Cracked rib... advice please!

_jetset_

_jetset_

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On Friday I cracked a rib... No, not falling off (although everyone keeps asking me which one caused it ;) ), but by coughing! I have never known pain like it and it is constant!

I ended up in A&E on Friday night and then again on Sunday night but it is still hurting to even breathe let alone do anything else. I have managed to ride yesterday and it felt okish, but I didn't do anything too exciting. However, mucking out and putting rugs on is a real trial :(

I cannot afford to put my horses on full livery really at the moment due to other costs which are due to be paid out, but the pain killers are not quite working the magic they should be!

So, I am looking for any advice...

For anyone who has cracked a rib in the past, how long did it take until it stopped hurting constantly and how did you manage doing horses? I have thought about strapping it up because when I told it, it feels much easier...but the hospital was not so keen on this when I asked them about it.
 
i cracked 2 ribs a few years ago in a collision with a show jump- i went xc that afternoon!

i strapped mine up and basically just got on with everything as normal but mine didn't hurt too much.

I guess it depends very much on where/how the ribs are cracked with regards to which movement you find difficult etc.
 
millitiger said:
i cracked 2 ribs a few years ago in a collision with a show jump- i went xc that afternoon!

i strapped mine up and basically just got on with everything as normal but mine didn't hurt too much.

I guess it depends very much on where/how the ribs are cracked with regards to which movement you find difficult etc.
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How did you strap it up?

The hospital said they wouldn't do it because they didn't do that anymore. But when I hold it I feel so much more comfortable whereas normally it is agony to just turn my body to the left (it is on the right side).
 
Ribs take around 10 days to get to "union" which is when they have bridged the fracture, up until that point they are very painful especially coughing, sneezing and laughing. If you can get someone to just strap them with elastic adhesive bandage while you get all your stuff done and leave it off the rest of the time that will keep you going. Apply ice packs for 10 mins a time whenever you get the chance too
 
I did mine many years ago falling onto a metal milkchurn when jumping. Even in those days they didn't strap them. The pain lasted for a few weeks.I rode in a competition a couple of days after the injury and was gasping in pain and agony afterwards. If I were you I would try to see if anyone will help you out for a while.
 
whatawizard said:
Ribs take around 10 days to get to "union" which is when they have bridged the fracture, up until that point they are very painful especially coughing, sneezing and laughing. If you can get someone to just strap them with elastic adhesive bandage while you get all your stuff done and leave it off the rest of the time that will keep you going. Apply ice packs for 10 mins a time whenever you get the chance too
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Do you mean like vet wrap?

Thanks for the tip about ice packs, will get that sorted too as have some in the freezer at the moment (well, wine ones ;) ).
 
i did mine falling over in high heels last year in the snow !!!

Its killed when i breathed, coughed and sneezing is the worse !!

just take things really slowly - i didnt ride for about a week but could lunge !!

Mucking out was hard though x
 
_jetset_ said:
How did you strap it up?
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um, my horse's backman (human qualified too!) strapped it for me with vetwrap.

the hospital told me to just rest and take tablets but it felt so much better when i was wearing my body protector i got it strapped so it felt nice and secure all of the time.
 
Can I go against the grain here?! I wouldn't strap it up because that will restrict your ability to take deep breaths and aerate your lungs properly and therefore you will be more predisposed to get a nasty chest bug like pneumonia which would definitely be worse! If you've done it coughing, worth getting your GP to check your calcium and things to check for osteoporosis.

What pain killers are you on? Have you got Tramadol?
 
_jetset_ said:
On Friday I cracked a rib... No, not falling off (although everyone keeps asking me which one caused it ;) ), but by coughing! I have never known pain like it and it is constant!

I ended up in A&E on Friday night and then again on Sunday night but it is still hurting to even breathe let alone do anything else. I have managed to ride yesterday and it felt okish, but I didn't do anything too exciting. However, mucking out and putting rugs on is a real trial :(

I cannot afford to put my horses on full livery really at the moment due to other costs which are due to be paid out, but the pain killers are not quite working the magic they should be!

So, I am looking for any advice...

For anyone who has cracked a rib in the past, how long did it take until it stopped hurting constantly and how did you manage doing horses? I have thought about strapping it up because when I told it, it feels much easier...but the hospital was not so keen on this when I asked them about it.
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I strapped mine up with an elasticated leg bandage, it really does give support. The first 2 weeks are the worst and then gradually you will feel the pain dull until about 6 weeks when it will have almost gone. Dont turn over in bed, lay flat on your back, dont bend down if you can help it and DONT SNEEZE. Panadol or similar will help with the pain.

Dont worry I have done it several times.
 
Another vote for not strapping your ribs up! I broke 3 earlier this year (and then re-broke one 6 weeks later). I wasn't allowed to ride for 2 weeks, but when I could I wore a back protector as it kinda kept me together and stopped me overreaching, add in paracetamol and ibruprofen and I could do about 45 mins of schooling. The hardest bit for me was getting off! Also do remember to take deep breaths, it hurts but it does you good (sorry).
 
Thanks... I was only planning on strapping them up when I was actually mucking out and riding so they would feel more comfortable. Would this be ok as long as I unstrap them for the rest of the day (I do the horses in the morning)?

And the getting on and getting off is slightly problematic, especially with a four year old who is very confused why we have to go and stand back at the mounting block to get off!
 
You shouldn't strap yourself up. In the old days they used to strap peoples chests and they ended up with pneumonia. You just have to put up with it, it will get better slowly. In fact most doctors will tell you to make sure you do cough on purpose, to make sure you inflate your lungs. Try to hold your chest when you do it, and do some little baby coughs.

Another thing - ibuprofen inhibits bone growth - so take paracetamol.
 
I got told by A&E to take ibuprofen, but then they also gave me codeine too! The other tip is to hug a cushion if you need to cough or sneeze, it's as daft looking as it sounds. Also expect the pain to get better then worse before it gets better for real - I got warned this and didn't believe it but it does happen....
 
Poor you - I've cracked one a few times now coughing - it does hurt like hell.

First time was from an fall and Doc forbade me to ride as you risk the rib puncturing your lung should you fall off and break the rib. It hurt a lot less and healed up in 6 weeks.

The ones I've cracked coughing really hurt like hell and seem to take weeks to heal - I've learned now that at the first sight of the cough - treat it! Got through a whole winter this time without cracking it again.

I found Nurofen helped the most - but most important of all was to prevent the movements that caused the pain
 
Wear a back protector while mucking out! You'll look ridiculous but it will prevent you from making any sharp sudden movements. Be aware that if you are skinny be really careful. A very slim friend of mine stayed doing the horses etc with a broken rib and twice punctured her lung over the course of a few weeks
 
Hi! I know it's not the same, but I broke my arm last week, and now have six weeks of strictly no riding or mucking out etc. Re the horse, he has gone to a local riding college where I used to ride, know the owner etc and take good care of horses, plus parents prefer it as cheaper and the horse is kept fit. Hope you have a speedy recovery, not riding is killing me, so boring! Especially with such dark nights, I wonder what the rest of the world normally do!! :D:D
 
ohhhh I broke mine 6 weeks ago, I wore my BP most of the time and when they finally let me back in school, vet wrapped it. I took ibruprofen every 4 hours and paracetamol every two hours after that.

Mucking out is agony isn't it, just take your time if you can
 
I did mine to the extreme and broke 6 plus tore loads of muscles etc. Took 6 weeks until it wasn't agony and several months before i didnt feel them most of the time.

Ribs need time to heal i'm afraid :(
 
I cracked my rib earlier this year. I was thrown off on the wednesday, competed on the thursday, carried on going to work and riding and by sunday I ended up collapsing on the hay bales in complete agony. turns out by doing so much I ended up breaking my rib completly. six weeks off in agony. Rest and strong pain killers is my advice!
 
They just take time to heal. Back protector for chores that you can't get out of, worked wonders for me. Very painful though.
Take painkillers, and get some help! :) x
 
I have never cracked a rib but I do often have a dodgy shoulder to the point where I cant move off the sofa. I darent go to the doctor as he will tell me not to do the horses and send me for an op. Not an option im afraid.

I take diclofeniac (if thats the right word) and co codamol before I am about to do something. Its the only combination which works for me.

Hope your feeling better soon. x
 
nat1003 said:
I have never cracked a rib but I do often have a dodgy shoulder to the point where I cant move off the sofa. I darent go to the doctor as he will tell me not to do the horses and send me for an op. Not an option im afraid.

I take diclofeniac (if thats the right word) and co codamol before I am about to do something. Its the only combination which works for me.

Hope your feeling better soon. x
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Please don't be a hero - get it operated and sorted soon - I was like that - I think many horse people are and now in my late 50's am really paying for it! In so much pain at times I can't do a thing. I'm falling to bits...............
 
I cracked mine a couple of years ago and it was the worst pain i have ever ever felt, i did then go one to develop a cold and a bad cough which didnt help things!! I used a scarf tied around and when i needed to sneeze or cough i pulled as tight as i could! I also loaded up on pain killers which did help, i hope you feel better soon. You dont want to hear it im sure but took a long time to get back to full health!!
 
I broke mine back in August in a surfing accident but for the first week I could barely walk, I couldn't sit up or lie down and I couldn't dress myself! I was off work for three weeks and couldn't drive during that time and spent most of my time taking it easy. I don't have a horse but I work in kennels and when I went back to work after three weeks I still couldn't scrub kennels or handle boisterous dogs. It was probably about two months later I was about 90% back to normal, but even now I still can't sleep on my left side where I broke my ribs as they still hurt! I tried strapping my ribs but found it painful and restrictive. I know doctors used to recommend strapping yourself but they think it doesn't really help so they don't bother anymore. Hope you feel better soon!
 
Thanks everyone... I have bought a rib support from a physio site so hopefully that will help me when I am mucking out and working the horses and I can take it off for the rest of the time.
 
no advice on the cracked ribs (other than a prolite back support or similar, and doing as little as feasibly possible) but why not minimise your work for the next 10 days by keeping the horses in their turnout rugs all the time, and either paying someone to skip out or muck out for you, or deep littering for a week. it won't kill the horses and it might save you a lot of agony, needs must and all that...
 
I cracked a rib in march (i say i did it was actually my now ex boyfriend, try explaining that in a&e!!) i did it on a monday and was showjumping on friday, can't say it didn't hurt at times like when looking for the next fence but i did have trouble getting the saddle on and with rugs so i had to have help with that. It took about 4 weeks to heal properly. If i were you i'd get someone else to do the heavy stuff and take it easy for a couple of weeks, it would be better than having complications and making the problem last longer than it has to.
 
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