Separated Ribs / torn rib cartilage / popped ribs

[killer_carlson]

Also known as a Costochondral seperation.

Holy cow.



It isn't so bad standing up and walking around - is sore but manageable with pain meds - but couple that with a chest cold ..... I cannot think of any injury related pain like that. Literally knocked me to the ground for a good 5 minutes last time I coughed, possibly longer. Pain is so bad I go through a spell where i sweat profusely after the cough as an apparent nervous system response to the pain. Last incident saw me go one step further and start shivering notwithstanding I'm sweating from it. Can't lie down because when I do, my chest gets more congested, making me cough, causing more drama.

Anyone know how long this actually takes to heal, based on experience?

Making me very miserable....

[cancer man]

I fractured my lower floating ribs as they called it not broken.took me 2 months.
Coughing sucks and so does laughing.If you spit up blood make sure not black in color and the same for #2.

And i found sleeping in a recliner better than my bed.

[blackgold]

I am currently dealing with a rib injury after a mountain bike crash. I never got x rays but I'm sure they're cracked. It has been 3 weeks and they're just starting to get better. Sneezing is the worst, getting in and out of bed suck too.

[transplant99]

You have my sympathy KC.

3 years ago (2 days before Xmas) I went down hard and landed on my elbow which seperated 3 ribs...caused a hemotoma in my lung...so too was coughing a lot when it was the worst time to do so. I ended up sleeping on a lazy-boy type chair fo 2 weeks as lying on my side or back just allowed me to get congested as well. As mentioned watch for blood...really have to be careful with that.

There is quite literally nothing you can do about it other than find a comfortable position where ever you are and try not to cough a lot. I too took advantage of the pain meds (Percocet IIRC) and just rode it out.

Not to scare you or anything and everyone is different...but i was still feeling twinges of it 6 months later though i was functioning after a couple weeks or so.

Get well soon.

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by blackgold

I am currently dealing with a rib injury after a mountain bike crash. I never got x rays but I'm sure they're cracked. It has been 3 weeks and they're just starting to get better. Sneezing is the worst, getting in and out of bed suck too.

Broke my arm and cracked some ribs last fall after crashing on my mtn bike.......they gave me Tylenol 3 for the pain........apparently T3 makes you constipated.....one afternoon I spent over an hour on the throne trying to drop a pellet.......

[Chingas]

I had a couple separated from my back when I was 16. It took a couple of months until I was fully mobile. Six months later I was still vulnerable, and pretty much a year until I felt as though I could take a deep breath.

On the contrary I know people that were competing in sports a few weeks later. I really think it is a case by case scenario.

Good luck and I hope you are back on track sooner than later.

[Flash Walken]

You might want to try sleeping with a huggy pillow for a bit.

A few years ago playing ball hockey with my brother I popped out a rib and after having it put back (along with my collar bone), I slept for the next few weeks with a big pillow that I would place next to my chest and 'hug' for a lack of a better term when sleeping on my side. It helped prevent me from having my shoulders and chest fall inward while sleeping, kept me more limber.

[Minnie]

Haven't experienced it but holy effing jeeze, owww.

As NorthEndZone mentioned, the meds will constipate most people. Don't use a laxative because that's going to cause you more issues. Get someone to pick up stool softener instead - any pharmacist can advise on one. Due to multiple injuries around here requiring multiple painkillers for extended periods of time, we soon learned to add in the softener. You really don't need anything special - Shoppers has a store brand that is cheaper than the name brands, for example, and works as well. Take it at night before bedtime and increase your liquid intake during the day while you're on any painkillers. They really dry out your mouth/gums and can cause issues there as well, and the docs recommended a 'mouth swish' to us, called Biotene - might pick up some of that as well.

I hope you're feeling better sooner rather than later. Rough go.

[Peanut]

I have no experience, but the title of this thread alone made me feel a bit nauseous. It sounds terrible!! I hope you are feeling better soon.

[Street Pharmacist]

Originally Posted by killer_carlson

Also known as a Costochondral seperation.

Holy cow.



It isn't so bad standing up and walking around - is sore but manageable with pain meds - but couple that with a chest cold ..... I cannot think of any injury related pain like that. Literally knocked me to the ground for a good 5 minutes last time I coughed, possibly longer. Pain is so bad I go through a spell where i sweat profusely after the cough as an apparent nervous system response to the pain. Last incident saw me go one step further and start shivering notwithstanding I'm sweating from it. Can't lie down because when I do, my chest gets more congested, making me cough, causing more drama.

Anyone know how long this actually takes to heal, based on experience?

Making me very miserable....

Keep track of your temperature. Sweating and shivering may be due to the pain, but you'll also want to make sure pneumonia isn't developing. See the doctor if that gets worse

[Robo]

Ive had a broken rib awful to cough and sneeze lasts like 3 weeks until you can function normal again but pain lasts for weeks after I went back to playing soccer about a month after but was probably too soon

[Dion]

Hope you're feeling better soon Killer.

[-TC-]

I fractured my sternum working on the rigs many years ago...took about a year before it felt normal again.

[Puddy27]

In week three of the same injury. Mostly back to normal now but man what a horrible pain. I was running for a fly ball, outstretched arm and a full leap into the fence ribs first (No Warning Track :s) and crash.

Couldn't sleep, sneezing by far was the worst. Coughing and pretty much every movement uses your core so you have my sympathy.

Its kind of like a hangover....you can kind of do things that you think will help but time is pretty much your best bet. IMO of course.

[Huntingwhale]

I had an injury similar to this back in 2009. In total, it probably took me 5 months to completely heal. I went to the doctor and he gave me an anti-inflammatory called Celebrex. To this day, I swear on my life that was the ultimate cure for me. A couple days after taking it, I considered myself fixed. Haven't had the pain since and I will vouch for Celebrex till the day I die.

[EYE_Overstand]

I fractured my floating rib and 3 years later I can feel it when I do certain activities... I finding sleeping on the floor when it starts to act up really takes away the pain

[Northendzone]

Originally Posted by Puddy27

In week three of the same injury. Mostly back to normal now but man what a horrible pain. I was running for a fly ball, outstretched arm and a full leap into the fence ribs first (No Warning Track :s) and crash.

Did you make the play princess?

[Daradon]

Ribs take a long time, most because there's no good way to set them. On top of that, I guess all bones take a while.

I cracked a few ribs from a fall once, floating rib messed up most I think, a good six months to get over the worst, and over a year till it was not noticable.

And yeah, you are right. Sneezing, coughing, and stuff like that is the worst. Learn to half it and hold it when you can.

Good luck!

[killer_carlson]

Thanks for the info.

Glad I'm not the only one who got their butt kicked by this. I don't feel as wimpy anymore.

Not any better today, and ironically worst bought of the day was 10 minutes ago when I started to respond to this thread.

Feels like someone just laid the boots to me pretty good. No coughing up blood - just the ugly crap from the cold

Ice helped a bit. Pain meds not really doing a lot. May have to go in for something stronger in a few days.

[Robo]

I found aleeve helped alot tried tylenol 3's but didnt do very much for me