Secaucus Fats
Banned
You're welcome. No I'm not a health care pro, but I have had broken and / or separated ribs a few times!
Seperated Ribs. Anyone had them...........
- Thread starter genomachino
- Start date
You're welcome. No I'm not a health care pro, but I have had broken and / or separated ribs a few times!
Over the years I have done all sorts of things to myself.... Strains and Sprains are one thing but cracked/separated ribs are the worst....
I had several cracked/separated ribs about 4 years ago and it was the pits getting over it... The only relief I could find for the first week was thru the use of pain meds and a wrap.... The wrap made it possible for me to actually get up and around if somewhat gingerly....
The problem caused by the wrap almost ended up negating the benefits and I started to develop pleurisy... Having to cough with busted ribs was murder but a couple of breathing treatments corrected it because I had went straight to the DR when I noticed congestion starting....
After the first week I started using DMSO which I had learned of from my grandfather 30 years ago.... It is somewhat controversial because none of the drug companies can own it and it's almost free because it is a byproduct of the paper industry........ It is available at most COOPs and is great for any injury where there is inflammation... I have used it on knees, shoulders, ankles and it worked wonders on the ribs after about 3 days.... My grandfather used it for arthritis and soaked his hands in it each morning...
The only side effect I have ever seen is a skin irritation... But that can be eliminated by multiple applications and immediate irrigation... The skin will only allow so much to pass the membrane at a time so leaving it on the skin doesn't speed up the process.... Treat the area and immediately rinse with clean cold water and repeat 3-4 times... Granddad would dip his hands into a saucer of DMSO for a few seconds and then immediately rinse them. He would do this several times.. I doubt he could have ran the restaurant into his 70s without it.......
Most COOPs will carry it in a liquid, gel or a roll on.... Always apply to clean skin... Only use clean applicators or hands if using the gel or liquid.. It will carry anything on the hands thru the skin so if you were a smoker you could carry nicotine to the injured area if your hands are not washed....
from WIKI
Medicine
Use of DMSO in medicine dates from around 1963, when an Oregon Health & Science University Medical School team, headed by Stanley Jacob, discovered it could penetrate the skin and other membranes without damaging them and could carry other compounds into a biological system. In medicine, DMSO is predominantly used as a topical analgesic, a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals, as an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant.[12] Because DMSO increases the rate of absorption of some compounds through organic tissues, including skin, it can be used as a drug delivery system. It is frequently compounded with antifungal medications, enabling them to penetrate not just skin but also toe and fingernails.
In cryobiology DMSO has been used as a cryoprotectant and is still an important constituent of cryoprotectant vitrification mixtures used to preserve organs, tissues, and cell suspensions. Without it, up to 90% of frozen cells will become inactive. It is particularly important in the freezing and long-term storage of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, which are often frozen in a mixture of 10% DMSO, Media and 30% fetal bovine serum. In the cryogenic freezing of heteroploid cell lines (MDCK, VERO, etc.) a mixture of 10% DMSO with 90% EMEM (70% EMEM + 30% fetal bovine serum + antibiotic mixture) is used. As part of an autologous bone marrow transplant the DMSO is re-infused along with the patient's own hematopoietic stem cells.
In a 1978 study at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, researchers concluded that DMSO brought significant relief to the majority of the 213 patients with inflammatory genitourinary disorders that were studied.[13] They recommended DMSO for all inflammatory conditions not caused by infection or tumor in which symptoms were severe or patients failed to respond to conventional therapy.
DMSO has been examined for the treatment of numerous conditions and ailments, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved its use for the symptomatic relief of patients with interstitial cystitis.
Animal studies have indicated that treatment with DMSO within one hour of spinal cord injury can prevent total paralysis.
I had several cracked/separated ribs about 4 years ago and it was the pits getting over it... The only relief I could find for the first week was thru the use of pain meds and a wrap.... The wrap made it possible for me to actually get up and around if somewhat gingerly....
The problem caused by the wrap almost ended up negating the benefits and I started to develop pleurisy... Having to cough with busted ribs was murder but a couple of breathing treatments corrected it because I had went straight to the DR when I noticed congestion starting....
After the first week I started using DMSO which I had learned of from my grandfather 30 years ago.... It is somewhat controversial because none of the drug companies can own it and it's almost free because it is a byproduct of the paper industry........ It is available at most COOPs and is great for any injury where there is inflammation... I have used it on knees, shoulders, ankles and it worked wonders on the ribs after about 3 days.... My grandfather used it for arthritis and soaked his hands in it each morning...
The only side effect I have ever seen is a skin irritation... But that can be eliminated by multiple applications and immediate irrigation... The skin will only allow so much to pass the membrane at a time so leaving it on the skin doesn't speed up the process.... Treat the area and immediately rinse with clean cold water and repeat 3-4 times... Granddad would dip his hands into a saucer of DMSO for a few seconds and then immediately rinse them. He would do this several times.. I doubt he could have ran the restaurant into his 70s without it.......
Most COOPs will carry it in a liquid, gel or a roll on.... Always apply to clean skin... Only use clean applicators or hands if using the gel or liquid.. It will carry anything on the hands thru the skin so if you were a smoker you could carry nicotine to the injured area if your hands are not washed....
from WIKI
Medicine
Use of DMSO in medicine dates from around 1963, when an Oregon Health & Science University Medical School team, headed by Stanley Jacob, discovered it could penetrate the skin and other membranes without damaging them and could carry other compounds into a biological system. In medicine, DMSO is predominantly used as a topical analgesic, a vehicle for topical application of pharmaceuticals, as an anti-inflammatory, and an antioxidant.[12] Because DMSO increases the rate of absorption of some compounds through organic tissues, including skin, it can be used as a drug delivery system. It is frequently compounded with antifungal medications, enabling them to penetrate not just skin but also toe and fingernails.
In cryobiology DMSO has been used as a cryoprotectant and is still an important constituent of cryoprotectant vitrification mixtures used to preserve organs, tissues, and cell suspensions. Without it, up to 90% of frozen cells will become inactive. It is particularly important in the freezing and long-term storage of embryonic stem cells and hematopoietic stem cells, which are often frozen in a mixture of 10% DMSO, Media and 30% fetal bovine serum. In the cryogenic freezing of heteroploid cell lines (MDCK, VERO, etc.) a mixture of 10% DMSO with 90% EMEM (70% EMEM + 30% fetal bovine serum + antibiotic mixture) is used. As part of an autologous bone marrow transplant the DMSO is re-infused along with the patient's own hematopoietic stem cells.
In a 1978 study at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio, researchers concluded that DMSO brought significant relief to the majority of the 213 patients with inflammatory genitourinary disorders that were studied.[13] They recommended DMSO for all inflammatory conditions not caused by infection or tumor in which symptoms were severe or patients failed to respond to conventional therapy.
DMSO has been examined for the treatment of numerous conditions and ailments, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has only approved its use for the symptomatic relief of patients with interstitial cystitis.
Animal studies have indicated that treatment with DMSO within one hour of spinal cord injury can prevent total paralysis.
After years and years of no longer being on the back of a bull, I reflect back on the era that I was always riding and recall all the near misses but I also recall all the hits too.
Dislocations, major bruises, major sprains, cracks, etc.
I've had the separated ribs and cracked ribs. I know all too well that pain. I don't wish for it any longer.
For whatever it's worth Geno, I feel your pain and the frustration of not being able to get comfortable. Afraid to laugh. Afraid to cough.
All the docs did back then was just wrap 'em up and if (I'll stress IF) they felt up to it, they might give me a little something to take the edge off the pain off but for the most part they said there really wasn't much more that could be done. Just to rest and get more rest.
All I can do from here is just wish you a speedy recovery and leave you with an old rodeo philosophy that was drummed into my head many, many years ago. Rodeo pain is just weakness leaving the body. You can eliminate the word rodeo in your situation but the rest of the philosphy still holds some merit. Albeit, it is still a smart @$$ philosophy to this day but worth a little chuckle too as well but just how much stronger you will be when you are restored.
Ice and Ibuprofen.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery.
Dislocations, major bruises, major sprains, cracks, etc.
I've had the separated ribs and cracked ribs. I know all too well that pain. I don't wish for it any longer.
For whatever it's worth Geno, I feel your pain and the frustration of not being able to get comfortable. Afraid to laugh. Afraid to cough.
All the docs did back then was just wrap 'em up and if (I'll stress IF) they felt up to it, they might give me a little something to take the edge off the pain off but for the most part they said there really wasn't much more that could be done. Just to rest and get more rest.
All I can do from here is just wish you a speedy recovery and leave you with an old rodeo philosophy that was drummed into my head many, many years ago. Rodeo pain is just weakness leaving the body. You can eliminate the word rodeo in your situation but the rest of the philosphy still holds some merit. Albeit, it is still a smart @$$ philosophy to this day but worth a little chuckle too as well but just how much stronger you will be when you are restored.
Ice and Ibuprofen.
Wishing you a very speedy recovery.
It is a common injury with plenty of case history. Happens in auto accidents all the time. From what research I have done it can take up to 3 months to heal even more the a broke or fractured rib. What has your doctor said? I can't tell from your post if you have really been checked out. You have to also be afraid of infection.
You could wake up with a mild fever and in 24 hours be in intensive care with a raging infection or phenomena. I would be sure to see a doctor you trust not necessarily a goofball in an emergence room.
We just had a friend scheduled for a surgery after an emergency doctor misdiagnosed a simple bladder infection as a tumor in an ovary.
Don't screw around with this get correct treatment. You may need no treatment just rest but you want to know for sure.
Sounds like you might need to find a way to get to professional help before you get real bad off.
In general, separating a rib means that you separated the rib from the chostochondral junction (cartilidge) that attaches to your sternum. This is a very painful injury, and unfortunately one in which you really can't change the healing time much. Pain will generally occur with any pressure to the area, and any deep breathing. I am sure you have found out that sneezing and coughing are very unpleasant also. The best thing you can do is wrap the area so your rib cage does not expand too much with breathing. That should help some, but the reality of the injury is that it is very painful. While it will get progressively better, it generally takes 2 to 3 months to heal which is actually longer than if you had fractured them.
If you simply had a rib that was not gliding correctly, a manipulation of the rib could help, however, if you truely separated the ribs, it would be very painful and ill advised.
I wish there was more that you could do, but the best thing you can do is wrap the area, sleep with pillows to avoid rolling on it, and possibly even sleep in a recliner. Iceing can help with pain relief as can the meds you were given. Besides that, it is just going to take time, so hang in there, and know that it will eventually get better.
I didn't see this post before posting.
As I said in my first post, separated ribs occur when the rib separates from the chostocartilidge that connects to your sternum in the front of your chest. In the above post, you talk about rib connections to your spine, which would of course be in the back, and not actually a rib separation. Do you have both, or just the injury in the back? If you only have the injury in the back, then a good eveluation by an appropriate health care professional and either rib mobilizations or a manipulation may be of significant benefit. A true rib separation, however, should not be manipulated.
E-stim and ultrasound may also be of benefit as suggested earlier if the injury is only to the back area, although ultrasound shouldn't be done too close to the spine. If it is a chostochondral separation though, neither will likely be of any benefit.
I like this advice
I strongly recommend against DMSO. If you do use it be sure to get the medical grade. It is five times or so more expensive than the solvent but a little safer. I used DMSO on me and horses years ago. Decided it was too dangerous to use on either one.
My doctor told me not to sweat getting addicted to pain pills if I only took them when I needed them. Seems to be right. I was once a believer in toughing things out. I didn't take any pain med's after they cut one arm three-quarter off at the shoulder because I was told it would heal faster without pain medication. Bad advice and silly to suffer more than we have to.
Getting to the specifics of your injury, soft tissue damage can be more painful and take longer to heal than fractures. Tincture of time is the only thing that is going to work. I would look into supplements, some might speed things a little. I take Glucosomine Chondrotin(SP?) and MSM. Takes awhile to get results but I really notice about a month after I quit taking the supplements things head south.
Heat eases pain far better than ice and helps flush dead cells and garbage out of the area. It also promotes swelling. Ice reduces swelling, seems to usually increase pain for me, I hate ice. If you have the patience 45 minutes ice and 15 minutes heat rotated over and over can be helpful.
Wrapping will ease pain and make it easier to move around. The danger of lung complications seems to indicate only wrapping when you need to move around a good bit and using your breathing toy a lot to be sure your lungs are doing OK.
Anti-inflametories are helpful. Hard to beat large doses of plain aspirin if you can take it. Ibuprofen is my tool of choice these days but I have to take it long term, aspirin is a little rougher on your gizzard long term supposedly.
Wouldn't hurt to have some follow-up X-rays or other pictures taken. Sometimes things are missed in the emergency room or things happen to be laying in place.
The best advice is that which none of us takes, give things some time and have a little patience. Soft tissue heals slow and the more you disturb it while it is trying to heal the more of a mess you make, scar tissue and such, that you will have to deal with the rest of your life. Soft tissue injury, three to six months to be 90-95% if you are lucky, a year or two to reach optimum recovery. Speaking from first hand experience, keep aggravating a soft tissue injury and it can take years if it ever heals.
The doctors, therapists, chiropracters, on and on, failed with me. After they had all had their fun and given up I took over. Were it a horse in the shape I was in I would have sold it for soap or put it out to pasture for six months not doing a thing and then start back slow. The soap factory wasn't interested and I wasn't crazy about that idea anyway so I tried plan "B". I didn't do a thing more than I absolutely had to for six months and then started back very slowly. Worked out just fine and I was back workng for a living in less than a year and in three years or so was about as fit as I have ever been in my life.
Hu
I strongly recommend against DMSO. If you do use it be sure to get the medical grade. It is five times or so more expensive than the solvent but a little safer. I used DMSO on me and horses years ago. Decided it was too dangerous to use on either one.
My doctor told me not to sweat getting addicted to pain pills if I only took them when I needed them. Seems to be right. I was once a believer in toughing things out. I didn't take any pain med's after they cut one arm three-quarter off at the shoulder because I was told it would heal faster without pain medication. Bad advice and silly to suffer more than we have to.
Getting to the specifics of your injury, soft tissue damage can be more painful and take longer to heal than fractures. Tincture of time is the only thing that is going to work. I would look into supplements, some might speed things a little. I take Glucosomine Chondrotin(SP?) and MSM. Takes awhile to get results but I really notice about a month after I quit taking the supplements things head south.
Heat eases pain far better than ice and helps flush dead cells and garbage out of the area. It also promotes swelling. Ice reduces swelling, seems to usually increase pain for me, I hate ice. If you have the patience 45 minutes ice and 15 minutes heat rotated over and over can be helpful.
Wrapping will ease pain and make it easier to move around. The danger of lung complications seems to indicate only wrapping when you need to move around a good bit and using your breathing toy a lot to be sure your lungs are doing OK.
Anti-inflametories are helpful. Hard to beat large doses of plain aspirin if you can take it. Ibuprofen is my tool of choice these days but I have to take it long term, aspirin is a little rougher on your gizzard long term supposedly.
Wouldn't hurt to have some follow-up X-rays or other pictures taken. Sometimes things are missed in the emergency room or things happen to be laying in place.
The best advice is that which none of us takes, give things some time and have a little patience. Soft tissue heals slow and the more you disturb it while it is trying to heal the more of a mess you make, scar tissue and such, that you will have to deal with the rest of your life. Soft tissue injury, three to six months to be 90-95% if you are lucky, a year or two to reach optimum recovery. Speaking from first hand experience, keep aggravating a soft tissue injury and it can take years if it ever heals.
The doctors, therapists, chiropracters, on and on, failed with me. After they had all had their fun and given up I took over. Were it a horse in the shape I was in I would have sold it for soap or put it out to pasture for six months not doing a thing and then start back slow. The soap factory wasn't interested and I wasn't crazy about that idea anyway so I tried plan "B". I didn't do a thing more than I absolutely had to for six months and then started back very slowly. Worked out just fine and I was back workng for a living in less than a year and in three years or so was about as fit as I have ever been in my life.
Hu
I've had them all many times. Broken, seperated, bruised and they heal slower as you get older. A broken rib will heal in three weeks if you're under thirty. It'll take twice that long as you get older.
I've had several chiropractors put my ribs back in place. Not a big deal. Hurts for a week or so after. Use ibuprofen for the inflammation and pain. Lots of water and lots of pills.
You're gonna hurt them whenever you move, cough, laugh, sneeze, fart and breathe, so expect it. The worst thing you can do is not move at all though, because your muscles will really tighten up. And when you do move you will have a lot more pain. Too much activity can hurt, too. :grin:
An extreme problem you may encounter is if you don't breath deeply for a month or so because of the pain is bronchitis. A lot of people take shallow breaths for so long their lungs get irritated. That's what the doc told me.
Best,
Mike
I've had several chiropractors put my ribs back in place. Not a big deal. Hurts for a week or so after. Use ibuprofen for the inflammation and pain. Lots of water and lots of pills.
You're gonna hurt them whenever you move, cough, laugh, sneeze, fart and breathe, so expect it. The worst thing you can do is not move at all though, because your muscles will really tighten up. And when you do move you will have a lot more pain. Too much activity can hurt, too. :grin:
An extreme problem you may encounter is if you don't breath deeply for a month or so because of the pain is bronchitis. A lot of people take shallow breaths for so long their lungs get irritated. That's what the doc told me.
Best,
Mike
Got into a fight one night with a big farmer who was also a brown belt.
Minus one tooth, a cut beside my right eye and perfect knuckle prints on my rib cage. Stupidity was bigger than common sense so I went for it. My mistake.
There was a time when Dr.s would tape your ribs to minimize movement but
not any more. The smallest cough would bring me to my knees holding my ribs.
I think nothing else works except time Gene. Altho, like the poster said, if a
chiropractor helps, give it a try.
Minus one tooth, a cut beside my right eye and perfect knuckle prints on my rib cage. Stupidity was bigger than common sense so I went for it. My mistake.
There was a time when Dr.s would tape your ribs to minimize movement but
not any more. The smallest cough would bring me to my knees holding my ribs.
I think nothing else works except time Gene. Altho, like the poster said, if a
chiropractor helps, give it a try.
Ribs
Geno,
I wish you a speedy recovery.
I've had three collapsed lungs, all were spontaneous. Two of which required major surgery and involved separating ribs.
The last one happened nearly 7 years ago now and have only recently stopped feeling the affects of the surgery.
One thing I wish I would have done differently would have been to do some sort of physical therapy. My doctors didn't really mention it and I didn't realize but I think not being as active as I could have prolonged my recovery.
Whether you are in an out-patient therapy program or you are doing certain exercises regularly at home, physical activity is a good thing.
As long as you don't over do it. Finding a balance might be a challenge.
(Caveat) I'm not a doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt.
I have no great advice to give or no magic pill but have felt the pain you're having right now and sympathize. It will eventually get better
Each day or week that goes by you will start to feel better.
Soon you'll be up and around. Then you'll start to shoot some.
Next thing you know, you'll be back in the tournaments...taking the money home!
Best,
Rick
Geno,
I wish you a speedy recovery.
I've had three collapsed lungs, all were spontaneous. Two of which required major surgery and involved separating ribs.
The last one happened nearly 7 years ago now and have only recently stopped feeling the affects of the surgery.
One thing I wish I would have done differently would have been to do some sort of physical therapy. My doctors didn't really mention it and I didn't realize but I think not being as active as I could have prolonged my recovery.
Whether you are in an out-patient therapy program or you are doing certain exercises regularly at home, physical activity is a good thing.
As long as you don't over do it. Finding a balance might be a challenge.
(Caveat) I'm not a doctor so take my advice with a grain of salt.
I have no great advice to give or no magic pill but have felt the pain you're having right now and sympathize. It will eventually get better
Each day or week that goes by you will start to feel better.
Soon you'll be up and around. Then you'll start to shoot some.
Next thing you know, you'll be back in the tournaments...taking the money home!
Best,
Rick
This is excellent advice. I have had a similar situation and this is almost exactly what was done for me and it worked. My recovery time wasn't too bad. Within a few weeks I was back to where I could play pool for a hour or two at a time.
Great answer Secaucus Fats!
Geno, I hope you get better soon. Sorry to hear about your accident.
Rest is Best
Hey Geno-
I broke a rib and pulled a few tendons in a bike accident a couple years ago. Not nearly as bad as your experience, but I couldn't play for several months, and then only a little for a few more. I used pain killers only briefly at first. I generally don't like them. I rely on ointments like "Arniflora" from Boericke & Tafel *(can be found at some health food stores) and simple Aloe Vera Gel. Eating healthy foods helps a lot, - raw veggies, especially greens, and perhaps Vit D and calcium/magnesium supplements. A little sunlight and as much fresh air as possible. I sleep on a memory foam mattress which always helps with any injury. Having said all this, REST is still #1. These things take time; don't try to rush things.
*They make a number of good products.
Hey Geno-
I broke a rib and pulled a few tendons in a bike accident a couple years ago. Not nearly as bad as your experience, but I couldn't play for several months, and then only a little for a few more. I used pain killers only briefly at first. I generally don't like them. I rely on ointments like "Arniflora" from Boericke & Tafel *(can be found at some health food stores) and simple Aloe Vera Gel. Eating healthy foods helps a lot, - raw veggies, especially greens, and perhaps Vit D and calcium/magnesium supplements. A little sunlight and as much fresh air as possible. I sleep on a memory foam mattress which always helps with any injury. Having said all this, REST is still #1. These things take time; don't try to rush things.
*They make a number of good products.
mr ed5484r
Registered
Geno,
Sorry to hear about your accident but asking for medical advice on a pool forum is like asking your Sunday school class for advice on matching up with Efren....or asking your doctor about BHE or PSR. LOL
Sorry to hear about your accident but asking for medical advice on a pool forum is like asking your Sunday school class for advice on matching up with Efren....or asking your doctor about BHE or PSR. LOL
Got some good advice for sure.............
I'll tell you what Ed,
the advice I got on here is spot on. I've talked to doctors about this but I know for a fact if you want to rob a bank talk to someone that robbed one and got away with it.
If your diabetic I've found that you need to talk to people that are diabetic and are successfully taking care of it. I messed around talking to people that are taught to help people with diabetes but where I found out the best info is from people that are diabetic.
These guys on the forum are great with the help. We have alot of wounded warriors in this pool world. If you want to find out about every way to take care of something that is busted or broke ask on the forum. You do get some pretty good info.
I just hope that some of these players that are helping me here will take advantage of my free offer to learn Perfect Aim with just a phone call.
I'd like to give a little bit back.
Thanks everyone geno.................
I'll tell you what Ed,
the advice I got on here is spot on. I've talked to doctors about this but I know for a fact if you want to rob a bank talk to someone that robbed one and got away with it.
If your diabetic I've found that you need to talk to people that are diabetic and are successfully taking care of it. I messed around talking to people that are taught to help people with diabetes but where I found out the best info is from people that are diabetic.
These guys on the forum are great with the help. We have alot of wounded warriors in this pool world. If you want to find out about every way to take care of something that is busted or broke ask on the forum. You do get some pretty good info.
I just hope that some of these players that are helping me here will take advantage of my free offer to learn Perfect Aim with just a phone call.
I'd like to give a little bit back.
Thanks everyone geno.................
