Seperated Ribs. Anyone had them...........

genomachino

genomachino

AzB Silver Member
Silver Member
Hi there AZ Members,

As usual I am coming here for help. When someone gets injured on here it seems there is usually a bunch of players on here that have experienced the same thing.

I got kind of squished by my motorhome about 2 weeks ago. I thought for sure I was going to die for the first hour or so or at least until they shot me up with some kind of drug.

There was some internal bleeding but limited.

After I ran out of percocet the first 6 days I thought i could go without the meds. I have but it has been almost unbearable pain at times and is just very painful all the time. When I try to lay down the first 5 minutes are horrible with pain. Can't roll over at all and need to stay on my back. Sleeping on my side is totally out of the question. Getting up is another horror story. I have to roll to one side even though I know it is going to be almost unbearable and then push myself up which is still very painful.

I'm not complaining but I'm looking for someone that has had the same thing happen to them somewhere. Not with a motorhome but just got their ribs seperated somehow, someway.

I know there has to be a best way to take care of these. So far I've used lots of ice. Today I bought a wrap and that seems to help.

Looking for some expert advice from someone that knows and can tell me a few things that might speed the recovery. All I was told so far is it will be a long time. I'd like to make long a little shorter if possible.

Need to get playing as soon as possible. right now it isn't even a thought.

Please share any info you might own from your own experience with the same type of injury.

Thanks in advance, geno.............
 
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Not to be a buzz-kill or anything, and I've never suffered that sort of injury but I've had a couple really bad ones, mainly a completely crushed and impaled ankle/foot from a motorcycle accident...

Nothing really seemed to work for the pain except some good ol' high strength pain killers.. the problem is that those are typically opiates and are highly addictive, and taking too much of them can make you "dope-sick" - Think heroin withdrawal...

My point is, in the end the only thing I could really suggest is to try to focus on other things, like watch a movie or anything really that you can get lost in... video-games are good for this. And try not to take too many pain-killers... it sucks, but being in pain is much better than being in opiate withdrawal and/or dopesick - AND in pain.

After the first month or so I settled on toughing it out as much as possible, only taking a painkiller when I absolutely had to or when I was going to bed... but definitely take them when going to bed: you need a good nights sleep, it will help you heal much faster and you'll just feel that much better...

If you've been popping percocets all day then when you really need them at night they aren't going to be very effective because of the tolerance... so you'll take more, then you'll get sick... vicious cycle, trust me.


Sorry man... looks like you basically got to tough it out on this one.
 
I know someone who got into a motorcycle accident describing what you're going through, and he went to my chiropractor and felt infinitely better. Try going to a good chiropractor yet? Mine tried to explain to me what he did... something about realigning the ribs and I dont even know.. I'll just stop right here. But it might help.
 
Geno, I am currently having the same problems. I have broken ribs before and know what its like and so I knew what I was in for this time too.

I know turning in the night feels like you are being hit with a steel pipe. I sneezed the other day and almost started crying. Something as simple as sitting down or getting up isn't much fun.

I know what you are going through brother and you may have another coupleof week of it still to come. Me too. Get well soon.,
Mark,
 
Hi Geno,

Separated/bruised/strained ribes hurt alot. To give you an idea, a buddy of mine grabbed me from behind in a bear hug (big Samoan), and sqeezed so hard that I could not move or breath (I'm sure your motorhome was stronger). He strained my rib cage so that I could not sit up under my own power for a couple of weeks. I could find nothing to help speed up recovery, other than just time. I think that despite the pain, you will recover without lingering effects. I was told by a doctor that a strain can be as painful, or more so, than a break.

Sorry I can't offer anymore advice. Good luck in your recovery.

Doug
 
No meds now........

Jasen said:
Not to be a buzz-kill or anything, and I've never suffered that sort of injury but I've had a couple really bad ones, mainly a completely crushed and impaled ankle/foot from a motorcycle accident...

Nothing really seemed to work for the pain except some good ol' high strength pain killers.. the problem is that those are typically opiates and are highly addictive, and taking too much of them can make you "dope-sick" - Think heroin withdrawal...

My point is, in the end the only thing I could really suggest is to try to focus on other things, like watch a movie or anything really that you can get lost in... video-games are good for this. And try not to take too many pain-killers... it sucks, but being in pain is much better than being in opiate withdrawal and/or dopesick - AND in pain.

After the first month or so I settled on toughing it out as much as possible, only taking a painkiller when I absolutely had to or when I was going to bed... but definitely take them when going to bed: you need a good nights sleep, it will help you heal much faster and you'll just feel that much better...

If you've been popping percocets all day then when you really need them at night they aren't going to be very effective because of the tolerance... so you'll take more, then you'll get sick... vicious cycle, trust me.


Sorry man... looks like you basically got to tough it out on this one.
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I know your right about the meds. I even hate to take them at night but I think your right about the good nights sleep. The problem for me if I got the meds on hand it's hard not to take them all day to stop the pain.

I'm not a big fan of pain meds. My skin broke out alot just from the 5 or 6 days I absolutely had to take them.

Thanks. I think I will get some more for the sleep part.

As far as keeping my mind on other things that does really help. I started a thread to teach my aiming on the forum. For that 15 minutes to 1/2 hour that I'm talking aiming I almost forget the pain. When I'm done reality sets back in and all the hurts, hurt again.

Thanks again.........
 
Thanks, I really feel your pain..........

bfdlad said:
Geno, I am currently having the same problems. I have broken ribs before and know what its like and so I knew what I was in for this time too.

I know turning in the night feels like you are being hit with a steel pipe. I sneezed the other day and almost started crying. Something as simple as sitting down or getting up isn't much fun.

I know what you are going through brother and you may have another coupleof week of it still to come. Me too. Get well soon.,
Mark,
Click to expand...

Thanks Mark,

Being an expert on the matter having gone through it once already what do you do to stop the pain. I mean just to be able to just sit still and not hurt. ?

Wow. I think if i caught a cold and had to sneeze , that would be brutal. I did sneeze once. it felt like it ripped my whole side off.
 
Good advice....

cubc said:
I know someone who got into a motorcycle accident describing what you're going through, and he went to my chiropractor and felt infinitely better. Try going to a good chiropractor yet? Mine tried to explain to me what he did... something about realigning the ribs and I dont even know.. I'll just stop right here. But it might help.
Click to expand...

I found out that there are 2 ribs on each side that are connected to the spine. I had one of them goof up about 7 days after the accident. That along with the other was just rediculous.

I went back to the emergency room. They gave me 6 more pills and game me the name of a local doctor. I couldn't even get out of bed to get there.

I went to a massage person and they massaged the muscle around the ribs on the back and the next day I could feel the relief. In fact I could feel some relief right away.

I don'e have a regular chiro here in Appleton but every time I straighten up my back cracks from top to bottom it seems.

Chiro will be a must soon for sure.

Thanks......
 
Ribs

I crashed a dirtbike pretty good one time and had this happen to me. For about 5months I got use to rolling out of bed and taking very short breaths at all times. It was miserable. They did not heal one bit during this time. One day a buddy snuck up behind me and gave me a bear hug. It caused an audible pop. I thought I was going to die. All I could do was lay there gasping for breath...fantasizing about killing him. I'm glad I didn't. My ribs started feeling better after a couple days and were 100% within three weeks. I don't know what happened but the bear hug fixed it.
 
1.) Rest.

2.) Put an ice pack over the injured rib for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days or until the pain goes away.

3.) Take an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, bromelain) or other pain medicine.

Other things that help:

High Volt Electrostimulation, this increases the bodys' repairative process and decreases pain.

Ultra Sound, this increases circulation to the area and increases healing and also decreases pain.

Wear a rib belt, which your health care provider may suggest for very painful injuries. The belt works as a girdle for your chest and helps support your ribs. It limits movement of your ribs when you cough, breathe, or move your body in other ways. This helps decrease pain. If you wear a rib belt, your doctor will give you breathing exercises to help you avoid lung complications.
 
that's it exactly...........

Neil said:
About 7 years ago I was going up into an attic to insulate it and found out that some idiot had put black plastic on the walkway before insulating it with blown insulation the first time.

Needless to say, my feet went right out from under me and I went through the ceiling. What stopped me from going all the way down was I immediately stretched out my arms to catch the joists, but I landed on my ribs. I didn't break any ribs, but they said I separated the muscles between the rib bones. Felt like a knife constantly plunging into my ribs.

I was actually able to manipulate where the muscle sat with my fingers. It kept wanting to poke out, so I would push it back in place. As soon as it was in place, all pain would stop immediately. However, the times the muscle would go inward, there was nothing I could do about it. Pain like I never want to feel again!

It took about 6 weeks to "heal", but it never healed as good as new. At times, I still have problems with it, and have to shove it back in place.

I really feel for you, good luck!
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That's what i feel like except I can't feel any muscle, Just ribs. My right side is terrible and the left side is horrible. i don't know hardly which one is worse. I got squished laying on my side so i got it on both side.

They feel like they overlap and grind and snap on each other with certain movements.

It sounds like you know for sure though what it feels like. It's a game changer for sure though.

Did you use alot of ice? Did you wrap it up?

Thanks Geno
 
genomachino said:
Thanks Mark,

Being an expert on the matter having gone through it once already what do you do to stop the pain. I mean just to be able to just sit still and not hurt. ?

Wow. I think if i caught a cold and had to sneeze , that would be brutal. I did sneeze once. it felt like it ripped my whole side off.
Click to expand...
Geno, we are totally F%&ked. There is nothing other than pain pills. I tried that but I will not be taking them anymore. I have too many other habbits like drinking and don't need another addiction. I did take some codine and a beer, I tell ya something. I had NO right to feel as good as I did after that I said no more pills.

There is nothing that can be done but just wait man unless you can put a tight elastic bandage around your mid section. It kinda keeps you together a little.

I have done this now 4 times all from being stupid and I think that once you break your ribs theynever heal back as solid as they were because its alwaus the same side. The yare just weaker from now on. Be carefull even when youthink you are healed.
 
Where can i find your friend?

CamposCues said:
I crashed a dirtbike pretty good one time and had this happen to me. For about 5months I got use to rolling out of bed and taking very short breaths at all times. It was miserable. They did not heal one bit during this time. One day a buddy snuck up behind me and gave me a bear hug. It caused an audible pop. I thought I was going to die. All I could do was lay there gasping for breath...fantasizing about killing him. I'm glad I didn't. My ribs started feeling better after a couple days and were 100% within three weeks. I don't know what happened but the bear hug fixed it.
Click to expand...

Just kidding. I think I need a few days before I would want a bear hug.

Thanks geno..........
 
great advice............

bfdlad said:
Geno, we are totally F%&ked. There is nothing other than pain pills. I tried that but I will not be taking them anymore. I have too many other habbits like drinking and don't need another addiction. I did take some codine and a beer, I tell ya something. I had NO right to feel as good as I did after that I said no more pills.



There is nothing that can be done but just wait man unless you can put a tight elastic bandage around your mid section. It kinda keeps you together a little.

I have done this now 4 times all from being stupid and I think that once you break your ribs theynever heal back as solid as they were because its alwaus the same side. The yare just weaker from now on. Be carefull even when youthink you are healed.
Click to expand...

Careful is something i will be from now one for sure...............

Thanks geno...........
 
Sounds like you know exactly what you are talking about.

Secaucus Fats said:
1.) Rest.

2.) Put an ice pack over the injured rib for 20 to 30 minutes every 3 to 4 hours for 2 to 3 days or until the pain goes away.

3.) Take an anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen, bromelain) or other pain medicine.

Other things that help:

High Volt Electrostimulation, this increases the bodys' repairative process and decreases pain.

Ultra Sound, this increases circulation to the area and increases healing and also decreases pain.

Wear a rib belt, which your health care provider may suggest for very painful injuries. The belt works as a girdle for your chest and helps support your ribs. It limits movement of your ribs when you cough, breathe, or move your body in other ways. This helps decrease pain. If you wear a rib belt, your doctor will give you breathing exercises to help you avoid lung complications.
Click to expand...

I have one of those little breathing things. i can get the little air float almost to where I need to be.

You sound very knowledgeable. Nurse or doctor? Thanks for the great advice.......
 
in january i had a fall that pretty much broke all my ribs on the right side which also punctured my lung a few days later. i know the pain.
my treating phys would not use any kind of wrap as limiting the movement tends to promote pneumonia. i was told rest and pain management... then the lung colapsed and back to the hosp for 10 days with the chest tube.
the intercostal nerves that run between your ribs are very sensitve. im still not a 100% but rest pain management while its severe, and icing helped.
the docs were adamant about me needing to contantly use an inspirometer to promote deep breathing while healing too.

glad you survived that serious oh shitt moment
talk to your doc
feel better
 
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