Think I cracked a rib or at least bruised it

[JulesMaximus]

I was out riding mtb with my friend this morning and hit some deep sand, couldn't get unclipped in time and fell on my left side but my arm was between my rib cage and the ground. Knocked the wind out of me but I don't remember hearing a crack but it really hurts when I cough or take a deep breath.

Not a whole lot I can do about it though from what I've read.

I took a few minutes to recover and rode the rest of the way back to my car and drove myself home. Been resting all afternoon.

The bike is fine. :$

Update: it is just bruised probably not cracked but it may be. He didn't bother sending me for x-rays because it is just one rib and it definitely isn't broken. Still pretty sore and hurts like a mofo when I sneeze or cough or even bend over. I think I must have fallen on something rather than on my arm because of the location of the pain, it is halfway up my rib cage and my arm is not bruised or sore.

On another note, I checked my pedals and found that the left one was set to full tension on one side and medium tension on the other. The right pedal was set to medium tension on both sides. I never checked them and just assumed they would be set the same from the factory when I bought them. This would explain the few times I have had difficulty unclipping prior to this and probably explains why I fell this time.

 

[SociallyChallenged]

Could be something as simple as a internal/external intercostal strain from the sudden impact/stretch. Take a few days off and return to light endurance exercise. If it kills you still, I might see a physician for x-rays. If it starts to feel better within a week, the signs are more consistent with a healing soft tissue injury.

 

[Ns1]

Maybe your vagina fell out?

Spoiler

kidding mods don't infract me

 

[HeXen]

Put a Tiger Balm patch on it, stuff is the shiznit. btw, I actually thought this was a rudeguy thread for a brief moment.

 

[AnMig]

Costochondritis- inflammation of your intercostal muscles
Minor rib fracture
Pulmonary contusion

Just take some ibuprofen should resolve in a few days

3 or more rib fractures puts you at risk for flail chest

Displaced rib fracture may punture your lung

Shortness of breath or coughing up blood go to the er stat

Peace

 

[waggy]

Whoaa. glad to hear the bike is fine!

 

[Ns1]

Put some 'tussin on it, stuff is the shiznit.

ftfy. just let that 'tussin get down there into the bone.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n0Go6Vw3o04

 

[SheHateMe]

Can you take a pic of your torso and show us?

 

[JulesMaximus]

Costochondritis- inflammation of your intercostal muscles
Minor rib fracture
Pulmonary contusion

Just take some ibuprofen should resolve in a few days

3 or more rib fractures puts you at risk for flail chest

Displaced rib fracture may punture your lung

Shortness of breath or coughing up blood go to the er stat

Peace

Yeah, it's nothing as serious as punctured lung thankfully. It just hurts when I breathe deeply and it really hurts when I cough.

No blood or difficulty breathing and I was able to ride back to the car which was a few miles and one nice climb.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Thanks for all the concern for my vagina and bike.

Before the fall. Proof that my bike has gone places other than the dining room.

 

[SyndromeOCZ]

Come ride my local trails, if you fall you die. Red Bull Rampage FTW.

 

[TallBill]

Sucks but not much you can do. Been there done that, played an entire vball tourny with a cracked rib. *Shudder*

 

[Ruptga]

Can you take a pic of your torso and show us?

Dr. ATOT must have

s for a diagnosis.

 

[HamburgerBoy]

Dr. ATOT must have

s for a diagnosis.

Nah, just schlicking material.

 

[foghorn67]

Thanks for all the concern for my vagina and bike.

lol.

Nice pic too, looks like fun.

 

[Ruptga]

Nah, just schlicking material.

Ooh, I wasn't aware you'd had your operation, congratulations :biggrin:

 

[skimple]

Might want to consider getting an xray (non emergency room). You can call around to a few places (or your doctor's office) to see what they charge. Doesn't have to be a full-blown ER visit.

You're right that there isn't much that you can do about a broken rib. I broke 6 earlier this year, and other than pop pills and sit still, there isn't much you can do.

But if it is broken, you should find out how bad. You could have a bone fragment puncture your spleen or some other internal organ. If its just a crack, they'll tell you "Yep. You broke it. Go home and wait 8-10 weeks." Maybe you'll get Dilautin or some other good pain meds.

But if there is a possibility of internal damage, they may want to take action on it. Don't need to roll over on a fractured rib and send the end jabbing into an organ somewhere.

 

[cheezmunky]

That sounds like the same symptoms that I have when a rib slips out of place. I am afraid to mention the word around here but a chiro can check it and have it back in place in a minute or two. Would be a lot faster and cheaper than having x-rays taken

 

[olds]

Sometime it's the cartridge that gets injured. Happened to me jumping from 70 feet into a lake. Felt like ribs though.

 

[foghorn67]

Sometime it's the cartridge that gets injured. Happened to me jumping from 70 feet into a lake. Felt like ribs though.

cartilage?

 

[olds]

cartilage?

 

[foghorn67]

Cartridge. (You said it first)

 

[Fritzo]

Might want to consider getting an xray (non emergency room). You can call around to a few places (or your doctor's office) to see what they charge. Doesn't have to be a full-blown ER visit.

You're right that there isn't much that you can do about a broken rib. I broke 6 earlier this year, and other than pop pills and sit still, there isn't much you can do.

But if it is broken, you should find out how bad. You could have a bone fragment puncture your spleen or some other internal organ. If its just a crack, they'll tell you "Yep. You broke it. Go home and wait 8-10 weeks." Maybe you'll get Dilautin or some other good pain meds.

But if there is a possibility of internal damage, they may want to take action on it. Don't need to roll over on a fractured rib and send the end jabbing into an organ somewhere.

I second this. If there is a complete crack and the rib is floating, you can start puncturing lungs and things, and that's bad news. Get to a doctor, tell him what happened, and he'll check it out. I think there's positions they can put you in to tell if a rib is broken before getting an xray.

 

[OCGuy]

I broke a rib and did not go to the Dr. due to "nothing can be done"

6 weeks later it was still sore, so I went in to my GP. He sent me for X-rays, and I was immediately rushed to the ER to have a chest tube put in me. To my surprise, my right lung was 80% collapsed.

That sucked.

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Could be something as simple as a internal/external intercostal strain from the sudden impact/stretch. Take a few days off and return to light endurance exercise. If it kills you still, I might see a physician for x-rays. If it starts to feel better within a week, the signs are more consistent with a healing soft tissue injury.

No real point getting an X-ray, if it is a broken rib there's nothing that can be done about it in any case.