6 BROKEN RIBS AT 68!!!

[CriticalAlert]

Please give me your help and advice. I slipped over on Friday 21/05/23 - nearly 3 weeks ago. Was admitted to hospital with 6 broken ribs and a brain bleed. They didn't know if the brain bleed had been caused by the fall or if it was an old bleed. I came out of hospital a week later on Sat 29/05/23. I had a CT scan and an MRI scan in hospital.
There has been NO follow up since from my GP and I am getting very worried. I am taking a lot of painkillers - codeine/paracetamol 30/500 - which the GP is prescribing.

I honestly don't know what is going on or what to expect. I am pretty scared tbh.

If anyone has any advice please let me know. Thanks

Do you have a follow up with a neurologist or other specialist about the bleed?

Do they think you have Osteoporosis ? If so you may need Calcium supplements etc going forward. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Nothing at all. I spoke to a GP today and he told me to call next Monday. All seems a bit slapdash. No one is telling me what's happening.

How bad was the fall? Were you surprised at breaking so many ribs if the fall wasn't that bad? It's just that ribs that break "easily" can be a sign of other things that cause weakness in bones. A "normal" fall, say slipping on a wet floor wouldn't normally be expected to result in broken ribs, but something more serious, like falling off a bike or falling down stairs may be more likely to break ribs.

Thanks. No one is giving me any information. This is why I feel quite scared. I don't know if I should get out for a walk or how much I should try to do, I don't want to push it.

I slipped backwards onto my left side. I don't really remember much else! I think there must be something wrong but no-one is telling me....

How frightening. Ring your gp daily. The only follow up care at the moment is what we chase down.

OK. That's what I'll do thanks.

My husband broke seven ribs last year.
When he was discharged from hospital he was advised to do as much activity as he felt able to do, which was only shuffling to and from the loo for a few days. He gradually started going for very short walks in the garden and then down the street, but it was a few weeks before he could do much more than that.
He had no input from the GP at all, except for requesting a repeat prescription of morphine.
One thing that the hospital impressed on him was the importance of deep breathing exercises. It is very easy to get a lung infection after breaking ribs so you need to breathe deeply to expel the air from the bottom of your lungs. Do some yogic breathing several times a day.
My husband is 50 so a bit younger than you, and broke his ribs in a traffic accident, so osteoporosis wasn’t a consideration for him.
My advice is that it’s going to hurt a lot for a while, you need to breathe deeply despite the pain so take enough painkillers to allow you to do that. If you’re taking morphine or codeine, make sure you regularly take a stool softener along with it to prevent constipation.
And keep as active as you can without hurting yourself too much.

I broke three ribs a few years ago and it was very very painful. The best advice I got was to hold a pillow/cushion to my ribs if I had to cough or, even worse, sneeze. Sounds bizarre, but it definitely worked.

I walked every day - very carefully, but I did not have any other injury. It took around 6 weeks for the ribs to heal fully.

I would see your GP for follow up help - it is ridiculous that you are not being given any information.

OP I don’t know if it helps, as I did not have a brain bleed, but I had a very similar fall - feet flew out in front of me on a wet floor and I fell on my back but to the left.

I broke several ribs (not certain how many) and got a friction rub on my lung (a loud crunching noise) My FIL who was a cardio consultant had a listen and said there was nothing that could be done but it would heal in 6 weeks. I was in despair until about 5.5 weeks as I couldn’t lie down at all BUT then suddenly it got better, over the course of a few days.

Hate you looked at any NHS for broken ribs? Are they maybe relying on that? I honestly thought it would never get better, and then it did

Why did you not question any of this at discharge and why is it now down to the GP to sort? This is why there are no appointments.

I'm not having a go at you OP but these are the things that should have been spoken about as you were being discharged, the hospital should have told you, but you should also have asked.
Really hope you get sorted.

Do you mean April? Call your gp and ask to re iew your ongoing symptoms. They should have had discharge paperwork from the hospital but ime it often goes "missing" or , if sent, is very delayed.

They wanted me out of the hospital asap before the BH weekend. There were no doctors available for my queries. I was handed my medication by a nurse and when I asked them what would happen next they said that my GP would contact me.

Sounds familiar my dad has a broken bone in his back discharged without a back brace or painkillers just "someone will call you" three weeks later no call everytime he calls the Dr's he is told yes you need a brace "someone will call you" 😬

I spoke to a 'good' GP today... that is someone who seemed concerned. He told me how to deal with the broken ribs and what I can do physically. Regards the brain bleed - it may be a venal malformation from forever and the fall caused a small bleed. But neurologists will be in touch with me. So my fears, although not gone, are allayed somewhat.

You can always ring the ward and ask to speak to one of the junior Drs who has access to your notes - there is usually at least one of the junior Drs with their head buried in files (hopefully) during a normal working day timetable.

Also, if you have the energy, please complain to Pals and/or the Ward Sister about your awful discharge. Were you not even given a letter about your diagnosis, any meds you are on, and what should be happening next - a discharge letter.

Also, lastly, when you contact them, please remember that you were in hospital in April, the fourth month, not the fifth! 🤭☺️ 💐

Thanks for your advice everyone, you have been very helpful. I finally got through to a GP today who was clear. He had my discharge note from the hospital - they didn't give it to me because they were in a rush to get rid of me because of the bank holiday. Great isn't it?