bruised ribs

Roger Cortesi said:

So biking home from work the other day I went over the handle bars. Had
I been Jackie Chan, I would have landed on my feet and continued across
the intersection, winning many cool points from the traffic stopped at
the light.

However, I am not Jackie Chan... so a scraped elbow, jammed toe, and a
bruise rib later. Toe and elbow are fine, ribs still ache 4 days later.

Biking is fine, running makes it ache more, and I haven't tried swimming
yet.

Any thoughts on how long this lasts (the Timberman is in 3 weeks)? Does
stretching help? Advil?

At least while running the pain seems to be independent of speed, which
it actually incentive to go faster. It is just distracting.

The irony is that a summer of mountain bike racing with no injuries, and
on the 0.8 of a mile ride home the reflector on the rear wheel of the
bike turned sideways to jam the back wheel right as I was going off the
curb to throw me.

Moral: watch for falling pianos ;-)

It depends on the extent of the bruising, mine lasted 6 weeks and then
dissapeared literally over night. I continued to bike through the pain,
but could not 'honk' out of the saddle. Running was off my agenda until
4 weeks after my accident.

--

Mark
_____________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Make sure you dont have a cracked rib. Does it hurt to breathe? Is the
pain localized? Maybe see a doctor for an X-ray before you get too crazy.

But having said that I didnt follow my own advice. Got thumped playing
basketball by some hack, and my ribs were sore for a long time. I think MSA
is right; about 6 weeks. I was wondering when the pain would go away, but
it got progressively less until I didnt notice it anymore.

Good luck!

"MSA" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roger Cortesi said:

So biking home from work the other day I went over the handle bars. Had I
been Jackie Chan, I would have landed on my feet and continued across the
intersection, winning many cool points from the traffic stopped at the
light.

However, I am not Jackie Chan... so a scraped elbow, jammed toe, and a
bruise rib later. Toe and elbow are fine, ribs still ache 4 days later.

Biking is fine, running makes it ache more, and I haven't tried swimming
yet.

Any thoughts on how long this lasts (the Timberman is in 3 weeks)? Does
stretching help? Advil?

At least while running the pain seems to be independent of speed, which
it actually incentive to go faster. It is just distracting.

The irony is that a summer of mountain bike racing with no injuries, and
on the 0.8 of a mile ride home the reflector on the rear wheel of the
bike turned sideways to jam the back wheel right as I was going off the
curb to throw me.

Moral: watch for falling pianos ;-)

It depends on the extent of the bruising, mine lasted 6 weeks and then
dissapeared literally over night. I continued to bike through the pain,
but could not 'honk' out of the saddle. Running was off my agenda until 4
weeks after my accident.

--

Mark
_____________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Rollins said:

Just what the other's said...Ribs take a while to recover. I've
bruised mine more than once and it does take a good 6 to 8 weeks to
lose the pain. I wouldn't suggest a pain killer unless you really need
it. Try wrapping them when you run.

PS. What are the reflectors still doing on your wheels? Time to lose
them for good! 😉

-Michael

No sharp stapping pain, just a dull ache. It does not hurt to breath.

As for the reflector on the bike. The bike is an 8 year old hybrid that
is worth about $15. The great thing about it is that I don't lock it
up, I don't care if it gets rained/snowed on (it lives outside the back
door to take me to work). I feel like the wicked witch of the west
biking to work on it (when it is not trying to kill me).

Yes the reflector has been removed and I have been forbidden from
riding that bike again.

-roger

--
To email me, remove the greeting from my email address.

(for athletes) The Digital Athletic Log http://rogercortesi.com/athleticlog/

(for nerds) The Online Equation Editor http://rogercortesi.com/eqn/

Naw, don't go to the doctor. An x-ray wont fix the rib even if it is broke.
Just take it easy, pay attention to the pain and don't do anything to make
it worse. Movement will get the blood flowing and realign the torn fibers.

Going to a doctors office could expose you to a cold and coughing is
something you don't need. I once broke my collarbone plus seven ribs and
punctured a lung. I did go to the emergency in an ambulance. I received
dozens of x-rays, lots of painful prodding, got a shot of morphine and spent
the night in the hospital. Went home next day for 10 weeks of misery and
many other x-rays. None of which helped my pain nor healed my broken body.
Lots of doctors looking but none did anything to help, just caused a lot of
pain moving me about the x-ray machines. It was a lesson for them but
really nothing for me came out of it.

Happy healing,

ken
"WPD" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Make sure you dont have a cracked rib. Does it hurt to breathe? Is the
pain localized? Maybe see a doctor for an X-ray before you get too crazy.

But having said that I didnt follow my own advice. Got thumped playing
basketball by some hack, and my ribs were sore for a long time. I think
MSA is right; about 6 weeks. I was wondering when the pain would go away,
but it got progressively less until I didnt notice it anymore.

Good luck!

"MSA" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Roger Cortesi said:

So biking home from work the other day I went over the handle bars. Had
I been Jackie Chan, I would have landed on my feet and continued across
the intersection, winning many cool points from the traffic stopped at
the light.

However, I am not Jackie Chan... so a scraped elbow, jammed toe, and a
bruise rib later. Toe and elbow are fine, ribs still ache 4 days later.

Biking is fine, running makes it ache more, and I haven't tried swimming
yet.

Any thoughts on how long this lasts (the Timberman is in 3 weeks)? Does
stretching help? Advil?

At least while running the pain seems to be independent of speed, which
it actually incentive to go faster. It is just distracting.

The irony is that a summer of mountain bike racing with no injuries, and
on the 0.8 of a mile ride home the reflector on the rear wheel of the
bike turned sideways to jam the back wheel right as I was going off the
curb to throw me.

Moral: watch for falling pianos ;-)

It depends on the extent of the bruising, mine lasted 6 weeks and then
dissapeared literally over night. I continued to bike through the pain,
but could not 'honk' out of the saddle. Running was off my agenda until
4 weeks after my accident.

--

Mark
_____________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

Roger Cortesi said:

Rollins said:

Just what the other's said...Ribs take a while to recover. I've
bruised mine more than once and it does take a good 6 to 8 weeks to
lose the pain. I wouldn't suggest a pain killer unless you really need
it. Try wrapping them when you run.

PS. What are the reflectors still doing on your wheels? Time to lose
them for good! 😉

-Michael

No sharp stapping pain, just a dull ache. It does not hurt to breath.

Have bruised/cracked ribs a number of times from various accidents.
Arnica always speeds up the recovery process for me - available in the
UK either as a gel or as little sugar balls. I've also found that
there is sometimes a strain or tear to the diaphragm or intercostal
muscles between the ribs caused by the impact (diaphragm damage sounds
unlikely if your breathing is ok). Magnesium supplements can help with
the healing of these.

Would also suggest keeping training volume fairly low - if there's only
3 weeks left to your race then getting the injury cleared up is going
to be more beneficial than any training you do at this point. Staying
clear of the painkillers will help you not to overdo it.

Personal advice only, have no medical qualifications - just a lot of
experience of crashing into stuff on bikes, skis, motorbikes, etc!

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Naw, don't go to the doctor. An x-ray wont fix the rib even if it is
broke.

Mornin' Ken!

What if a rib is displaced? Wouldn't want it moving around and puncturing
a lung now, would we? Or is the assumption that it can't be displaced or
the pain level would be high enough to send him to the hospital anyway?

I know you've experienced the joy of having a broken rib puncture a lung
(twice actually, right?), and I'm also aware that if it's cracked, all
they'll do is tell him to be careful and maybe wrap it. I was just
curious about the advice that an xray was completely unnecessary.

Tom

You are correct in what you say. I know what you are saying but on three
different incidences I had x-rays. each time confirmed what I already knew,
broken ribs. OK, Now that me and the doc both knew I had broken ribs
nothing was done to help the situation. Just the go home and prop yourself
up for sleeping in a sitting position for the next six weeks. Even when I
had the hole in the lung it was same treatment.. I was told not to fall
down once as one rib was displaced and very close to my aorta. Still it was
just advice and let me tell you, I did not want to fall again. Hell, I
would not have taken a breath if it were not necessary.
I guess it would be prudent to see the doc but not sure what he can do for
you.

Talk about displaced and moving around. Well, on one occasion the doc
wanted to shoot x-rays from various positions. That is a normal procedure.
I refused to allow them to roll me over even though I was near unconscious.
The pain was just way too much. That was when I had seven broken. A few
months later when talking to a Doctor friend back on the mainland and he
looked at my x-rays, he told me that if I had allowed them to roll me over I
likely would have died on the x-ray machine. OK, so you just have to use
your own judgment at times.

Ken

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Naw, don't go to the doctor. An x-ray wont fix the rib even if it is
broke.

Mornin' Ken!

What if a rib is displaced? Wouldn't want it moving around and puncturing
a lung now, would we? Or is the assumption that it can't be displaced or
the pain level would be high enough to send him to the hospital anyway?

I know you've experienced the joy of having a broken rib puncture a lung
(twice actually, right?), and I'm also aware that if it's cracked, all
they'll do is tell him to be careful and maybe wrap it. I was just
curious about the advice that an xray was completely unnecessary.

Tom

IMKen said:

You are correct in what you say. I know what you are saying but on
three different incidences I had x-rays. each time confirmed what I
already knew, broken ribs. OK, Now that me and the doc both knew I
had broken ribs nothing was done to help the situation. Just the go
home and prop yourself up for sleeping in a sitting position for the
next six weeks. Even when I had the hole in the lung it was same
treatment.. I was told not to fall down once as one rib was displaced
and very close to my aorta. Still it was just advice and let me tell
you, I did not want to fall again. Hell, I would not have taken a
breath if it were not necessary.
I guess it would be prudent to see the doc but not sure what he can do for you.

Talk about displaced and moving around. Well, on one occasion the doc
wanted to shoot x-rays from various positions. That is a normal
procedure. I refused to allow them to roll me over even though I was
near unconscious. The pain was just way too much. That was when I had
seven broken. A few months later when talking to a Doctor friend back
on the mainland and he looked at my x-rays, he told me that if I had
allowed them to roll me over I likely would have died on the x-ray
machine. OK, so you just have to use your own judgment at times.

Ken

I shouldn't read posts like that in my current condition.... it hurts to laugh.

(Ken I'm not laughing at your misfortune, but rather the
insanity/absurdity of it)

They don't call them quacks for nothing.

roger

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Talk about displaced and moving around. Well, on one occasion the
doc wanted to shoot x-rays from various positions. That is a normal
procedure. I refused to allow them to roll me over even though I was
near unconscious. The pain was just way too much. That was when I had
seven broken. A few months later when talking to a Doctor friend
back on the mainland and he looked at my x-rays, he told me that if I
had allowed them to roll me over I likely would have died on the x-ray
machine. OK, so you just have to use your own judgment at times.

Yikes! Hadn't heard that part of your adventure. Was this the broken stem
incident?

Hi Tom, No that was the first incident when I was knocked down by the guy
that got his ponytail tangled in my rear derailleur while hammering along at
42 mph. Damn, that hurt. It was that first bounce after having the rear
wheel jerked out from under me that did the damage. The broken stem was
on the new machine exactly 6 months later when I only broke 3 ribs,
punctured my right lung, broke my right collarbone and wrist. Anyway, now I
am symmetrical again and a bit more aero as my shoulders are over an inch
narrower after having both collarbones displaced.

Ken

"Tom Henderson" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Talk about displaced and moving around. Well, on one occasion the
doc wanted to shoot x-rays from various positions. That is a normal
procedure. I refused to allow them to roll me over even though I was
near unconscious. The pain was just way too much. That was when I had
seven broken. A few months later when talking to a Doctor friend
back on the mainland and he looked at my x-rays, he told me that if I
had allowed them to roll me over I likely would have died on the x-ray
machine. OK, so you just have to use your own judgment at times.

Yikes! Hadn't heard that part of your adventure. Was this the broken stem
incident?

A very long time ago I did a real dumb thing. I lived on Guam and was just
out to do a little one mile run after a 400 yard swim the evening before an
OLY distance Bud Lite Triathlon. I did my swim, hopped out of the water and
after putting on the running shoes began my unnecessary 1 mile run. I felt
a little stiff in the hamstring but there was this bright yellow convenient
fire hydrant along side the road beckoning to me. I stopped the run and
decided to stretch my ham strings so placed my heal on the wet and pointedly
top of the hydrant and bent forward in the traditional form. It had just
started raining moments before and my heal slipped off the hydrant top. I
went forward in a heartbeat and struck that little protrusion they put on
the top of hydrants square in the middle of my ribs. I heard ribs click and
the pain was immediate but I decided it was just a bruise.

Next morning getting out of bed was absolutely crushing but I staggered and
grimaced along toward the start line telling myself it was just bruised. Oh
that was a painful swim. I sort of glided along to T1 and soon found myself
on the bike wishing I had not stretched the damn hamstring the evening
before. Breathing was next to unbearable but I couldn't let all that
training go to waste so continued on like a good triathlete telling myself
the run would be much better. Well, I lied as it wasn't, it was worse. I
have done lots of triathlons but let me tell you, that finishline was the
most welcome of all. What we wont endure for a little bronze statue.
Yeah, I was first master in and wanted to go home and cry but had to stand
and fake a smile at the awards presentation.

Ken

"Roger Cortesi" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:2005080221071416807%roger2@rogerHELLOcortesicom...

Quoted message said:

IMKen said:

You are correct in what you say. I know what you are saying but on
three different incidences I had x-rays. each time confirmed what I
already knew, broken ribs. OK, Now that me and the doc both knew I had
broken ribs nothing was done to help the situation. Just the go home and
prop yourself up for sleeping in a sitting position for the next six
weeks. Even when I had the hole in the lung it was same treatment.. I
was told not to fall down once as one rib was displaced and very close to
my aorta. Still it was just advice and let me tell you, I did not want
to fall again. Hell, I would not have taken a breath if it were not
necessary.
I guess it would be prudent to see the doc but not sure what he can do
for you.

Talk about displaced and moving around. Well, on one occasion the doc
wanted to shoot x-rays from various positions. That is a normal
procedure. I refused to allow them to roll me over even though I was near
unconscious. The pain was just way too much. That was when I had seven
broken. A few months later when talking to a Doctor friend back on the
mainland and he looked at my x-rays, he told me that if I had allowed
them to roll me over I likely would have died on the x-ray machine. OK,
so you just have to use your own judgment at times.

Ken

I shouldn't read posts like that in my current condition.... it hurts to
laugh.

(Ken I'm not laughing at your misfortune, but rather the
insanity/absurdity of it)

They don't call them quacks for nothing.

roger

Quoted message said:

Hi Tom, No that was the first incident when I was knocked down by the guy
that got his ponytail tangled in my rear derailleur while hammering along at
42 mph. Damn, that hurt. It was that first bounce after having the rear
wheel jerked out from under me that did the damage. The broken stem was
on the new machine exactly 6 months later when I only broke 3 ribs, punctured
my right lung, broke my right collarbone and wrist. Anyway, now I am
symmetrical again and a bit more aero as my shoulders are over an inch
narrower after having both collarbones displaced.

Ken

Yikes! Go on, now tell me your nickname is "Lucky" :-)

--
Mark
______________________________________
Nerves of Steel, Heart of Gold, Knob of Butter

"IMKen" <[email hidden]> wrote in
news:[email hidden]:

Quoted message said:

Anyway, now I
am symmetrical again and a bit more aero as my shoulders are over an
inch narrower after having both collarbones displaced.

The things we do for speed!