Broken ribs – dos and don’ts
A couple months ago I fractured 3 ribs while snowboarding in Tahoe. I’m not a breaky-bone type of person and not a beginner snowboarder, so this was new and exciting. It was my third run of the day and second run through the terrain park. I was hitting a jump and for whatever reason totally bailed in mid-air and came down with my board sideways to the mountain. Having your board sideways to the mountain is normally okay, except when you are travelling 15-20 mph and falling from an 8 ft height, then it is less okay.
I landed and the momentum carried all my weight forward, smashing my torso into the landing pack. I remember two or three hard bounces and then coming to a stop unable to catch my breath at all. I couldn’t inhale normally and was gasping for air like a goldfish on a snowy mountain. It was pretty cool but unfortunately wasn’t caught on tape, what a waste. I knew something was wrong, I was just hoping it wasn’t too bad like a punctured lung or something, because then I would have to cut down on my smokes. (I dont actually smoke)
Ski patrol slid me down the mountain on a stretcher, about an hour later in the clinic I still couldn’t catch my breath, an ambulance came to take me to the hospital and my blood pressure crashed on the way there and they had to stick an IV in each arm. There was some blood in my urine so they did a CT scan to check for any injured organs leaking out precious life force.
Luckily everything was fine except for the 3 jaggedy ribs, it could have been much worse. And I got a cool CD with pictures of my insides! Truly this is some witchcraft.
Now that I’m pretty much healed up and have gone through the whole process, I have advice to give fellow rib breakers who may follow in my rib steps.
DO:
- Cough – It will definitely hurt, and don’t do it too often, but maybe 2-5 times a day, cough lightly. This will help keep your lungs clear of fluid and mucus. If you don’t cough, you’ll be susceptible to pneumonia, and you don’t want that.
- Light shoulder exercises – the side of your body with broken ribs is going to be weak, rolling your shoulders and doing arm circles will help.
- Breath deeply – my dad is all about these Chinese breathing exercises, and this one he told me to do seemed to help. Inhale, hold and exhale in a 1:4:3 ratio. That is, for every 1 second of inhaling, hold it in for 4 times that number, and exhale for 3 times that. Start with what you can do and work your way up. I started at 2, 8, 6 until I was back to normal. This will also help keep your lungs clear in conjunction with coughing. Do this as many times a day as you can.
- Have friends bring food – your friends and family will take pity on you and offer to bring food to your house in order to keep you alive. You should graciously accept. Having food delivered to your lap is a wonderful thing.
- Drink milk – the calcium will be good for your calcifying riblets.
- Take the recovery slowly – I did almost nothing exerting for the first 5 weeks and took weeks 6-9 very cautiously. I think the later weeks in the recovery period are the most dangerous because mentally you think you are ready for the big kick boxing match when actually your ribs are still gluing themselves together.
DO NOT:
- Laugh or sneeze – Laughter is the best medicine, except when it jiggles your dangling rib bones. Stay away from your funny friends and funny movies for the first few weeks. I learned this the hard way. Sneezing will also be horrible for you. When you feel a sneeze coming on, tilt your head down and try to suppress it. If you must sneeze or cough, hold a pillow on your stomach and use it as a splint.
- Use a rib belt – your doctor may give you a rib belt and it may seem helpful at first, kind of holding everything in place, but really all it’s doing is constricting your already labored breathing. I stopped using mine after the first night.
- Go driving – depending on how many of your ribs have become useless, you should avoid driving. I tried to drive a couple times and it wasn’t very safe, as I couldn’t turn my body to check blind spots or merge onto the highway. Get your nice, sympathetic friends to take you places.
- Sneeze in bed – I learned this the hard way and this isn’t on WebMD or someplace. Sneezing while laying horizontally still brought shooting pains in week 6, long after the normal pains diminished.
- Go insane – the world needs you.
Good luck! Hopefully this will help some of you looking for treatment. I’m not a doctor but I play one on the Internet.
So good to know I’m not just being a wuss….3 broken ribs from 10 days of coughing during bad asthma attacks due to a chest infection so no cool skiing/skateboarding story to show for it but I’m very grateful for the advice here and to know that the excruciating pain was not just me….I would say for me it’s up there with childbirth!!! Breathing – not fun, and sneezing – no way!!! Am finding stretches v helpful now I’m a week in – belly breathing (breathing deeply down into my belly expanding it on each breath), arm and neck stretches and careful squats & lunges to keep some level of fitness….good luck to everyone else unfortunate enough to have these horrid fractures….
66 and had a fall, broken ribs 9 and 10, definitely a pain factor of over 10/10. In my third week now and still can’t sleep flat. Helpful hint for coughing is holding around the side with hand or pressing cushion at site of fracture whilst coughing. At least I was sent home home with lots of good pain meds.Looking forward to week 6
Fell down a flight of stairs on August 9th and broke 10 ribs on my right side in 14 places, collapsed my right lung and had lacerations on my liver and pancreas. Ribs 3 thru 9 were plated on August 14th. The remaining ribs couldn’t be plated because the break was too close to the spine. Was released from the hospital after seven days in the trauma unit.
I’m on week 7 and still taking pain meds. Sleeping is uncomfortable. The pain is coming from the breaks that couldn’t be fixed and the muscles. I believe the plating was a god send.
Glad to see that I’m not the wimp I thought I’ve been. I’ve been told that recovery will take 3 to 6 months and can still have pain for up to a year.
I know everyone is different but I’m hoping the pain doesn’t last that long. Anyone else been thru this and if so when did you start feeling better?
Just cracked three ribs in a kayaking accident on Thursday. Thanks for the advice. My problem is, I can’t lay flat in bed, excruciating pain and then I cried for 30 min trying to get back out of bed. Been in recliner ever since. Messed up my summer plans for sure! Was up to walking two miles a day. About to buy a kayak. So over hurting! Ugh
Seven fractures in front and two (displaced) in the back, two fractured vertebrae, fractured manubrium (chest above the sternum), and bruised my left lung in a couple places after a deer ran into the front of my motorcycle a week ago. After spending a day in the hospital, they sent me home with less than adequate instructions for dealing with the particulars of such issues so I’ve had to do the research myself. I’m dealing with the same thing everyone else here is, severe pain, difficulty lying/sleeping (and sitting/standing), breathing challenges, so I went online looking mostly for validation and commiseration. Sleeping and resting horizontally is especially challenging, but when I can get it to work it seems to be the most beneficial way to do nothing. I also found out the hard way exactly what that the Lidocaine patches they prescribed are for–nerve pain, which is primarily associated with the spinal fractures. Miss putting on one of those for a few hours and a searing hot burning pain emanates from the spine right through to my already aching sternum. The first time it happened I thought I might be having a heart attack. The second time my wife’s nurse sister explained exactly how the patch helps so I won’t be making that mistake again.
Good luck to everyone dealing with this kind of injury. You’re not alone, which won’t necessarily help you deal with the pain first-hand, but it’s good to know many others have healed before you and that this, too, will pass.
OMG! Thank you for this insightful information. I’m 3.5 weeks into my broken rib injury (5 ribs) and I’m so discouraged that I’m still having pain and am so immobile! I’ve had some good days but just when I thought I could drag the hose and water the plants- boom! I’m on the pain killers again. I guess I can’t attempt doing anything around the house for several more weeks.
After reading your blog, I see that my healing pattern is normal and I need to be patient. It’s taking SO LONG!
Hey Greg I just read your comment I just got out of the hospital today 5 days in the trauma center from a bad motorcycle accident gravel and sand on a curve the second my front wheel hit that I was down no chance to do anything but anyway I broke 6 ribs broke my left foot and major road rash I find it comfortable sleeping in my recliner and as far as pain the best thing I found so far was ice pack if you have any tips for please dont hesitate to reply back to me thanks for the tips and I hope your feeling better one rider to another
This is the most accurate thing I have read on broken ribs. I broke mine over six weks ago in a fall and still pretty sore. Sneezing is still agony. You develop ways of levering yourself up from bed, chairs – anything. My advice – don’t try and lift anything heavier than a glass of good Irish whiskey. I lifted a box and set myself back two weeks in the healing process I would guess. Hope you all get fixed good and quickly.
I was chocking on February 13 and I did the Heimlich maneuver with a chair and the chair was sliding and the back of the chair hit my ribs on the left side…the result was 3 minimally displaced ribs fracture (rib # 7, #8, #9). Now I am a little better. I can move better and breath better, I could go out for a short walk, but I cannot do too many things…still very painful. I was on Percocet and I put ice every hour for 15 minutes. I was doing deep breathing exercises even if it was very painful with a pillow under my arm to don’t get pneumonia. I still do it.My family doctor said it will take at least 12 weeks to heal. Hopefully, soon everything will get better.
Wishing all of you easy recovery.I hope everybody will get better soon.
fractured rib and pneumothorax a week ago…….got a bedrest pillow, one of those things with a back and arms? helps a lot with sleeping and with leveraging yourself out of bed.
I fell and fractured 6 ribs on left side. At present i don’t know which 6. I suffer pain on deep breathing. Getting up and down out of recliner. Twisting movements. Pulling or lifting with left arm. What do I need to ask Doctor?
Crimes allmighty. I dislocated a shoulder over a year ago. Pain for shoulder was 3 in 10. Five ribs 8 in 10. On Percocet. It brings blessed relief. Ice seems to make them feel better. Will be sleeping in rocking chair tonight.
Hi,
Thank you for all the information. I broke 6 ribs in a horse-riding accident.
The biggest problem is people don’t see that your injury.
I put a pillow on the back of my back so that I can lay on my side and not roll over in the middle of the night. I use my recliner every night.
The best thing has been the walker. I am using my arms and legs and not my torso to pull myself up.
It does seem like the pain is now in my shoulder instead of my ribs.
Icing works and doing up down exercises with my arms.
I am 58 female and broke one (possibly 2) ribs. The doctor actually felt the one and suspected a second. The ribs 5 and 6. I am a runner and a weight lifter and this sucks. I’m in day 7 and as long as I don’t take a deep breath can handle it. Still on Motrin therapy and spirometer but this is complicated by having multiple sclerosis. It caused a small flare with heaviness in my legs and fatigue to compound the issue. I have been walking around even with lead legs from the MS and now the MS symptoms are improving. I want to incorporate a tandem stationary bike. I am thinking maybe starting Monday (it’s Sat now). How soon do y’all feel it’s safe to begin the stationary bike? I’m just so frustrated because I’m in a quandary. Having MS, it is important not to let myself fall into a pattern of immobility. But I understand I need rest. It’s a balancing game I’m not familiar with having a broken rib.
Thanks
Thank you for sharing, broke 8 ribs in a car accident 5weeks ago, out of pain but the discomfort Is real
Shattered my ankle and one bone in my foot. Took a shower, drove to my Dr., and walked in and out. Pain level 4 out of 10.
Broke my back in several places. Walked into my surgeons office. Pain level 6 out of 10.
Broke two ribs last week. Pain level BEYOND 10. More like 70 on the 1 to 10 pain level factor.
Screamed trying to get out of bed.
Screamed trying to walk to the bathroom.
Screamed while riding in a car.
Tylenol 3 takes the edge off…
Broken ribs are the most painful of all the broken bones I’ve ever had.
Considering divorce after SO told me to shut up..it was ONLY 2 ribs I broke.
Not me.. My husband.. He’s a truck driver, he fell in the pit hole in the truck shop while pulling a hose to fill the truck with fiber. It was 2.5 meters deep. He broke a rib or two not sure.
Coughing is the worst. It’s day 11 now. I would like to thank you all for your advice and sharing your experiences. It helps a lot. I was reading all to my husband because as soon as he felt a little better he wants to paint the kitchen wall..!!!!?
Fell off a stool 11 days ago and cracked two ribs, 4 days later I sneezed and they broke. Worst pain I have ever had 10/10. Sleeping sitting up and taking pain killers and anti inflammatory. I find sneezing and coughing worse. Be careful with strong painkillers as they constipate you and that’s not good with broken ribs! I have a holiday flight booked in 8 days and its likely that I will not be fit enough to go at this rate.
Fell on my back on the first roll of my first bowling expedition in probably 30 years, or so. I was the first to bowl and am 67 YO. I am/was a pretty good athlete, back in the day, but this thing was a disaster. I was being pressured to find some shoes, find a ball, and get the party started…not that I couldn’t have just said “STOP”. The ball would ‘release’ and the next thing I knew I was 10 feet down-lane sliding on what felt like “ice”. I fell directly on my back. I got 8 pins and left a 7-10 split, for any bowlers out there. Grin. Nonetheless, now I’m bed-ridden going through the worst pain I’ve ever felt in my entire life. And I’m a Sciatic Nerve aficionado.
Thanks you all for your contributions that help me to feel that I just might make it through this. I am NOT inspired by what’s transpired with our Medical and Pharma Institutions in the last 2 years, so I haven’t even gone to the ER or even my doctor. I’d rather handle this with “real people’s advice”. Although my older brother is a Family Practice Physician with 45 years experience and my step-daughter is a pediatrician, I’d rather listen to my heart and yours to get through this. So, again, thanks everyone for sharing what you’ve learned. From what I’ve learned, there’s a good chance to develop pneumonia from this. If that materializes and I go the the Hospital, I’ll be a dead man. I have NO doubt. And the hospital actually benefits “financially”.
And don’t get me wrong, the doctors are not responsible for being “indoctrinated”. Big Pharma and Medical Cartels seek out the brightest and most competent humans to indoctrinate because if they didn’t, they would also be the most likely to discern the truth of what they are doing. We’ll get through this, at some point. But right now, it looks like we’ve a long way to go.
Omg that’s horrific to deal with. I’ve broke 4 and the pain in unreal. Your a machine truely ?
Thank you so much for writing this article! I really love the way it was written and this will be my guide from now on!!! I flipped my Jeep in an auto accident which broke 4 ribs and a cracked T12 in my back. I drive a home he truck for a living that has an End Dump and need to figure out how much recovery time it will take me to do my job again. I know it takes at least 6 weeks for my ribs to heal but how much more to actually work?
Broke 6 ribs 5 weeks out ,still uncomfortable. One thing the nurse told me very helpful Exhale when you get up from a sitting position -will greatly help with discomfort and pain.
Fully agree. I have 3 broken and fractures in spin. Lucky to be alive and what got me breathing properly was thinking, “so many worst than me” but OMG poor Sherri. “Yoga breathe” I kept saying to myself and the winded breathing reduced but any movement brings it back.
I broke 4 ribs skidding while getting into bed in a hotel room.
I’m now week 5 after over 3 weeks in a Cyprus hospital.
I have now developed really painful bed sores through pressure caused from staying upright. Set back my recovery, keep checking as mine appeared really quickly!
I broke 4 ribs skidding while getting into bed in a hotel room.
I’m now week 5 after over 3 weeks in a Cyprus hospital.
I have now developed really painful bed sores through pressure caused from staying upright. Set back my recovery, keep checking as mine appeared really quickly!
Day 9 since my bicycle hit a patch of gravel and i broke a three ribs.
First four days and nights were miserable: “slept” in a makeshift recliner that was a cushioned chair with lots of pillows and a kitchen step-stool as an “ottoman.” Alternated Advil and Tylenol every three hours around the clock and used ice during the day and slept with a Lidocaine patch at night. Laughing and getting up from the chair caused the most pain.
Day 4 Amazon delivered Kolbs Memory Foam Adjustable Bed Wedge Pillow – 9″ & 12″ – 7 in 1 Height and I built a pillow fortress in my bed with a yoga bolster to support my knees and the bed wedge for my torso and other pillow on the side to keep me in place. My progress has steadily improved since Day 4.
Day 5 – I started daily walks, increase the time by 10 minutes each day.
Day 9 – I was able to wash my hair in the shower!
I find taking it slowly and gently I feel better with each passing day.
All this info has been so informative; At age 63 I fell backwards from stair 7 and bruised my right hand ribs just over 2 wks ago. ( as well as cutting my hard and had many bruises back and front on legs, torso and arms)
Week 1 was absolutely agonising.
Week 2 saw me moving about but very painful
Just into Week 3 and am able to sleep more comfortably but still using 2types of pain relief around the clock but managing to space the doses out longer.
Breathing in still hurts, as does coughing, laughing and certain movements and holding a mug of tea!!
Hang in there people, it does get better ???? !! I have been this way before , me and stairs don’t seem to get on atall!!
Week 1.
Broken no 9 &10. 9 displaced.
Snowboarding, some guy hit me in the back while I was taking a picture of the snowy mountains. Horrible.
Pain medication 3 x day. Plus rest.
I’m doing the breathing exercises however I can’t say that I keep track of them by the hour.
Was going to drive today, but after reading here, I think I’ll pass.
The only movement I do besides sitting or standing up is just going up & down the stairs at my house.
Looking forward to week 6, I will schedule a CT and doctor visit after 21 days