Last Friday I was in an accident and badly bruised my left side. I had some pain in the side of my chest then which I took to be bruising, but this has got progressively worse, especially when I breathe in deeply. I sneezed at work today and it felt like someone had stabbed me, it hurt that much! :shocked: :( Anyway, I went back to the hospital this afternoon and have been reliably informed that I have two cracked ribs :( Has anyone suffered from a rib fracture, any good ideas for getting some relief from the pain? (it really hurts! *whine* *whinge* :( ). I know it will take 4 weeks or so to heal, but how long will it take before the pain subsides a bit? Thanks :)

No - sorry you have to suffer the pain!! Owwwwwwwww

No sharp movements and some of those products that you spray on that numb it ( can't recall names sorry) can help but only for moment. The better pain killers can help too - the chemist will tell you what's the most powerful one they sell.

Oh and relaxing baths do help...

I had a single cracked rib a few years ago. It hurt like **** for a few days, then gradually eased off. I don't remember it bothering me *that* much for a whole month, but maybe I only did a little crack! :) I was probably 15 or so, and wasn't given any painkillers - in fact I can't actually remember going to the doctor, but I suspect my mum would have dragged me!

Thanks for the replies. I have some ibuprofen so I'll carry on taking those and just hope that it subsides a bit. Actually if I keep still it doesn't hurt too much at all, but going from sitting to standing or vice versa is awful. It doesn't help that my leg and hip are still bruised so I just ache all over :gag:

I don't have a bathtub at my place but I'll try a hot shower in a bit :thumbsup:

Forget ibuprofen, get some Nurofen Plus down thee :thumbsup:

Hope you're feelin spiffin soon!

Try Arnica, its meant to be great for bruising, you can get cream and little sweet tablets from Boots or Holland and Barratt, I used them jsut after an operation a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to help the healing loads :)
Em
xx

Having broken and cracked ribs on a number of occasions I can sympathise.

As you have learnt there is not much that can be offered by way of treatment, one important thing to do is to try and avoid any colds, chest infections etc.

Agony is sneezing or coughing with cracked ribs

Keep some pain killers handy and you should be back to normal within 3-4 weeks

I know what not to do and thats laugh! Oooh that hurts!

I've had cracked ribs before... You have my sympathy.

Try hugging a pillow to your ribs. It gives a bit of support when you are getting up, coughing etc....

Trust me to catch a cold when mine happened... :gag:

I think I have a bit of hayfever, hence all the sneezing - it doesn't half smart when I cough or sneeze :(

The pillow thing sounds like a good idea, I'll keep a cushion handy :P

Em - My doctor recommended arnica for bruising too (I have a monster bruise on the back of my leg), but I only have the cream. I didn't know you could get tablets; I see if I can get some of those from Holland and Barratt's when I get paid tomorrow :)

Hope you're feeling better soon Tracie! :)

Go to the docs and tell them about the pain. They'll be able to prescribe you some medication much stronger than you can get over the counter. Kapake is excellent for pain, but don't expect to be able to do much of anything if you take them - theu zonk me for hours!

Originally posted by TracieJC
I think I have a bit of hayfever, hence all the sneezing - it doesn't half smart when I cough or sneeze :(

The pillow thing sounds like a good idea, I'll keep a cushion handy :P

Em - My doctor recommended arnica for bruising too (I have a monster bruise on the back of my leg), but I only have the cream. I didn't know you could get tablets; I see if I can get some of those from Holland and Barratt's when I get paid tomorrow :)

I know just how you feel at the mo Tracie, I had stitches in 4 places in my abdomen and my hayfever chose that week to appear with a vengeance!!!! I had a nice feather pillow for sneezing/coughing pains and it really did help :)
I hope you get the tablets ok, mine came from Boots (mum bought them while i was in hosp so i don't know how much they were) they come in a little dispenser that makes em look like sweetners!!!!! They apprently help with the bruising that the cream can't reach :)

Hope you heal soon
*gentle hugs*
Em
xx

I had three once, from falling off a horse.

The very sympathetic doctor suggested...if it hurts to breathe, - don't ! :D

Try getting some Comfrey tablets - its old name is boneknit and is supposedly good for speeding up the healing process.

Originally posted by chickmonk
Forget ibuprofen, get some Nurofen Plus down thee :thumbsup:

Hope you're feelin spiffin soon!

:hihi: Nurofen + is ibuprofen - with caffein - and a bigger price tag.

Ask your chemist for 400mg brufen (ibuprofen) shops own brand cheaper by far and exactly the same stuff.
Off-the-shelf products tend to come in 200mg doses.
The adult dose is 400mg.

You can take paracetamol at the same time as they have different properties & don't interact.

Paracetamol is a painkiller (will block the pain sensation) & ibuprofen is a (non-steroidal) anti-inflammatory so will reduce the inflammation that's causing the pain.

You need to do deep breathing exercises too, as often as you can stand but hourly for the first (waking) 36-48hrs

slow deep breath in. hold 2...3... out & repeat a few times.

If you get into a habit of shallow breathing cos it's easier on the pain you'll retain moisture that otherwise you expire without trying.

A complication of this is a chest infection & worse still pneumonia (extreme).

Avoid smoking if you are one.

Finally, Brufen can irritate the lining of your stomach when taken regularly, so take with or after food.
:thumbsup:

Get well soon :clap:

Oh and also, before I forget.
Other extreme symptoms like blood in sputum - see GP ASAP or A/E.
Or sudden onset of shortness of breath with dusky complection A/E via 999.

Depending on the site & severity of a cracked rib they can do nasty things to the very lungs they are protecting.

Exxtreme but there's always a potential. :(

Originally posted by Don_Kiddick
:hihi: Nurofen + is ibuprofen - with caffein - and a bigger price tag.

Ask your chemist for 400mg brufen (ibuprofen) shops own brand cheaper by far and exactly the same stuff.
Off-the-shelf products tend to come in 200mg doses.
The adult dose is 400mg.

You can take paracetamol at the same time as they have different properties & don't interact.

Paracetamol is a painkiller (will block the pain sensation) & ibuprofen is a (non-steroidal) anti-inflammatory so will reduce the inflammation that's causing the pain.

You need to do deep breathing exercises too, as often as you can stand but hourly for the first (waking) 36-48hrs

slow deep breath in. hold 2...3... out & repeat a few times.

If you get into a habit of shallow breathing cos it's easier on the pain you'll retain moisture that otherwise you expire without trying.

A complication of this is a chest infection & worse still pneumonia (extreme).

Avoid smoking if you are one.

Finally, Brufen can irritate the lining of your stomach when taken regularly, so take with or after food.
:thumbsup:

Get well soon :clap:

It actually has codine in it, which is a bigger painkiller than ibruprofen. Neurofen Plus has the strongest amount of codine that's available without prescription, and you can take two every 4-6 hours.

Contary to what Don said, it's not the same as 400mg Ibruprofen, because it has the codine in it. It's no recommended that you take it on a regular basis, because codine can have some undesired side effects, but it's stronger and works faster and more effectively than brufen on it's own,

I use it on my migraines (doctors orders) and it works a treat on the better halves period pains! :thumbsup:

Don's right on the parcetomal front, but be sure not exceed the stated dose of either of the med's if you're taking both at the same time, unless on doctors orders.

If you're asthmatic don't take brufen without clearing it with your doctor first, it doesn't affect me, but it can act as a trigger in some people. You don't want your tablets to bring on an asthma attack!

Take all tablets with a meal, and they're best washed down with a pint of water for more effective intake!

Hi Tracie, sorry to hear about the accident, I hope (apart from the cracked ribs) that you are not too badly hurt.

Hubby had a fractured rib a few years ago (got it at Alton Towers on one of the rides)!

Apart from some strong painkillers there's little you can do - except make yourself comfortable and don't overdo it.

The doc will be able to prescribe something stronger than off-the-shelf painkillers so if you think it's worth it, go and get something.

Take care and rest up eh?!

Hels x

Tracie, are you prone to hurting yourself?

You always seem to be in some kind of tangle :rolleyes:

Thanks for the sound advice everyone :thumbsup: :)

Originally posted by venger
Tracie, are you prone to hurting yourself?

You always seem to be in some kind of tangle :rolleyes:

I think you answered your own question there :) I am naturally very clumsy (!), and when you couple that with a recent run of misfortune then yes, I am always in some of tangle or another ;) But I see it like this, if we are all due some bad luck in our lifetime then I have got all mine in nice and early, and I should be due a completely stress free next decade :D :P :clap: Maybe :suspect:

:P

When you sit down make sure that you sit on a chair with a back not a stool! I managed to similar coming of a motorbike (2 wheels + ice = bad!) and while sneezing and coughing were bad enough trying to support yourself upright for any length of time or lean left and right were REALLY painfull!

However as soon as feasable you probably want to be doing some gentle exercise and stretching so your inter-costals don't atrophy and shorten - and no more attacking poor innocent cars OK!

I made the mistake of watching a "red dwarf" marathon when i cracked mine. owch the pain.

Originally posted by TracieJC
Last Friday I was in an accident and badly bruised my left side. I had some pain in the side of my chest then which I took to be bruising, but this has got progressively worse, especially when I breathe in deeply. I sneezed at work today and it felt like someone had stabbed me, it hurt that much! :shocked: :( Anyway, I went back to the hospital this afternoon and have been reliably informed that I have two cracked ribs :( Has anyone suffered from a rib fracture, any good ideas for getting some relief from the pain? (it really hurts! *whine* *whinge* :( ). I know it will take 4 weeks or so to heal, but how long will it take before the pain subsides a bit? Thanks :)

Oh you poor thing!
I did the same last week, woke up friday morning after an extremely heavy sesh, and was very sore. Couldn't remember what I'd done. Eventually worked out I'd fallen onto the upright side of a cardboard box ( a really strong one that came with the TV) the box came away unscathed and me bruised and swollen.

Went to the hospital and they almost laughed when I said it was a cardboard box, don't think they realised how strong the box is, it may as well be wooden! The nurse said it's very difficult to do real damage to your ribs, you need to be in an RTA.
It's still a bit tender now and very achy in the morning, but it's getting better slowly.

If you're having difficulty breathing tho, and/or are woried or anxious, I'd go to the hospital again. That's what they're there for.
Hope you get better soon luv!

Originally posted by hade
Oh you poor thing!
I did the same last week, woke up friday morning after an extremely heavy sesh, and was very sore. Couldn't remember what I'd done. Eventually worked out I'd fallen onto the upright side of a cardboard box ( a really strong one that came with the TV) the box came away unscathed and me bruised and swollen.


Thanks Hade :) The idea of being attacked by a cardboard box made me laugh, but I agree it's no fun being bruised and sore :( Actually, thanks to the heady paracetomol / ibuprofen mixture recommended above I don't feel too bad this afternoon, but I think my colleagues suffered from my being snappy and grumpy earlier this morning, I'm not very popular in the office today :(

I feel sorry for my girlfriend, for the lack of bedroom action at the moment!

Originally posted by Hook
It actually has codine in it, which is a bigger painkiller than ibruprofen. Neurofen Plus has the strongest amount of codine that's available without prescription, and you can take two every 4-6 hours.

Contary to what Don said, it's not the same as 400mg Ibruprofen, because it has the codine in it. It's no recommended that you take it on a regular basis, because codine can have some undesired side effects, but it's stronger and works faster and more effectively than brufen on it's own,



Codeine (http://www.drugs.com/codeine.html) also has dreadfull interactions with other prescribed medications and should not be taken in conjunction without the advice of your GP or Pharmacist.
As we don't know what else Traciejc is/ may be taking (and it's none of our business) she should exercise extreme caution.

Please see link (http://www.drugs.com/codeine.html) and scroll down to What other drugs will affect codeine?