Broken ribs - how long?

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ever_hopeful

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I broke 2 or 3 ribs on 19th May and am still so very painful and can hardly do anything, as moving and lift anything is still very painful. I'm on Tramadol and Voltarol still, but am getting really depressed at how decrepit I am still feeling. My house is a complete mess as I cannot even push the hoover or get up and down the stairs comfortably.

I am really loosing confident riding again, too. It's really put me off.
 
My mate broke 2 ribs falling off, he still wasn't right 3 months later. He had to be very careful with himself.
 
I'm afraid the answer is a long time... I broke mine a few years ago and still have to be careful - a chest infection can lead to them cracking again...

It is hard and frustrating but you will heal with time - give it a few more weeks. Lots of hugs and sympathy - I know how painful everything is!!!

xxx
 
I got chucked off my youngster last year and broke 3. Unfortunately as above it was about 3 months.

Good luck with it and I hope your feeling better soon! I was only posting yesterday about how its made me all nervous but get yourself totally better before doing much!

A x
 
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I only cracked a couple last sept/oct and that still took about 6 weeks to heal, but even now if i sneeze to hard or have a bad cough i still get a pain in my chest. More than likely my own fault as i started back riding before i should have
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so prob pulled the muscles a bit from not having the best position...
 
Its pretty much been said, but when I trained in Karate we used to reckon six weeks to be training again. I think twelve weeks to be fully fit would probably be about right.

Try to learn how to breathe with your diaphragm (like singers). I learned how to do this when I first started out in Kendo and it means that your rib cage does not flex as much when you breathe. Made cracked / broken ribs a lot less painful.
 
I have broken mine 3 times now, once you have broken them it becomes a weak spot.
The first time it was a good 4 months before I was really comfortable, each time after that it has been longer, the last time almost a year!
So whatever you do DON't do it again!!
 
I did mine at the beginning of April and they are a lot less painful now. Can do most things although I am still aware of them.

It's the second time I've broken mine on the same side but only 3 this time whereas the last time it was all of them on my left side and a collapsed lung, so not as bad as then!

I could feel them 'crunch' up to 18 months after the previous time but hopefully with so few this time it will get better quicker.

although it's painful to do, try deep breathing exercises and hold for 5 seconds.
 
Goya: Yes! It's the tiredness from the painkillers that getting to me, as well; And my OH who's starting to loose sympathy and get cross about the state of the house. After all, the cuts and bruising have gone now so there's nothing to show that there's anything any longer wrong with me. I'm starting to dread his key in the front door after work, knowing I am going to have him huffing and eying me crossly until bedtime
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Deicin: What exactly IS that crunching feeling you get when you move or lay down sometimes? I was re-xrayed end of last week and the ribs are repairing fine, so I cannot imagine them still moving very much. But feels like two bones crunching together inside. It's horrible. Makes my teeth go on edge!! LOL.

And as for not doing it again, that's what I am afraid of. It's made me SO frightened of riding again. I seem a lot more accident prone these days. I broke my foot in 3 places last spring leading one of my horses, and this year, this accident. I still cannot remember what the hell happened. I remember riding along the road and think (as it seems very dreamlike at this point - so may not even have happened) that the horse bolted, I couldn't stop him and then next thing I am sat in YO house waiting for the ambulance. I do not remember anything about what actually happened for 15 minutes.
 
It's horrific, i really feel for you. I did 4 in february. I'd say it was about a month to 6 weeks before i could move remotely normally, i rode after a month but didn't jump for another month after tha.

It is such an awful feeling and i got the the point i couldn't imagine feeling normal again!!! I'd say after 8 weeks i was mostly back to normal although even i can still 'feel' the area, if that makes sense?! They dont hurt but i'm aware of them.

Take things SO slowly. Tbh i did a bit too much too early and it set me back. Despite lot's of experience and being generally very un-nervy when riding, i was pretty anxious before i got back on. Especially as my fall happened schooling on the flat at home, i just landed on arena edging but once i'd had a few quiet hacks again i was completely back to normal. You'll be fine long term
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i cracked mine show jumping at a BE event, blagged my way past the doctor and went xc!
wouldn't recommend it but it can be done and i was back working on the yard the next day (with a body protector on) ... i did get my back man to give me quite a few sessions though to make sure it healed as well as possible.
 
I know what you mean. I have no bruising or anything but the pain is tremendous. How the poster above could ride i have no idea. They must be so brave. I am supposed to be doing a flyball tournament on Sunday. I intend to take double painkillers and hope to stay awake.
I'm lucky in that my Oh is being helpful, but it has only been 1 week so far. No doubt his patience will wear thin after a while.
Maybe i am just a wimp.
 
They get better in time - several months though - don't try to lift anything or do the vacuuming - thats what the OH is for when you're injured.

When I broke one of mine - I hurt for weeks and wasn't allowed to ride for three months, I had to go to be Xrayed weekly until they were happy it was fixed.

The crunching noise could be that your back is out - but you won't be able to see a chiro until the ribs are well healed. Ask the doc about being allowed a massage - that may help.

Have you also checked to see if you are entitled to some home help for a few weeks.
 
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