I just spent the 4th of July weekend in the hospital. I was out riding bikes with my family at the Morton Arboretum, and due to a second of inattention, managed to crash my bike - heavily. I didn't hit anything, except the pavement. Basically I got thrown over the handlebars and did a belly flop on the left side of my ribs. The result: six, count them, six broken ribs and a partially collapsed lung. Wacked the back of my head against the pavement but fortunately I was wearing a helmet. Saw some stars for a moment then they cleared. The lung is ok now, but the ribs are killing me.
I spent two nights in the hospital, then they sent me home. The hardest, and by that I mean most painful, thing is getting out of bed. I have to sleep sitting up because if I lay down it is a very painful ordeal to get up. I am basically stuck without help. I have some good meds, but I swear I can feel the bones shift, it is a little scary. At least it feels like they are moving a little. I'm surprised they sent me home so quickly. Well it looks like my summer is going to be pretty boring.

Ouch, I feel your pain. I broke 7 at one time, along with a broken shoulder, had to sleep sitting up for about a month. I got tired of the Opioid pain meds after about a week and switched to just Ibuprofen. I remember the pain well

Just don't cough and don't sneeze.

you will have a rough go

you have displaced rib fractures

they can be plated / repaired using titanium plates specifically designed for that injury pattern

it involves surgery -- so there are risks obviously

otherwise you are looking at a LONG and painful recovery

the pain you feel is the displaced fractured bones rubbing against adjacent bone / tissue

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That's gonna hurt...for a while. I've broken ribs a few times and it sucks. A lot. Don't breath deep but you already know that. I hope you have a quick recovery.

it's a relatively new procedure so not all trauma MDs are trained how to do it

https://www.jnjmedicaldevices....ocedure/rib-fixation

like any surgical procedure -- the key is to find a high quality surgeon in your area

rib trauma has been a major problem since forever ... only in the last 10 years or so has significant advances been made in the treatment

https://cwisociety.org/

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Sorry to hear. Prayer for healing and comfort. 'What did you hit to toss you? No one at home to help you out, you said family. I assume you have some to assist?

the 'conservative / old school' approach is what they did with you :

stabilize, treat for pain, send home with limited ability / mobility

whichever way you go -- rest or surgery I wish you the best with your recovery

it's a bad injury pattern

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Ouch, broken ribs are one of the most painful things I've had happen to me. You're in for a fun six weeks.

Ouch, BTDT after a motorycycle accident and again after playing rugby. I'm sorry, broken ribs really suck. I hope your recovery goes as well as it possibly can.

Ooffff, I’ve had broken ribs before. Here’s to hoping for a quick recovery.

You have already figured out what you abilities are. Just don’t sneeze, don’t clean the house, don’t vacuum, don’t dust for the next six to eight weeks.

Sorry to hear that, haven't an idea how much it hurts. I cracked/separated ONE rib once. Thought I was going to die, ha

I had experience with this after getting off an motocross bike while it was still moving (in sixth gear). In front of 28 other riders right after the first turn of a race. As I recall, they said it involved maybe three ribs, fractured but not displaced on the Xray. The ER doc also said I would likely get a lot of pain from just the musculature that was pulled and stressed during my landing. Flying through the air was also great fun. My first real peek at the slow motion perception thing also. Absolutely perfect spatial orientation though tumbling. Then I hit the ground and the tumble got more violent and that perfect spatial orientation went right out the window.

I remember the getting out of bed thing as the absolute worst as well. Had to develop a kind of roll technique, grabbing the headboard and using any momentum. You roll out crouched and then use arm strength to raise up. That involved using my arms muscles only (as much as possible) using the bedside table some too. I also tried squatting somewhat during this and then used legs to lift. Still massively painful and as I recall, about six of one and half dozen of the other. And I was 17 at the time and enjoying the rude, animal health of youth. I can't imagine how bad that would feel today. You have my sympathies.

It is amazing how fast the ground can come up to meet you when you are doing something you probably shouldn't be.

Ouch. I never broke my ribs. Others always did it for me. Before I learned good communication skills, you see.

So sorry that this happened. I've never had broken ribs--when I flipped over the handlebars of my Harley in 1989 (car hit me in the right side) I landed flat on my back and only my right leg had significant damage. (That was bad enough--got a bad infection and long recovery.)

My advice is to carefully follow the doctors' orders and use as little pain medication as you can get away with. A little pain will help you keep from trying things you shouldn't.

flashguy

Sorry. As others have said rib injuries are tough. You just can't do things no matter how much you may want.

Hurt mine playing hockey once. I couldn't raise my hands above my chest on my own. Nothing like having to ask your teammates to help you take off your gear and put on your clothes.

Think I spent a month rolling out of bed. Let's not talk about trying to put on socks.

Good luck. Your recover but it may be a rough road for a few weeks.

Not sure what I hit, may have been a dip in the road. Totally preventable on my part. I have the whole family at home, so I have plenty of support. Thanks for your prayers.
Luckily no one is talking surgery. I just have to take it easy and wait for them to heal. You know what they say, "it only hurts when I laugh" and burp, and cough, and sneeze and just about any other internal bodily function you can think of!

You were lucky, get well soon. A sister in law was thrown off her bicycle while riding with her husband. Both wearing helmets, but she suffered traumatic injuries which eventually lead to her death.

I had a crash as a kid (helmetless) that dislocated my collar bone and cracked a rib.
Cant recommend the experience.