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Original poster

Anyone broken a rib? How long before it’s not agony!

29 replies

Chelsea26 · 18/12/2019 11:07

Just that really - fairly sure it’s broken although haven’t been to hospital as I know they won’t do anything anyway.

But it is so bloody painful to do anything! Breathe, sleep, cough, go to the loo, sit, stand, lie (I haven’t sneezed yet but I’m living in fear!)

Just wondering how long before people felt improvement!

OP posts:
SpeedofaSloth · 18/12/2019 21:31

It's weeks rather than days.
If you're in that much pain are you sure you don't want to get checked out, to make sure that's definitely what's going on?

TreesSandSea · 18/12/2019 21:36

Yup. 6 weeks to stop constantly aching. Still hurts 3 months later if I lie on it

PerkingFaintly · 18/12/2019 21:38

Oh dear lord, stay away from anyone who might give you a cold.

Or make you laugh...

Sorry, Chelsea26, it's no fun at all.Flowers

Sparklfairy · 18/12/2019 21:40

Oh I remember that pain. 6-8 weeks before I could sneeze laugh or cough without wincing. Sorry OP it's the worstSad

TrainspottingWelsh · 18/12/2019 21:44

I did two in the same accident. After about 6 days it was still mega painful, but no longer as agonising. A good few weeks for it to be just painful if I did anything energetic. However I also had really nasty bruising so it's possible my early reduced pain was related to them easing, rather than the ribs improving.

Have you strapped them up yourself? If not it might be an idea to go to hospital because it does ease them.

hen10 · 18/12/2019 21:46

Sympathy - I've done mine several times falling off horses and the pain is awful for weeks. I ended up with tramadol from the GP last time for the pain so it might be worth a GP visit for painkillers as nothing over the counter touched the pain for me. It does heal up though, eventually.

Bumfuzzled · 18/12/2019 21:47

Mine took about 6 weeks. I had to sleep sitting up as it was too painful to lie down. Coughing, sneezing, laughing and any form of breathing really hurt. Sorry OP it’s a horrid injury Flowers

JustASmallTownCurl · 18/12/2019 22:32

Did them all in a car crash. The pain? Fuck. Me. You poor thing.

I'm NOT A MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL (disclaimer so people can tell me my advice is stupid because it might be!) but it's worth getting this checked out. Maybe emergency GP or minor injuries if people don't think A&E is appropriate?

Especially as you may be able to get some stronger pain relief while it's really bad like now. That helped immensely for me because it was unbearable but obviously I did them all so not a surprise!

Anyway I found the below in case relevant:

Get medical care if you have:
• Trouble breathing.
• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain with a sore or bruised rib.
• Pain that worsens over time.
• An injury to the chest or stomach.

Palavah · 18/12/2019 22:38

Have broken and also bruised severely. In both cases 6 weeks. Learned to line up pillows either side of me in bed so I didn't roll over, and to get out of bed by putting my feet onto the floor then shuffling bum off bed, sitting on floor before getting up. Misery.
Agree you don't want to have to laugh or cough.

Original poster
Chelsea26 · 19/12/2019 12:50

Thanks for the responses everyone although gah!!! 6 weeks! That sucks!

I’m coping, just about, on otc painkillers alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours and have banned everyone funny I know from contacting me for the foreseeable Grin

Nights are the worst with waking up as I move so will try a wall of pillows tonight and hope that helps...

Special mention to @JustASmallTownCurl - ALL OF THEM!!! AT ONCE!!! I’d have had to be sedated I think!! Bloody Nora!

OP posts:
HollowTalk · 19/12/2019 12:58

Mine weren't broken so god knows what that would feel like but it took three weeks to the day before I could move without pain.

At night I took 2 paracetemol and 2 ibuprofen together and I'd sleep for nine hours in the same position - I'd feel great until I moved an inch, then the agony was back.

ODFOx · 19/12/2019 13:26

Weeks. I was pregnant and the dr put me me on cocodamol as I couldn't take any nsaids.
I was only vaguely comfortable sitting on a kitchen chair with my arms up on a heap of pillows on the table in front of me. I had to sleep like that for the first 2 weeks.
Get it checked just so you know it's going to heal in the right position.

OpheIiaBaIIs · 19/12/2019 14:06

Me and DD broke one each in February this year on exactly the same day - we both had the same horrendous cough and that's what did it! It was agony for about two weeks before it started to subside. We went to A&E together we were in so much pain - they gave us codeine and told us no heavy lifting/exercise and plenty of rest for a couple of weeks. Many a time I woke myself in agony from turning into my 'wrong' side in my sleep!

Mine healed with no problems but DD still gets pain from hers - it's been x rayed and is fine, just one of those things apparently.

Hope you get some relief soon OP - when I ran out of prescription codeine I bought ibuprofen/codeine OTC and that worked well.

Egghead68 · 19/12/2019 14:09

6 weeks (I trained for a marathon through my recovery - what was I thinking?). Try not to cough!

JustASmallTownCurl · 19/12/2019 14:12

@Chelsea26

Haha thank you - yep all of them. And my nose. And shattered my arm. All in one crash. If a jobs worth doing...

I wish I could offer some more help but the problem is I'm fucking HILARIOUS so I'd only hurt you more Grin

kateclarke · 19/12/2019 14:13

If you don’t cough you could end up with a very nasty chest infection. Please get medical advice. It’s a myth that nothing can be done for rib fractures and they can be very dangerous.

Topseyt · 19/12/2019 14:27

Yes, I've done it several times before. It seems to happen whenever I have a chest infection or severe cough. It is agony. Coughing or sneezing were traumatic.

I'm afraid it did take over a month to completely go. It was impossible to sleep lying down, so I took to sleeping in an armchair in the living room, propped up further by pillows, and with a couple of woolly blankets. I had my footstool too as it helped keep me in the best position.

I alternated paracetamol and ibuprofen as my painkillers. They did help, but if you wish to have stronger ones then ask your GP.

I hope it clears up soon for you. Unfortunately there is usually little that can be done but wait for them to heal. That's what I have always been told whenever I visited the GP about them. As bone, it takes about 6 weeks to fully heal.

safariboot · 19/12/2019 14:31

I’m coping, just about, on otc painkillers alternating paracetamol and ibuprofen every two hours and have banned everyone funny I know from contacting me for the foreseeable

If you are doing this continuously you are overdosing. Paracetamol is maximum 8 tablets in any 24-hour period, ibuprofen is normally 6, you'd be taking 12 of both. Chronic paracetamol overdose like that can become serious.

A pharmacist can sell co-codamol, and also a bigger supply of paracetamol and/or ibuprofen so you're not having to constantly worry about buying the next dose. GP or maybe minor injuries can do something stronger if you need it.

OpheIiaBaIIs · 19/12/2019 14:38

If you don’t cough you could end up with a very nasty chest infection

Me and DD were told this at the hospital too, which was awful as a cough is what caused the breaks in the first place. We were told that it was important to get the gunk up as a chest infection would only add to our problems! We had to carry pillows with us and gently hug them to our 'broken' sides when we felt a coughing fit coming on, which was often. We got some funny looks on the bus Grin

Bunnybaubles · 19/12/2019 17:29

My brother broke my rib when I was 14. He thought it would be funny doing a flying kick at me as I was getting up out the arm chair.
My parents acted like it never happened (he was golden child) and never took me to the doctors and never gave me any painkillers. Just had to suck it up for weeks. I'll never forget that pain!! My mum had to help me in and out of bed, chairs, the car etc but I was never allowed to talk about it Hmm

Thingywhatsit · 19/12/2019 21:47

I did something to mine (Not sure if broke rather than bruised as I didn’t go to a&e) last new year after a fall on the stairs. took about 3 months for me to be able to sleep without any pain.

The first 3 weeks it didn’t get any better - but from then in it got a bit better each week. Sleeping got better after 6 weeks.

JustASmallTownCurl · 19/12/2019 22:08

How are you doing this evening @Chelsea26?

Are you maybe going to go get it checked out, maybe by GP or minor injuries?

Original poster
Chelsea26 · 19/12/2019 22:16

Ah thank you all! I’ve avoided funny people all day - it’s been dull! Apart from you @JustASmallTownCurl

made the mistake of telling my mum this evening so we were off to the walk in before I could say “I’m a 40 year old mum of two”

Anyway, she was right as always Hmm and I now have a nice dose of stronger painkillers.

I have also set up a pillow fortress to stop me rolling over in bed so I’m hoping to sleep and feeling more in control.

I’m sure it will improve for christmas Grin

OP posts:
Dogwalks2 · 19/12/2019 22:24

Broke a rib at a Burns Supper(notorious for dance injury). 2 weeks in bed with pillows stacked around me and 6 months before I didn’t feel a twinge. Anyone who says they have broke a rib and are still on there feet I question 🤭. I never take time off work and I was off for a fortnight.

JustASmallTownCurl · 19/12/2019 22:25

Ah I'm so pleased! Annoying but reassuring when mums still always seem to know best!

The stronger painkillers will make such a difference especially as you'll be able to sleep much better compared to with OTC help.

Here's hoping it isn't too long before you can be with us hilarious folk again, we'll prepare some jokes in the meantime Grin