc.

Good luck, my friend!

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

BORN AGAIN — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 17:23:27 GMT

Awww I'm sorry you hurt yourself. Try wrapping an ace bandage around your ribcage area for support. It helped me before, and I did it for my daughter too. Good luck.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

hckynut — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:16:14 GMT

Hi NoelSeven, I have had a total of 5 fractured ribs, 3 different instances, and all relatednto hockey. Two times I had 2 fractured and one time a single rib. Made it very hard to skate because at full lung expansion, it hurt like crazy. Sleeping was not easy, especially when 1 of those 2 rib instances when a rib on both sides were fractured.

Time was my only friend during the healing processes, and very shallow breathing when skating as the Ref in my hockey game. Take whatever OTC pain relief that works for you without adding any more issues. Seems like forever for them to heal, but all of mine did, in time. I never wrapped them because my Ortho doctor friends told me it could make them worse by sweat causing the wrap to tighten while skating and possibly causing damage to my lungs. I did not like the way any type of wrapping felt when not skating, so never went that route.Sorry to hear about your fall and your injuries. My very best to you and your healing.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:18:56 GMT

On 4/1/2015 betteb said:
Oh gosh Noel, I'm so sorry. You have to be careful girl! What was it Jeff Foxworthy used to say? "Hurt like h*ll didn't it? Don't do that no more"

I have always felt like heat helps sore ribs. I had Costochondritis awhile back and that's what I did. So heating pad, warm shower/bath. I'm assuming you are already on some type of anti-inflammatory? If not, Advil.

Hope you feel better soon

ETA- Keep a pillow handy to brace with when you have to cough, sneeze, etc.

Hi Bette HaHa, no jokes I had costo once, also. I'm really worried this will kick it up again. Thanks for reminding me about using a pillow. This one hit the lower ribs and the pain wraps around. No getting away from it, but some relief sitting up and very still. I will be catching up on a lot of TV shows I've taped.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:21:11 GMT

On 4/1/2015 12andcounting said:
I recently had a broken rib. One of the things that helped me a lot was a rib brace. I think you can pick one up at any drug store. It didn't take the pain away, but it really gave me a lot of relief -- made it much more bearable. Good luck. Sorry you are in such pain. I truly know how you feel.

I never heard of a rib brace, thank you so much for letting me know, 12and!

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:25:38 GMT

On 4/1/2015 Perkup said:
Well, I went to Target one day and became one. A boy, about six or seven was pushing his Mom's cart backwards, and banged the corner of the handle into my right side, cracking two ribs. He and his Mother took off and ran out of the store so as not to be blamed- really classy!

Anyway, the pain was awful. One doctor (a neighbor) suggested I get a pack of those pain patches like you put on a bad back, and putting a pad on the painful area, changing it every morning. I won't tell you it was a sure cure, but it did help a little - at least I could breathe! You might give it a try. Get the generic brand wherever you shop - they are all the same regardless of the price.

Thank you so much, Perkup! I hope you recovered fully and have no residual pain. What an awful woman that was. I'm often tempted to say something to a parent who lets a kid play in a store. What are they thinking?

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:30:37 GMT

On 4/1/2015 Gooday said:
In the old days, a binder would be the treatment of choice.

Now...rest and pain medication. It just takes time. Hold onto a teddy bear of stuffed animal so when you cough, sneeze or laugh it will decrease the pain. That's what they give patients who have had their chest cut after bypass surgery.

You've got that right, rest and pain meds! The MD warned me against shallow breathing and said it can lead to pneumonia. Who knew? I keep reminding myself to take deep breaths. Thank you, Gooday, I like the idea of using a stuffed animal

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

judgejudith — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:34:10 GMT

Hug a pillow tightly when you have to cough.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:37:12 GMT

On 4/1/2015 sunshine45 said:
they do hurt like crazy!!! when i had an auto accident over a year ago my ribs hit the steering wheel. it took almost a month, maybe a little longer for that pain to totally go away. it was so tough at night because i am a side and stomach sleeper and move a lot at night. it was so difficult to get comfortable.

i agree with betteb about the heating pad and hot showers. they do help relieve the pain a bit. i was just taking two tylenol and two advil instead of the codeine. codeine often makes me nauseous and getting sick like that would make my ribs hurt more. also, if you can get one on, tight shapewear helps a bit.

hope you feel better soon noel!!!! so glad it wasnt anything more serious!

Hi sunshine, an accident, how awful! I'm glad to hear you recovered fully. That had to have been a long month for you, it's a lot of pain. Unfortunately, I can't take Advil or any NSAIDs anymore because of the lupus. I'm keeping an eye on any possible reaction to codine.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:40:58 GMT

On 4/1/2015 Kzeks said:
That is very painful...

:

Many years ago when I played women's field hockey I got

"slammed" a few times... After visiting a Doctor to rule out

that nothing was broken... I would have a bath drawn with

a few cups of Epson Salts and sit in it up to my neck.. I

needed help getting in and getting out of the tub...

then I would be wrapped... Today they may not do the wrap

but use a brace with Velcro....

I'd forgotten abou Epsom Salts. I'd be afraid of getting in and out of the tub in this shape, but it sure does sound good, Kzeks.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:45:00 GMT

On 4/1/2015 Ford1224 said:
Hi Noel! I had a dislocated rib high in my chest just a month or so ago. I did buy a brace for it and used Aleve when I had to. I rested a lot, and that's about all you can do. I didn't even go to the doctor because I have had so many of these before and they really can't do more than give you a heavier pain killer. I don't take those, but if you're in really bad pain, they can help (they put me to sleep).

I know coughing and sneezing can make you almost hit the ceiling, and I am so sorry. However, it usually only takes a few weeks to improve. If it doesn't, then certainly see an ortho doc.

Good luck, my friend!

Hi Ford, it's always something with us, lol! Having a rib injury so often has to be so awful for you, that's a lot of draining pain. Thanks

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:47:09 GMT

On 4/1/2015 BornAgain said:
Awww I'm sorry you hurt yourself. Try wrapping an ace bandage around your ribcage area for support. It helped me before, and I did it for my daughter too. Good luck.
Thank you, BornAgain. You and your daughter! I had no idea this was such a common injury.

Re: Any Tips For Dealing With Bruised Ribs?

NoelSeven — Wed, 01 Apr 2015 18:50:14 GMT

On 4/1/2015 hckynut said: Hi NoelSeven, I have had a total of 5 fractured ribs, 3 different instances, and all relatednto hockey. Two times I had 2 fractured and one time a single rib. Made it very hard to skate because at full lung expansion, it hurt like crazy. Sleeping was not easy, especially when 1 of those 2 rib instances when a rib on both sides were fractured. Time was my only frien during the healing processes, and very shallow breathing when skating as the Ref in my hockey game. Take whatever OTC pain relief that works for you without adding any more issues. Seems like forever forbthem to heal, but all of mine did, in time. I never wrapped them because my Ortho doctor friends told me it could make them worse by sweat causing the wrap to tighten while skating and possibly causing damage to my lungs. I did not like the way any type of wrapping felt when not skating, so never went that route.Sorry to hear about your fall and your injuries. My very best to you and your healing.

Hi John! Now that I think about it, with all that hockey, you have to be an expert on injured ribs! Thank you for your advice