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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To feel in absolute despair by bruised ribs

30 replies

Brizzle1991 · 18/12/2022 16:43

I have never known pain like it. Happened on Friday ( drunk person fell over and took me with them). Breathing agony. Crying/sniffing/coughing/sneezing/ lying down/sitting all fkg agony. I’m literally in despair. Paracetamol/ibuprofen/codeine not doing much. What the hell do I do?

OP posts:
Frostysnowlady · 18/12/2022 18:56

I currently have intercostal muscle pain under my ribs from incessant coughing during a nasty and lifting/feeding my heavy toddler on one side. It. Is. So. Painful. So my sincere symphaties. I want to cry when I feel a cough coming on the pain is unbearable especially with the involuntary nature of it and the breathtaking agony that ensues. Do you find it's worse at night? Everything seizes up and I can hardly lift my head. I read 5 to 6 weeks until completely better. It's been a week for me already. Not sure I can take much more. Although a slightly different injury to yours I did feel it might of gotten a teeny tiny bit better today so fingers crossed yours will heal up soon too.
But yes it in horrendous. Show this to your friends family so they believe you and will hopefully wait on you hand and foot 😂😩

Frostysnowlady · 18/12/2022 18:57

*nasty cold

eosmum · 18/12/2022 18:59

Sympathies, all I can say was a clutching a pillow to your chest all the time. Gripping for coughing and even breathing.

Ihateboris · 18/12/2022 19:02

Omg, it's the worst pain ever (although I've not had children so can't compare it to childbirth!). I was kicked in the ribs by a horse and the pain was excruciating. Even breathing hurt like hell. Tramadol worked for me x

Cakeandslippers · 18/12/2022 19:03

Sending sympathy, rib pain is the absolute worst. I'd suggest ibuprofen (or naproxen if you can get it). In my experience paracetamol and cocodamol have no effect on rib pain for me.

LakieLady · 18/12/2022 19:05

YANBU, OP.

I hurt my ribs years ago (my dog knocked me over onto a brick wall) and it was the most painful thing I've ever experienced.

I couldn't sit myself up in bed it was so painful. It hurt to breathe, to swallow, even to fart. My GP refused to give me prescription strength painkillers in case my ribs were broken (he said they suppress your breathing, apparently, and make pneumonia more likely). I didn't give a shit about that, it hurt so much I'd have opted for euthanasia had it been offered! The on-call doctor (no 111 in those days) had no qualms about it and gave me some decent drugs.

Thankfully, that excruciating pain started to ease after a couple of days, but it was ages before they stopped hurting completely.

starrynight21 · 18/12/2022 19:06

You have my sympathies ! I had 5 broken ribs in a car accident a few years ago and I really thought I'd rather be dead than live with that pain. There isn't anything you can do except, as pp has said, clutch a firm pillow across the painful part to help you to breathe. Good luck !

colourmebladd · 18/12/2022 19:06

I found blue cbd oil helped. It was the only thing but it doesn’t work for everyone

Cakeandslippers · 18/12/2022 19:07

Ps if it gets to the point you think you can't go on, get checked out. I ended up in A&E on Friday with mine and it turned out to be an infection of the outside of the lung / rib area. I've had the rib pain before and it was very very painful but this had escalated to a point i was unable to cope with, couldn't speak, really struggling to breathe etc- keep it in mind as I didn't know this was even a thing.

Leggingslife · 18/12/2022 19:07

Have you had an xray just in case you've broken one?

ThreeLittleDots · 18/12/2022 19:09

Have you had an xray just in case you've broken one

They don't x-ray because the treatment for both bruised and fractured ribs is the same. Nothing.

purpledalmation · 18/12/2022 19:12

I had this years ago and it was so painful I could barely breathe. They did a CT scan of my chest and all my small alveoli in my lungs had collapsed. The rib pain just stopped be breathing deeply so however painful you need to do this. Hot water bottle and ice packs alternating

saraclara · 18/12/2022 19:15

I bruised my ribs ten days ago. Fortunately low down and towards the side, so not too much problem with breathing. The GP was very sympathetic and prescribed Naproxen. But yes, I'm lucky compared to you, but still it hurts a LOT.

She did tell me to make sure that I took slow deep breaths as often as I could bear, as otherwise infection can occur in the lungs as they don't get cleared. I imagine that'll be really painful for you, but an infection and the resulting coughing would be worse.

My sympathy.

Original poster
Brizzle1991 · 18/12/2022 22:01

Thanks so much for everyone’s support and advice! Have had 3 children (2 with no pain relief) and this is up there with the pain and you don’t know when it will really end! At least childbirth is only hours not weeks! Managed some sleep on sofa & have started the deep breaths which are really painful but doable ( they def weren’t before). Will explore other pain relief/muscle relaxants tomorrow 🙏

OP posts:
TheLette · 21/12/2022 21:10

I have rib pain currently due to coughing. Pharmacy suggested Nuromol (combo of paracetamol and ibuprofen) which is making me feel human provided I take every 6 hours. However it says I can take for a max of 3 days, genuinely don't know how I'll cope without it.

Mojoj · 21/12/2022 21:19

You need stronger painkillers. Ask for Naproxen if you don't have a delicate stomach. Rib pain is the worst.

dottiedodah · 21/12/2022 21:25

Slipped and fell in bath recently. Grabbed rail and fell against it .really hurt if I got hiccups or burped. Took about a month of rest and painkillers.

Jellyjam36 · 21/12/2022 21:30

I'm the same as @Frostysnowlady, but 38 weeks pregnant so can't bloody take anything and paracetamol doesn't touch the pain. It is worse at night, can't sleep on my sides so have to sit propped up in bed. Cough has nearly gone after 3 weeks and I've had the pain about 1 week.
Wish I could have some tramadol. I think I read it can take up to 6 weeks for strained rib muscles to heal.

TheLette · 21/12/2022 22:37

Mojoj · 21/12/2022 21:19

You need stronger painkillers. Ask for Naproxen if you don't have a delicate stomach. Rib pain is the worst.

@Mojoj does Naproxen need a prescription and can it be taken for a while (like, more than 3 days!)? I've called 111 and am awaiting a callback so may ask for a prescription for this.

Original poster
Brizzle1991 · 23/12/2022 14:56

You all have my greatest sympathies, there is no pain like it. I actually got sent for an X-ray on Wednesday as breathing was excruciating by then, thank goodness I did…. I have a serious lung infection exacerbated by the fall apparently so now I have a chest drain in and will be here over Christmas. Do not underestimate rib trauma!!!!!

OP posts:
Middletoleft · 13/02/2023 12:04

Currently in the same position...in total misery. Fell down some steps (no booze involved).

How long did it take to get over. I'm 2 days/nights in and feel like crying.

Luckydip1 · 13/02/2023 12:11

I had this and the pain lasted 6 months, there is not much the doctors can do to help.

Original poster
Brizzle1991 · 13/02/2023 15:30

See my message from 23/12 …… my GP sent me for an X-ray and I ended up with a serious lung infection, in hospital for 8 days. Now facing further surgery too. Was a perfect storm of rib trauma plus catching a virus that led to this. If your pain is too bad I would advise seeing your doctor despite Google saying there’s nothing can be done. Always worth checking x

OP posts:
Middletoleft · 13/02/2023 15:41

@Brizzle1991 that sounds totally awful. My GP has given me Baclofen for the spasms. Hopefully between that and the painkillers it'll achieve some comfort.😳

Iamblossom · 14/01/2024 10:48

Came on to start a thread about bruised ribs and found this one.

I tripped over a tree root whilst out running last Tuesday morning. Was so relieved not to have hurt my ankle, hopped up, carried on running. Left side started stiffening up over the rest of the day, thought I might have broken a rib, but got an xray and hadn't.

Woke up yesterday morning and omigod the pain is so much worse. Hurts to use my left side at all, breathing hurts, although I can breath so not worried about lungs.

Just wanted to moan. Pissed off I can't exercise. Took a codeine yesterday but made me feel like shit so will stick to ibuprofen. The thought of another week or so of this 😭