Riding with fractured ribs?

[Acolyte]

Just wondered - have you done it? Is it OK? I went to the doctors today and was told I had fractured a rib through - get this - coughing too much

God it hurts though, they've given me codeine but it isn't helping much - can't laugh or cough at the moment, which is difficult with a stupendous chest infection

They have said 3-4 weeks to get it mended, but don't really want to be not riding for all that time - is it a case of 'grin and bear it'?

 

[jhoward]

if you dont let it heal it will take longer and you could have further problems

 

[Acolyte]

Mmmm, suppose you are right - can't believe how it happened, I woke up at 2am today (as usual at the moment) with a coughing fit, and a really, really sharp pain in my chest. Went to the doctors earlier on, the nurse thought it might be pleurisy but she called the doctor in to listen to my chest - he prodded in the painful place, I said something very rude as it hurt very much, and he diagnosed a fractured rib. Thought a human body was rather more resilient than that

 

[spike123]

have you had xrays done? I wouldn't recommend trying to ride with a fractured rib.Should you take a tumble you could end up doing alot more damage and the impact of a fall could cause the fracture to go completely and puncture your lung.

 

[Acolyte]

Nooo, the nurse wanted to send me for an x-ray, the doctor said not to bother as nothing could be done to make it mend quicker even if they knew for sure it was fractured

 

[vicijp]

I rode a week after fracturing 3 ribs, end result was I came off and bust my ankle.
Looking back it was a bit daft, but it didnt put me off cutting off the plaster after 2 weeks, and race riding after another 2 (was supposed to be on 6 weeks).
Id do whatever the pain barrier allows.

 

[Acolyte]

Wow, that makes me feel like a bit of a wimp even asking

I'll see how it goes I think, it can't carry on being this painful for that long I'm sure

 

[grandmaweloveyou]

dont do it. i stupidly rode with a dislocated shoulder - IN A SLING - more times than once

also tried once to ride with a fractured coxys, that hurt like hell so never again.

 

[H-J]

[ QUOTE ]
I rode a week after fracturing 3 ribs, end result was I came off and bust my ankle.
Looking back it was a bit daft, but it didnt put me off cutting off the plaster after 2 weeks, and race riding after another 2 (was supposed to be on 6 weeks).
Id do whatever the pain barrier allows.

[/ QUOTE ]

I agree I was riding after 2 weeks of breaking my collar bone and competed in a hunter trial after 2 1/2. I also rode in a half cast after breaking my leg badly and competed in a thin cast from the knee down! do as the pain allows I think thats what I do

 

[k9h]

I have ridden (actually hunted) a week after rupturing my shoulder joint & breaking 4 ribs. It hurt like **** trotting was the worst even if I just stayed rose for the whole trotting. I was in pure agony. OH at time kept yelling at me to go home but I wouldn't do it.
As others have said you could end up with a punctured lung (don't even have to fall off for that to happen or they could nick an internal organ & you end up with internal bleeding)
I use to tape mine up for a bit of support but they now advice that you don't do that as too much pressure can again do the same as above.
Give it time be patient.! (though I wouldn't)!!

 

[Jemayni]

I broke two ribs a few years ago, I didnt ride for about 10 days & then when I did I wore a BP for extra support!

 

[Acolyte]

Ah good idea, never thought of using one of those! I'll give it some time, then try riding and just see what happens

 

[Loupride]

Should you do it??? Probably no, did I?? Yes

I had a bad fall a couple of years ago, horse ending up canter over my rib cage, anyway didn't go the hospital and went on to have a jumping lesson the following evening

I knew we had to jump again and soon! For the next few weeks I continued to ride and just took it easy.... NO SITTING TROT!!!!

Anyway, about a year later was having an x-ray on my back after a fall from a youngster, hospital ring the next day to say "Are you aware that you had 4 broken ribs and 1 fracture that healed themselves"

My reply "Oh yes but that was last year"

 

[LouHardwick]

I rode with 4 broken ribs- couldnt do more than walk though- all the movement was crushing the air from my lungs- I hacked but couldnt school

 

[Tia]

Where horse riding is concerned, broken ribs are possibly the worst (and potentially most dangerous) breaks you can have. I've ridden with other broken bones quite easily, however when I broke my ribs I rode once and then when I started to think of the potential further damage which could be done, I stopped riding for a couple of weeks to let them heal.

If you were to come off then you could potentially puncture a lung - honestly not worth the risk in my opinion.

 

[Gorgeous George]

I broke 2 ribs in my back a couple of years ago when I had a nasty jumping fall, I certainly didn't ride as I wouldn't have even been able to get on! It would be really dangerous if you fell off as a punctured lung would be a distinct possibility.

 

[tabithakat64]

Stupidly, I rode with three broken ribs and some internal bruising, but only in walk and trot on a quiet horse. I shouldn't have as it they ended up taking 6 weeks to heal and doing anything other than ride hurt like hell.

 

[miller]

I did after 2 days - walked and cantered only as trotting too uncomfortable - tbh I never had a problem

Discalimer - that's not to say it's a good idea

 

[Bounty]

Oooh, sounds painful but not the most glamourous reason!

I take it you use Holts Health Centre? If so then I'll bet that you saw my mum today

 

[alsxx]

I've done it and probably shouldn't have! Broke a rib falling off in the first place and carried on riding which looking back was stupid - also broke my foot (a metatarsal) and despite working in radiology went 2 weeks before getting it X-Rayed. Still carried on riding and week 3 I had a hunter trial! Saying that - I have real trouble with that foot now...