Spare ribs anyone?

[Population-1]

A week ago I fell during football and the impact was felt directly on my ribs. Had to go off but other than being slightly winded and bruised it wasn't too bad. However, the pain since has increased if anything and having read up online it appears typical recovery time is 4-6 weeks. It's far worse at night when lying down.

Anyone else ever suffered severely bruised ribs? If so, how long did you take to recover? Any tips on how to speed up the process? It's surprisingly painful!

Thanks in advance all.

[Captain...]

It sucks, did it myself, quite badly, I think that it was technically a cracked rib, took about 3-4 months before I was back to being 100%, you just can't do anything without hurting them further and there is nothing doctors can do. The only thing you can do is take pain killers, but then you just risk further damaging them by over exerting yourself and not realising it.

It really sucks mate and I feel for you, you just have to rest, and maybe find some form of exercise that doesn't involve moving your body (not many of them) because I got well out of shape in the process.

[James.]

My fiancé fell of a running machine (it wasn't moving at the time) and bruised her ribs, think she might have had a slight crack as well. Agree with everything Shrapnel has said. Absolutely crucial not to over exert yourself as my fiancé did and it made the issue a lot worse. During the early days think it's quite easy to make them worse so just watch out.

Good luck, from what I saw it's incredibly annoying and does take quite some time to heal. You might get away with cycling and other low impact exercise but obviously don't take my word for it, best to speak to a doctor/physio.

[Daggers]

Broke ribs in a motorbike accident back in September - still getting grief from one now (which Babbage the Wonderdog re-broke when he lay on my chest).

[Captain...]

My fiancé fell of a running machine (it wasn't moving at the time) and bruised her ribs, think she might have had a slight crack as well. Agree with everything Shrapnel has said. Absolutely crucial not to over exert yourself as my fiancé did and it made the issue a lot worse. During the early days think it's quite easy to make them worse so just watch out.

Good luck, from what I saw it's incredibly annoying and does take quite some time to heal. You might get away with cycling and other low impact exercise but obviously don't take my word for it, best to speak to a doctor/physio.

I would cycle to work when my rib was bad, but sometimes I would feel it afterwards, I didn't have much choise at the time as I had to get to work. I don't know if I did it any further damage. I had one class that was a 30 minute cycle all uphill at 7 in the morning, it was normally sore after that, but I could freewheel home afterwards.

[AoWW]

Broke ribs in a motorbike accident back in September - still getting grief from one now (which Babbage the Wonderdog re-broke when he lay on my chest).

[z-layrex]

Yeah bruised ribs are very painful and it can take weeks before the bruising subsides. If you're in a lot of pain maybe go and see your GP or the Practice Nurse, they might prescribe you some painkillers. If it's Codeine though make sure you get a laxative like senna or something.

[Jackirius]

I well fancy a burger

[Guest]

Mario's (braunstone gate) was always the place for Spare Ribs when I lived in Leicester.

[lcfcadam]

My fiancé fell of a running machine (it wasn't moving at the time)

I'll admit it, that made me chuckle a fair bit...

[Population-1]

Thanks for advice all, much appreciated. It echoes the views of others. Problem is its so difficult to avoid aggravating the injury as your ribs are constantly expanding and contracting. You just don't realise it until you injure the blighters!

Will plough on with painkillers, rest up and try to avoid falling off stationery treadmills!

[Captain...]

Thanks for advice all, much appreciated. It echoes the views of others. Problem is its so difficult to avoid aggravating the injury as your ribs are constantly expanding and contracting. You just don't realise it until you injure the blighters!

Will plough on with painkillers, rest up and try to avoid falling off stationery treadmills!

I would only take the painkillers to help you sleep, the rest of the time it will just mask any pain so you won't know when you are over exerting yourself and putting too much pressure on your bad rib, you can end up doing more damage that way.

It is also more manly not to take painkillers.

[Daggers]

No.

He really broke my bloody rib. It hurts and everything.

[skinnydipper]

I cracked a couple of ribs in what was my last games of eleven a side. Stag do on the Saturday night with plenty to drink and not much sleep followed by a stint at centre back on AstroTurf the next morning. In my mid 30s and described as "having the turning circle of a Supertanker" I was up against a whippet of a centre forward who outpaced us on balls over the top and was banging the goals in for fun. After he'd scored 4 or 5 the other centre back, the goalie and myself decided that enough was enough and that we would take him out. We dropped a bit deeper and when the next ball went over the top it looked as if the keeper and I would clatter him between us in a shuddering challenge. Unfortunately, the little weasel nipped between us whilst the goalie and I collided at full pelt with my ribs taking the full force of the impact. The runt stuck the ball in the empty net and I gingerly made my way off the pitch with the two cracked ribs. Hurt like bugger for several weeks with and with no sympathy from Mrs SD too. A suitably humiliating end to my eleven a side career!

[HoustonFox]

I cracked a couple of ribs in what was my last games of eleven a side. Stag do on the Saturday night with plenty to drink and not much sleep followed by a stint at centre back on AstroTurf the next morning. In my mid 30s and described as "having the turning circle of a Supertanker" I was up against a whippet of a centre forward who outpaced us on balls over the top and was banging the goals in for fun. After he'd scored 4 or 5 the other centre back, the goalie and myself decided that enough was enough and that we would take him out. We dropped a bit deeper and when the next ball went over the top it looked as if the keeper and I would clatter him between us in a shuddering challenge. Unfortunately, the little weasel nipped between us whilst the goalie and I collided at full pelt with my ribs taking the full force of the impact. The runt stuck the ball in the empty net and I gingerly made my way off the pitch with the two cracked ribs. Hurt like bugger for several weeks with and with no sympathy from Mrs SD too. A suitably humiliating end to my eleven a side career!

Broke mine playing 11-A-side too. Spilt a shot that had come through a crowd of players and as I dove on it the striker following in tried to lash it in. Instead he lashed me in the ribs and broke on. I could feel it moving and clicking when I took in a breath and if I touched it. To double compound the misery it was the day before my last exam ever at Uni. No sleep that night but luckily I got through it and then went straight out on the mother of all benders. 2 days later went to A&E and like above, nothing they could do. Glad I waited for 2 hours for someone to tell me that and give me a little leaflet on it. What happened to triage?

[skinnydipper]

Like you I went to hospital, waited a couple of hours before being told to go home as they couldn't do anything. Didn't get a decent nights sleep for several weeks due to pain when turning over. My wife thought I had a severe case of hypochondria.