Cracked ribs

andraste

andraste

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I managed a quite superb unscheduled dismount on the road yesterday and got taken away in an ambulance. :eek: After a thorough checkout though I was told I was a lucky girl and had gotten away with just 2 cracked ribs and bruising.

So, who's had cracked ribs before? How long will it hurt like fire every time I breathe and, more importantly, when do you reckon I can get back on the horse?
 
The first 2 weeks are the worst, then it gradually eases off. You will have to lay flat in bed not on your side, dont cough or sneeze and it often hurst just to draw breath. I have broken my ribs at least 3 time, I put an elasticated leg bandage round them for support which really helps.

Good luck and I hope you feel better soon, you may not be able to ride for a couple of weeks, just see how it goes and only do what you feel you are up to.
 
My mum managed to fracture her ribs on a jump cup while adjusting a practice fence... :eek:

The Dr said they would probably take 6-8 weeks to heal and that shes should do 10 deep breaths every hour to help the bones back together.

Hope you have a speedy recovery :)
 
I've managed to do two on each side at different times - once slipping off a lorry while climbing over the side and landing directly on the narrow edge and the other occurred when my mare and I went through her stable door at the same time - if you'd have actually ever seen her standing in that doorway - you'd wonder how I am still alive!

I had no treatment for either injury and only found out about the breaks by later Xrays - but I've always been physical and impervious to pain! As you say, one of the first symptoms is catching your breath with any exertion - I used to carrying two buckets of water into the stable and swing one up one handed into a ring but I was reduced to lifting it with two hands and on possibly the coldest night of the year - hit the ring and doused myself from the waist down! Funnily enough I managed to interview for quite a highpower job while nursing those two and was offered the job which came with membership of a fitness centre!!!

I carried on riding - it was quite common to joke about jockeys saying - strap me up doc, I'm riding in the next race - so I didn't think it that usual but I do remember sort of crawling up the ladies' mounting block a few times rather than my usual flying hop.

Second time I was ten years older and carrying more injuries so it certainly hurt more and by that time my mare had gone to the Happy Paddock so I'd hung up my boots; however I was back to lifting 50kgs concrete fence posts within a week - case of having to really.
 
Ooh I remember that feeling (ouch!) when it hurts even to breath. I remember not being able to find painkillers that gave me any relief either.
Yes I agree, strapping yourself together does help.
Unfortunately it does take time ....
Get well soon and I hope you have someone to take care of you. x
 
Thanks for everyone's support - I've had nowt but abuse from my family who are being quite 'I told you so' about the whole thing. :rolleyes:

JoBird said:
Get well soon and I hope you have someone to take care of you. x
Click to expand...

No worries JoBird - the BF has the job of looking after me and I fully intend to take advantage of it. :D
 
Ooooo sorry to hear you've done that! As a fellow rib breaker I feel your pain!

Mine was in my teens - broke 3 cracked 4, falling down stone stairs in school. Even now over 15 years later I still get a "catch" where I can't quite get a deep breath without a sharp pain!

The 10 deep breaths per hour is sound advice. It might hurt a bit, but keep doing it as it clears your lungs. As a silly (I know better!) teenager, I didn't do it and got pneumonia, then lung started to collapse and had a pulmonary embolism. Couple of weeks in intensive care and many months of problems afterwards.

I also totally agree with the "strapping" up advice! I think that's where my love of corsets came from, as I felt safer and less vunerable with them on! Body suits with tight lycra were a favourite of mine! I'm sure you could get a horsey leg bandage around yourself - that'd work!!!

First sign of any coughing or shortness of breath, get some antibiotics! Other than that, keep moving and deep breathing!!!

And don't sneeze, or at least hold everything together whilst you do it! :p

Get well soon, and don't do it again!! :)
 
Never had xray on mine as dr said they wouldn't treat them - I just had to wait for them to heal.
We fell over on the road - I had to walk / hobble back to yard as Lammy buggered off home!

I got back on next day - just to walk past the spot we fell as I just needed to. Every step was terrible but had to be done. I left riding for a few days and then just did a few short walks building it up and adding some trotting when I could.

Physio gave me some breathing exercises to do which helped get my chest moving - hurts at the time but really does help

The worst was sleeping as you can't turn over - you have to sit up and then lie down again. I fell off start of October and and still feeling it beginning of December at night time. Caught a cough in November and got chest infection as was told I wasn't coughing properly and clearing my lungs - so don't get a cold!

Best of luck!
 
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I broke 3 and punctured lung 8 weeks ago, air lifted to hospital as also knocked out during fall and still struggling now. I was in hospital for 6 days and on oxygen for 3 days to reinflate lung I guess but mostly out of it on morphine at that point so a little hazy at that stage! Its so annoying and I still can't lie down comfortably to sleep so mostly still sleep sitting up against lots of pillows. Do be careful to keep lungs working properly as all above have said and hope you soon feeling a lot better, its a bummer!!
 
I cracked my ribs coming off a 3 year old colt during back.. full on rodeod and i obviously hit the deck. The adrenaline kept me going but as soon as i stopped i was in pain and was for ages.. still hurts from time to time now
x
 
broke 4 - 6 breaks in total and collapsed my lung which had a subsequent bleed in it after striking up a rather intimate relationship with an arena fence about 18months ago now

sneezing...avoid at ALL costs! coughing and laughing only to be done when HIGHLY necessary! important to take the 10 deep breaths an hour to help the ribs and keep your lungs fully inflated and air circulating to prevent infection. sleeping sitting up may actually be less painful, i certainly couldnt get close to lying down for a good 6weeks!

echo the first 2-3weeks are the worst DO NOT try to do things too early, you must allow longer than you think for ribs, im 18months on and gave mine 10weeks and i still get twinges now and then

good luck and you have my sympathies xxx
 
I went straight my horse's head and landed on my back earlier this spring. From canter to halt in one easy move when he shied at some ducks. I managed to twist my ankle at the same time, so at first I didn't know which hurt the most.

Ribs take about 6 weeks to heal, and the twice I have cracked a rib it has been that long. And truthfully both times hasn't been a bad injury, no hospital, only doctors for stronger painkillers! They won't bandage as you have to keep your lungs working or risk infection.

It IS painful, every breath, every time you want to move, turn over in bed, ow, ow.
I found it was easier to stand up straight rather than trying to sit or lie down, so doing the stables wasn't too bad if I took it gently.

I really do sympathise, been then, done that, got the tee shirt. It is nasty. What a simple, pain free life we would have if we didn't have horses. Broken toes, kicks, falls. Hope you feel better soon.
 
Just don't have friends round with a sense of humour - it hurts like hell when you laugh.

I cracked one and that was enough! I was sore for about a month before it started to settle down and I had to go to hospital each week for Xrays! I wasn't allowed to ride for two months. When I asked why I had to go back weekly for Xrays they said it was quite a bad fracture and they had to ensure that it didn't open up. (Never do things by halves!)

Turning over in bed was the worst I had a few days with minimal sleep.
 
I broke 3 ribs and collapsed part of my lung with a fall (then rebroke one of the same ribs 8 weeks later but without the lung bit!).

I wasn't allowed to ride for 10 days and was told it would take 8-10 weeks to heal and start to knit the bone properly, it can take up to 12 months to become fully healed. Give it time and don't push yourself to do things because you're frustrated, the early post accident bit is the most crucial.

Don't restrict your ribs by strapping them in anyway as you can cause more problems. Breathing hurts but don't forget to take deep breaths every now and then or you can give yourself lung infections. If you need to sneeze or cough hug a pillow if you can - it does help a bit timing is tricky tho! I made a triangle behind me with pillows to support me to sleep as that was terrible :(

I rode for 2 months with a body protector on as a precaution and glad I did as otherwise accident no 2 would have been a whole lot worse :eek:
 
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