Anyone broken their ribs ?

My friend came off 3 weeks ago breaking her ribs she is still in agony so I'd say 6+weeks I'm afraid. I believe it's excruciating pain 😕
 
Depends how good your horse is? I got back on immediately (well as soon as I got my breath back!) I rode again within a week, but mine were only cracked. I have an amazing horse that goes from the voice so I didn't have to use the reins at all as I had no strength to do so. I was teaching at the time so I couldn't lunge riders and I remember I couldn't do simple things like do a girth up as too painful to do so. Actually thinking about it I was probably pretty dumb to ride again so soon but that's me!

Hope you heal soon!
 
Thanks Hetsmum, I'm meant to be horse shopping, so sounds like I need to wait a bit. Things just keep getting in the way. It must be fate !

It's the first time I've ever broken anything in 40 years of being around horses.
 
Asha said:
Thanks Hetsmum, I'm meant to be horse shopping, so sounds like I need to wait a bit. Things just keep getting in the way. It must be fate !

It's the first time I've ever broken anything in 40 years of being around horses.
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Yeah I wouldn't be getting on any strange horses whilst they were still broken. When you think about it logically the ribs are the 'roll cage' that protects the squishy bits inside. Without them working........well it's just not pretty! Good diet and keep up gentle exercise and in a month reassess. Did the doctors/hospital not give you a good idea of how long? I was bad and didn't go until 2 weeks afterwards. I still couldn't breath properly at that point :( I couldn't muck out very well, or groom. In fact was pretty useless! Good news is they do mend pretty well and I haven't had a day of bother from them since.
 
Hetsmum said:
Yeah I wouldn't be getting on any strange horses whilst they were still broken. When you think about it logically the ribs are the 'roll cage' that protects the squishy bits inside. Without them working........well it's just not pretty! Good diet and keep up gentle exercise and in a month reassess. Did the doctors/hospital not give you a good idea of how long? I was bad and didn't go until 2 weeks afterwards. I still couldn't breath properly at that point :( I couldn't muck out very well, or groom. In fact was pretty useless! Good news is they do mend pretty well and I haven't had a day of bother from them since.
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They did say 4-6 weeks, but I was hoping they where being generous ! I'm pretty useless at the moment, which is incredibly frustrating. Just want to get on with things. Ah well never mind. Thanks again x
 
2 weeks for the worst of the pain to ease off and around 6weeks for the constant aching discomfort to subside am afraid. I'm a multiple cracked and bruised ribs girl I have an exceptional pain tolerance so tend to strap them and climb back on but find myself quite weak and easily out of breath for couple of weeks.
There is definitely no coughing, sneezing or laughing these seem to cause the worse pain! I also find I cant lie down flat in bed and usually spend a week or 2 well proped up in bed or kipping in the wing back arm chair
 
A good physio can help with recovery, but there's not much anyone can do in the first few weeks . I have done this twice and I would def see a physio after 3 weeks.
 
Asha said:
Just wondering how long before you where able to ride again ?

Thanks !
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twice - once being bronked onto the top of a fence post - the other time when I slipped and fell on wheelbarrow handles jolting up into ribs. Was around 2 months before I was fit to ride again but due to circumstances it was longer
 
You have my huge sympathy. The pain is immense.
I rode the day after and was ok but that was due to the swelling. The day after that was a nightmare. I think I managed to hack out in week 3 and was schooling again in week 4. But still
Couldn't get in and out of my properly for months.
 
Asha said:
Just wondering how long before you where able to ride again ?

Thanks !
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I came off a 16h horse at the age of 14. I broke a few ribs and jeeeezzzz did I know it for the next few weeks. It took a while to actually be able to easily lay down, move, stand and generally not feel it whilst breathing! Pretty sure I got back on and rode within about 4 weeks, although kept it gentle, on horses I knew. Probably wasn't fully healed or pain free for 2-4 weeks on top of that.

Did the same again a few years ago coming off my own horse. Only cracked this time and some torn muscle/ligament around and between my ribs(which actually hurt more!), but it took a good 4 weeks to feel remotely normal and have free movement without feeling some pain or stiffness. I was back on again within 3ish weeks, but I trusted the horse- if I had any reason to be cautious there is no way I would risk coming off and landing on broken ribs!
 
Thanks for all the replies. The getting up and down, and breathing is definitely the worst bit. I've banned all funny films / jokes etc. laughing is not good !

it looks like I've got a fair few weeks to wait until horse shopping can start.

I've no one to blame but myself, as it was totally my fault. Took my 2 yo for her first inhand walk. ( on box rest after op) I was a far too complacent. She spooked, spun round and kick out. Threw me across the yard. If I'd have had hold of her properly it wouldn't have happened. Could kick myself haha.

Thanks again x
 
broken a couple twice, 4 weeks for me before I could ride, rising trot was just too painful, couldn't pooh pick for a couple of weeks, had to get back from a show with the horse, car and trailer the second time, struggled to get in car and it made me vomit to just reverse out of parking space on the show ground, thankfully my husband rescued me once we were back at the yard.
 
Ouch... my cracked rib was the result of a similar accident Asha. I was knocked clean off my feet :D I managed to ride the following couple of days, then the pain became unbareable so I went to A&E where the fracture was found.

Had two weeks off riding then managed to hack out slowly and quietly and not for too long in the third week. I'd only cracked my rib though not totally broken it. Worst thing was mucking out, yard work - couldn't lift anything heavy and had to get people to put my saddle on and girth up etc.

Hope you feel better soon xx
 
Bad luck but I think you ought to right off the next 6 weeks. I broke several + a stable fracture of my spine in a XC accident. The ribs were far more painful than the 2 vertebrae I broke. I can't see the point in riding if you are in so much pain that it stops you riding properly, give the horse and yourself some time off. I'm not a huge fan of taking medicine but I do think it's worth taking pain killers, it helps to keep you moving and will knock the edge off the pain and if you take ibuprofen it will help with any inflammation. Also,avoid anyone with a cold or cough as sneezing or coughing can be agony in the early stages of recovery. i hope you are feeling better soon.
 
Done it twice, once out hunting - the worst - and once coming off at a canter when horse shied, tripped and pecked and I went flying over his head.

Yes, it is 6 weeks I'm afraid. Second time I got back on after about 4 weeks and managed a walk but trot was certainly not advisable.

I found the lying in bed and wanting to turn over was bad, and it was 6 weeks before being able to sleep comfortably.
 
Yes broke 4 and partially collapsed a lung, I was allowed back on board after 2 weeks as long as I wore a body protector, it hurt like hell esp getting on and off and took months to not feel excruiating pain! Stupidly got eejected off the same horse 6 weeks later and rebroke a couple that had started to heal...
 
I did mine 7 weeks ago after being thrown into a tree! I managed to break the bottom four near my spine and was told I was lucky that it was only my ribs I broke.
I could hardly move for the first 3 weeks but risked getting on my quiet mare after 4 and although it was sore it wasn't too bad unfortunately when we got back to the farm I realised I couldn't get off!
I'm now riding again but can't do gates, turn to look behind or trot...walk and canter isn't as bad but still a bit sore.
I think the time it takes before you can ride depends on which ribs you break as some don't affect your movement as much as others.
 
I would say it rather depends on how many ribs and how displaced they are but anything from a few days to a few months or even years if you have done the lot
I broke one and cracked another was riding again the next week but that was painful and the broken one and cracked one were not side by side so both had support from the rest of my rib cage. Yes very painful but a wlak in the park compared to a smashed humerous that took nearly 4 years to heal as they couldnt surgically repair it
 
I broke and displaced 6 and was told it would take 9-10 months for them to heal. Unfortunately I also had a leaky lung and a damaged spleen so I was hospitalised for the first 4 days. However, I was back riding after a couple of months.... fool that I am!
 
I have cracked ribs twice and they truly are a pain! Have also fractured my wrist and once that was in a cast, I was away laughing, but that hurts like *%$^* on cracked ribs.

So, yes I seem to remember six weeks being about right. The problem is that the more you move them, the longer they take and since not breathing is not really an option, minimising the unnescessary is about all you can do.

Oh, and drugs.
 
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