Cracked rib?

[MtrCtyPimp]

Anyone ever have one of these? Whats the protocol? Go to the doctors? Will it heal on its own or do I need to go to get some meds for the pain? Im having trouble sleeping from the pain (mainly when I try and turn).

Someone told me it heals on its own in about 3 weeks but Im not even sure its cracked....can it just maybe bruise and thats what causes the pain?

TIA

[ksturg]

Got in a bar fight about 3 years ago and fell over a table. For two weeks I couldn't move, finally went to the doctor and had an X-ray. Told me I had a cracked rib and there was nothing that they could do about it. Took about a month before it finally healed.

Like you were saying, not a lot of pain in most movements, but for me any sit up type motion or getting out of bed I thought I was going to die.

My advice for medication, lots of alchohol!!!

[T100]

^^^^^^^^^

What he said,
difference with my story is I was a smoker, hacking in the mornin was NOT fun I tell ya.

[MtrCtyPimp]

I slipped in my bathroom on Sunday night and hit my mid right rib cage on the toilet. Felt fine on Monday but the pain started on Tuesday and its getting worse. Hurts when I sleep and or trying to get up or sit down really. From what I understand there is no treatment for it so Im gonna wait until next Monday to see if the pain goes away (maybe its just bruised) and if the pain is still there then Ill get some meds so I can sleep better at night.

Anywhere from 4-8 weeks is what Im reading for it to heal

Thx

[FalconFreak]

I have had cracked rib and ribs twice it takes time to heal and they dont treat it. Doctor is your call but depending on what you do for a living the sleeping is the toughest part

[StatQuo17]

Cracked my rib in hockey before. Nothing you can do but rest. Maybe meds would help but thats all

[MtrCtyPimp]

The most simple things like coughing, laughing and blowing my nose cause the most pain. Its a real MFer

[Steel]

Originally Posted by MtrCtyPimp

The most simple things like coughing, laughing and blowing my nose cause the most pain. Its a real MFer

The reach around to wipe your ass will bring tears to your eyes. Funny people are not allowed around, laughing feels like someone is ripping your bones apart. Depending on your pain scale pain pills can work wonders. You have to remember that your in pain though or you will hurt yourself worse. Like said above rest is the best thing for you. GL

[cptkirk321]

Have had it a few times in the past from sports and not much you can really do for it except meds to help in the pain and that still doesn't solve the problem of the pain. Breathing hurt, coughing hurt, getting in and out of bed hurt, putting socks on hurt and as mentioned damn wiping your ass was absoloute agony.

The one thing that you should do is go to your doctor not so much because of the rib because really there is not much they can do but you want to make sure that it hasn't punctured anything else that really can cause you major problems and at least the XRay will confirm that.

[Keith]

I would get an x-ray taken before I decided to "let it heal on its own".

[home dogs]

I work as a PT in a hospital for crcked ribs there is no medical management. It is however very important that you take deep breathes and expand your lungs. People have a tendency to take short shallow braths when they break a rib and they dont expand their lungs. In an extreme case you can develop a pneumothorax (collapsed lung) but you would know if you had a collpased lung because you could not breathe. For the pain fold up a dish towel and wrap some athletic tape around it keep it close to you and when you have to cough apply deep pressure with the towel to the affected area this typically helps the pain, hope all turns out well...

[MtrCtyPimp]

Its been over a week since I fell and the pain is definitely still there from the exact things that are said in this thread.

I havent been sleeping really for more than 4 hours at a time because of the pain but napping on the couch is a little better because I cant really toss and turn.

I have no intention of going to the doctors because I dont go unless its an extreme circumstance which in this case I dont think because I will heal on my own and second I dont have insurance. But I dont think I have been to an actual doctor's office in over 25 years. Only doctors I have come in contact with have been in an emergency room...once for a sever neck strain when I need a shot of norflex muscle relaxer to ease the pain and once for an infection when I needed a prescribed antibiotic.

Does the pain begin to subside as the days go by or will it be one of those things where I just wake up one day and feel fine again?

As far as the punctured lung thing thats the only thing I have been told be careful about and if that happens I will have no choice but to take my ass into the emergency room.

Hopefully I am a quick healer and Im only 3 weeks away from the pain.

[Victor]

Originally Posted by MtrCtyPimp

Its been over a week since I fell and the pain is definitely still there from the exact things that are said in this thread.

I havent been sleeping really for more than 4 hours at a time because of the pain but napping on the couch is a little better because I cant really toss and turn.

I have no intention of going to the doctors because I dont go unless its an extreme circumstance which in this case I dont think because I will heal on my own and second I dont have insurance. But I dont think I have been to an actual doctor's office in over 25 years. Only doctors I have come in contact with have been in an emergency room...once for a sever neck strain when I need a shot of norflex muscle relaxer to ease the pain and once for an infection when I needed a prescribed antibiotic.

Does the pain begin to subside as the days go by or will it be one of those things where I just wake up one day and feel fine again?

As far as the punctured lung thing thats the only thing I have been told be careful about and if that happens I will have no choice but to take my ass into the emergency room.

Hopefully I am a quick healer and Im only 3 weeks away from the pain.

Never had a cracked rib, but I hope it heals quick for you. As far as having no insurance. You can call different doctor`s and there are plenty out there that will take you in to see you and charge you a much lower office visit because of not having insurance. The only thing about that is you have to pay in cash when the doctor is done checking you out. Lets say a doctor charges $150.00 to see you. You`ll probably just have to pay $50.00 to $75.00 dollars. If I was you I would do it. If anything he`ll give you a script for some pain pills to take the edge off while you heal.

[MtrCtyPimp]

I finally broke down and got some vicodins from a buddy of mine. He hooked me up with 14 pills. Got me a little drowsy but the pain pretty much got numbed up.